Talitha Van Niekerk

Packing more than lunch for your child: Three school essential skills. By Talitha van Niekerk As a parent, we are informed from all angles about nutritious meals and lunch ideas to pack for our children to school. Advice given refers to calorie counts, low GI, and fiber content. But is this truly the most important things which we can pack for our child on their daily journey to school? At school, your child might need more than a nutritious snack, they might need a whole lunchbox of wholesome notions to sustain them through the day. Teachers and education experts all agree on these essentials to pack for your child in your pantry of preparations: Social skills Children need to be able to play nicely with others, show caring and empathy in their interactions with their peer group, and be able to deal with uncomfortable situations correctly.i They need to show good manners, not just as a reflection on yourself as a parent, but also as a vehicle for acceptance socially and educationally. Listening and Communication As adults we often lose the skill of listening effectively, we are too busy planning what we're going to say next! Children have a wonderful opportunity to develop the skill of effective listening and clear communication, but they will better develop these skills if you, a parent, model it. Play games, read stories and talk with your children to develop these essential skills.ii Independence As parents, we are always concerned with our child giving in to peer pressure, and joining the bad crowd. Educators would advise you that the best way to safeguard your child from bad influences is to create a confident and independent child. It is recommended to give your child confidence boosting activities which develop their self-esteem, such as helping with cooking, being responsible for younger siblings by helping them dress, or doing homework on their own, and being praised for its correctness.iii In caring for our children, we only seek the best for them. We hope that our children will be healthy and equipped to deal with the world which they will have to face daily. By teaching our children the appropriate ways to socialize, listen and communicate, and developing their independence, we are more likely to succeed at packing a lunchbox filled with not only sandwiches and chips, but also wisdom, empathy, and true learning. https://www.educationalplaycare.com/blog/importance-of-socialskills-for-children/ i https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/starting-primary-school-skillsyour-child-needs// ii https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/starting-primary-school-skillsyour-child-needs// iii