At Lucky Gecko, we’ve always been great believers in the power of fiction books to help children express, and address, feelings which they might otherwise struggle to articulate. A well-chosen book can help a child to unravel their emotions and learn how to deal with them. It can also show them that they are not alone and offer real comfort during times of emotional upset.
So, what better time could there be to suggest some kids’ fiction books that deal with feelings of sadness, anxiety and worry? These are just a handful which we love, but we’d be delighted to hear your suggestions too. Share your top choices in the comments, or email them to hello@luckygecko.com and, who knows, you might just help a child feel a little more secure or hopeful amidst all the madness.
(Best for ages 3+)
“Ruby was perfectly happy. Until one day, she discovered a Worry. It wasn’t a very big Worry. In fact, it was so small that, at first, Ruby hardly noticed it. But then the Worry started to grow.”
This is a lovely book for younger readers which deals with the issue of worries and anxiety. One day, Ruby finds that she has a worry which slowly grows and grows (depicted as a yellow scribble, slowly taking over the pages). In a beautiful, age appropriate, way, Ruby learns that everyone has worries, and that the way to get rid of them is simply to talk.
This would be a great “conversation starter” for young readers, and might just help them to express feelings which they didn’t realise were hanging over them. Definitely one to read aloud with a parent, in order to make sure that the opportunity to open up is used to full advantage. And, although the lesson is basic, it’s one that adults need to be reminded of now and again too.
(Best for ages 7+)
“You see, Wilf is a bit of a worrier. He worries all the time. If worrying was an Olympic sport, he would be worried whether he was going to get picked for the team.”
For those who like their reassurance served up with a good dose of humour, you need look no further than Wilf. This loveable character is scared of everything from stuffed animals to twirly moustaches, but that doesn’t stop him from saving the world when an evil mastermind moves in next door.
Although this book is remarkably and wonderfully silly, it actually contains some very practical advice for those who are prone to worrying. Wilf consults a leaflet entitled “How To Stop Worrying” at points throughout the book, which contains genuinely helpful suggestions (such as taking deep breaths; imagining the worst case scenario and a plan to deal with it; and thinking of a happy place or time to help calm yourself down). Watching Wilf put these tips into action will provide a great foundation for children to come up with their own coping mechanisms, and offers a great opportunity for families to have a practical discussion about how to deal with anxiety.
(Best for ages 9+)
“The house was full of mumbles these days. Mumbles that often stopped whenever Raymond or Gloria walked into the room… Gloria didn’t like the mumbles. They worried her.”
When their Uncle Ben falls victim to the “Black Dog” of depression, Gloria and her big brother Raymond decide to do something about it. Soon, they realise that they’re not alone in their quest. With the help and support of the city’s animals, and the wisdom of their Granny ringing in their ears, the children set out to defeat the Black Dog and free the adults from the sadness which seems to be overwhelming them.
This is an incredibly empowering book for children as, from the very beginning, it’s made clear that they hold the key to ridding the adults of the Black Dog. It also highlights the power of words; of sharing your worries and of finding others who understand your situation. The children’s frustration at the adults’ “mumbling” will also resonate with children living through lockdown who will know that this is a very scary time but may feel left in the dark by their parents’ attempts to protect them from the worst of the news.
(Best for ages 12+)
“Varjak looked around: at the stuffy furniture, the locked-up cupboards, the curtains he wasn’t allowed to climb. He’d never been anywhere else, but this had to be the most boring place on earth.”
Aimed at slightly older readers, Varjak Paw is a beautifully crafted piece of literature, both entertaining and insightful. There’s something incredibly poignant about it at the moment, as the eponymous feline hero has never left his house and is, therefore, desperately curious about what he’s missing in the world outside his front door.
Varjak is fascinated by the stories of his heroic ancestors and longs to emulate them, but he himself is shunned by his family, and bullied by his older brother. This family dynamic (which, again, may feel more relevant than ever during the lockdown) is explored in a very natural way, despite the characters being cats, and a sense of the sadness that Varjak feels weighs heavily on the initial chapters of the book. Some readers may find this first section a little slow but, if they can persevere, they’ll find that the rest of the story reaches a very satisfying pace, and is almost impossible to put down.
David McKean's sharp and scratchy illustrations support the mood of the story perfectly, creating a 'hard' edged atmosphere which stops it ever feeling childish. Varjak manages to overcome his fears by trusting his instincts and finding his inner strength, and therefore takes his rightful place in the folklore of his family. Frustrated, house-bound readers will appreciate this feline mentor and story of (many-levelled) escapism. Well worth a look for any older readers who are currently spending their days gazing wistfully out of the window and dreaming of adventures to come.
That’s it from us for now - but please do get in touch and tell us your child’s favourite book which deals with these topics. Or, better still, get them to write us a short review. We always love to get them, and it’s wonderful to be able to share them with the rest of the Lucky Gecko community.
Charlie
xx
]]>If you have a reluctant reader, here are a few ideas which just might encourage them to peek, secretly, in between the pages of something (ANYthing!). And, who knows… that could be all they need to start on a reading journey which will bring them a little joy every day for the rest of their lives.
