“How was school?”
“Fine.”
Possibly the least informative conversation in parenting.
The first week of school brings excitement, nerves, new routines, new teachers and new expectations. It’s also exhausting.
So if your child comes home tired, has a difficult day or announces that they hate math on Wednesday, don’t panic. One difficult day doesn’t mean your child is in the wrong school.
But patterns are worth paying attention to.
Look Beyond “Fine”
Instead of relying entirely on what children say about school, watch what happens around school.
Are mornings becoming increasingly difficult? Does your child seem relaxed when they come home, or unusually anxious? Are they talking about anything they’re learning? Have they mentioned their teacher? Are they beginning to make connections with other children?
Do they seem excited about anything? Are they already saying the work is too hard? Or too easy?
One sign means very little. Several signs repeating over time may tell you something.
Ask Better Questions
“How was school?” is easy to answer with one word.
Try questions that require something different:
What was the best thing that happened today?
What made you laugh?
What was the hardest thing you did?
Did you learn anything that surprised you?
Who did you spend time with?
Did you ask your teacher a question today?
What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
You’re not conducting an interrogation. You’re opening windows into a part of your child’s day you don’t get to see.
Give Adjustment Time, But Pay Attention
Children often need time to settle into a new school year. New routines can be uncomfortable. New friendships take time. Teachers and students need time to learn about one another.
So don’t evaluate an entire school year based on the first few days.
At the same time, parents know their children. If something feels wrong, pay attention to that feeling and gather more information.
Talk to your child. Talk to the teacher. Watch for patterns.
Does Your Child Feel Seen?
At Riverbend Academy, this is something we think about constantly.
Our maximum class size of 14 isn’t simply about having fewer desks in a room. It gives teachers the opportunity to get to know the students sitting in them.
Who needs encouragement? Who needs another explanation? Who needs a greater challenge? Who isn’t saying anything at all?
Sometimes the child who needs attention most isn’t the one asking for it.
The Year Has Just Begun
If the first week has raised questions, you don’t need to make an immediate decision. But you don’t have to ignore those questions either.
There is time to explore. There is time to ask questions. And there is still time to make a change if you eventually decide your child needs something different.
The school year may have started. Your options haven’t ended.
If you’d like to learn more about Riverbend Academy, book a personal tour and come have a conversation with us.