Wellbeing at Marlborough

Hello Marlborough community

School-age children and pre-teens: positive attention tips

Children’s worlds expand when they go to school. But your warmth and positive attention are still the biggest influences on your child’s development.

Try these ideas:

• Stop what you’re doing and listen when your child wants to talk about school. This might not always be as soon as your child gets home – it might be when your child is in the bath or just before they go to sleep.
• Ask your child about one good thing that happened during the day.
• Ask follow-up questions when your child starts talking. This keeps the conversation going.
• Notice and guide your child’s positive interactions with others – for example, ‘I think Hunter really liked it when you asked her questions about her holiday. It gave her a chance to talk about something that was important to her’.
• If you need to provide constructive feedback, give some positive messages at the same time – for example, ‘Usually you’re such a good sharer. I can see it’s hard just now, but think about how your friends feel when you don’t let them have a turn.’

Before you correct your child, ask yourself: does it really matter, or could I just let it go? If you’re always correcting your child, this sends the message that your child isn’t capable or valued.

Stay Mindful

Mel

Attached is a Consent Form that will need to be completed and returned if you would like me to spend any 1:1 time with your child/children.

​Please pop in and say Hi anytime.  I am available Mondays and Tuesdays (8:00 – 4:00) and Wednesday (9:30 – 2:30)