(Or, it might just make life bearable for you and take away some of the arguments over “Biff, Chip and Kipper”. But that’s good too, right?!)
]]>So, if you have a reluctant reader, here are a few ideas which just might encourage them to peek, secretly, in between the pages of something (ANYthing!). And, who knows… that could be all they need to start on a reading journey which will bring them a little joy every day for the rest of their lives.
(Or, it might just make life bearable for you and take away some of the arguments over “Biff, Chip and Kipper”. But that’s good too, right?!)
Find your child somewhere cool, cosy or quirky as their reading spot. The novelty of sitting on a windowsill, or in a lovely bean bag, or hiding in a cupboard with a torch (maybe?!) will make reading seem special and entwined with that spot. Make the space as personal as you can and allow your child to have some control over it.
You know this one already, but children of parents who read for pleasure are much more likely to read for pleasure themselves (this only works if you’re SEEN to read… it’s no good if you only read for 10 minutes before bed, long after your children are asleep). If you can, make a quiet time during the day when the whole family reads at the same time - no phones, emails or TV in the background - and make it clear that it’s a treat for all of you.
Reading at home should be fun, engaging, imaginative and un-put-downable! Let them indulge their own tastes and interests (yes… even if it’s a book about poo, Minecraft or ANOTHER fairy book). Leave the target setting and concerns about ‘levels’ and vocabulary to the teachers. Their job is to teach your child to read; your job is to get them to LOVE reading.
At this stage, it really doesn’t matter WHAT your child is reading*. If you have a reluctant reader, you’re just trying to get them over the hump of thinking of it as a chore. So, if they’re put off by large chunks of text, let them try a comic or graphic novel. If they are addicted to a TV show or computer game, try one of the spin-off stories which often abound. And if you have a child who’s crazy about facts, let them read a non-fiction or “list” book. It may not be to your taste, but that’s not the point - if they’re looking at some words written on paper, you’re both winning.
*It’s worth noting here that it’s usually best to avoid e-readers for as long as possible. Numerous studies have shown that it’s much harder for people, and especially children, to absorb information read on a screen, and there’s lots of evidence that the light from screens interferes with sleep patterns which makes e-readers particularly tricky for bedtime.
If you bargain with your child along the lines of, “Do 10 minutes of reading and then you can play your video game,’ you’re instantly framing reading as the chore and the video game as the reward. Instead, try to find ways of making it seem like a treat in itself. The idea that they can stay up for an extra 15 minutes to read is often a good way of successfully entwining reading with a recognisable treat. Or setting up a lovely reading den with some snacks and then restricting the time (“We can only spare 15 minutes, but let’s treat ourselves to some reading time…”) might be enough to make it feel special.
When it comes to books, Marie Kondo may have it wrong! If you can leave interesting looking books and magazines in places which might catch your child’s eye, you may find them willingly picking them up and flicking through. This is a very low-pressure way to introduce books and, if you can resist the temptation to draw attention to them, can be really effective at removing the fear of that first peek inside. A beautiful photographic coffee table book left on the kitchen table might just catch their eye while they wait for their lunch. And, if your child feels like they can look at it for only as long as they feel comfortable, they’ll be much more likely to return. Treat them like a nervous squirrel at the bird table… no sudden noises!
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to this one, but hopefully some of those ideas will give some inspiration if you’re feeling exasperated or frustrated. If you have any other suggestions, or want to give feedback on things you’ve tried, please do let us know. You might just save the sanity of another parent out there!
]]>https://www.hiyabucks.com/lucky-gecko-discoveries/ for a chance to win, and to see our top tips for keeping your kids' brains active over the long break.
Oh, and while you're there, have a good nose about... it's a great resource for all things Buckinghamshire!
]]>FUN!
Here at Lucky Gecko, we’ve never strayed from the idea that learning should be fun, and that kids are more likely to achieve if they are happy and confident. Our Discovery Day is no different. Your child will take part in a whole host of games and activities - from physical coordination exercises to word games; model building to cracking codes - all designed to challenge different skills and help to identify their natural strengths. They’ll then be put into their very own pirate crew which will work together to find where we’ve hidden our treasure.
INFORMATIVE… for you and your child.
While the kids are having fun, we’ll be paying close attention to where each individual flourishes. We believe that there are lots of different types of intelligence, all of which are incredibly valuable. We’ll start to identify each child’s unique skill set and help them to see their own strengths. You’ll also get an email after the session with individual feedback on how you can use our findings to help your child at school and beyond. Knowledge is power, and understanding how your child learns can really help them to overcome problems and give a fabulous boost in…
...CONFIDENCE!
We want children to be armed with the knowledge of their own talents so that they can be brave in the face of things which they find more difficult. We will show them that intelligence comes in all sorts of forms and isn’t restricted to the things they’ll find on their next SATs test. Maybe they’re brilliant at understanding how people feel, or persuading people to join in with things? That “interpersonal intelligence” is an incredibly valuable skill which will get them a long way in the real world (and see them appointed Captain of a Lucky Gecko pirate crew!). Or maybe they’ve got amazing coordination and physical skills (“bodily-kinesthetic intelligence”)? They may not even realise that’s something which can be seen as a type of intelligence, so imagine the boost they’ll get when we point it out to them and they become our ship’s highly valued Boatswain. By changing the language we use, and teaching kids to think differently and value every part of themselves, we can help them to face any challenge head-on.
So, what are you waiting for? Email hello@luckygecko.com now to reserve your child’s place and let’s see what they can achieve with a little self-belief filling their sails. ]]>If you're looking for a fabulous way to entertain the kids this Easter holiday, take a look at our Treasure Hunt Discovery Day. It's running on the 12th April in Amersham town centre, and is perfect for children aged 8 - 12.
]]>In the first part of the session, we'll be getting the kids to take part in a range of games and activities which are designed to identify their natural strengths and weaknesses. We'll then use that information to put them into formidable, puzzle-solving pirate crews who will race to solve clues and find our hidden treasure.
As it's a Lucky Gecko Discovery Day you can be sure that the kids will have fun, but they will also get a whole range of benefits from the session. We want each child to leave with a better understanding of their own learning style and how they can best utilise their unique talents. This will arm them with confidence and self-belief so that they can feel more comfortable in their own skin and face any challenge which comes their way.
Spaces are strictly limited so, if you'd like your child to take part, email hello@luckygecko.com now and we'll send you all the information you'll need. We look forward to seeing you there!
]]>
Working on a child's "core skills" will benefit them in all areas of their academic career. Having a strong foundation in arithmetic, reasoning, vocabulary and general knowledge will give them confidence, as well as a greater ability to tackle work which may be unfamiliar to them. Of course, these things are also incredibly useful for tests such as the 11+, SATs or Common Entrance but, in my view, these skills should be seen as essential for every child rather than something to focus on purely for the purpose of passing an exam.
This list was originally compiled in order to help people who were thinking of preparing their children for 11+ or Common Entrance exams, but the content is relevant and useful for any parent.
Below are some ideas of things you can do with Key Stage 2 children which will start strengthening the core skills, and may also highlight areas which may need more attention as time goes on. Everyone has natural strengths and weaknesses, and it can be incredibly useful to understand in advance where your child excels and where they may need more support. Don’t panic though! These are all meant to be fun, family activities, and it’s vital that you don’t present them as work or any kind of exam preparation. These activities will all help to build the mental muscles they’ll need for good core skills, but the kids don’t need to know that!
Part of the reason these topics are daunting when children first see them in the 11+ is that there is little ‘real life’ experience which will prepare them for the way the questions are presented. In order to start building these skills, you may find it easier to turn to games such as the ones below.
IQ Puzzler Pro (also included in our special edition Puzzles box, which is sent in the summer holidays)
Nanoblock mini puzzles (also included in our Ornithology box)
These skills are vital for many areas of the curriculum, but are especially important for Verbal Reasoning, reading and comprehension. These subjects are vast - neverending in fact! - and so should really be thought of as part of your daily routine. Try to fill your child with as much general knowledge and vocabulary as you possibly can - they can never have too much!
Take the time to teach your children the names of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, animals (male, female, baby, group name, habitat etc), countries, cities, flowers, sports… ANYTHING you can think of! Schools don’t have time to teach this stuff any more and you’d be AMAZED at the gaps I’ve seen in children’s knowledge.
Don’t be afraid to use the internet, dictionaries and reference books in front of your child. They don’t expect you to know everything, and showing them how to find information is just as important as imparting it to them. By helping them to find the answers to questions, you are empowering them and encouraging their natural curiosity.
One book which we always had to hand during 11+ tuition sessions was the First Aid in English. Recently re-released, and much prettier for it, it’s packed full of vocabulary and general knowledge exercises which will really get your child thinking. Some of the exercises are quite tricky, so you’ll need to work through it with your child to ensure they’re not out of their depth.
You can also get the answer book to make your life easier!
If you want something more interactive, the games below are great for building general knowledge and vocabulary…
Scattergories: Great for general knowledge, but also for working under pressure!
BrainBox games: Again, great for general knowledge and also for observational skills and working under pressure. Choose the subjects carefully though - we like Animal Families, Animals, Nature, The World, Cities of the World, Science, Maths and English.
Chuckra Cards: Designed by 11+ tutors, there are some good vocabulary words on these cards. The games are a little dry but the skills they promote are perfect for the 11+ exam.
This MindSnacks app is great for building vocabulary and will appeal to children who will do anything for some extra screen time! With nine different game types, this app explores vocabulary from all different angles - including spelling, using words in context and categorisation.
Many exams and tests require children to work at high speed, and with incredible accuracy. Often, students will know the answers but will be unable to complete a paper in the time given without lots of practice. Others will make silly mistakes because of the time pressure so, although they may finish easily, they are unlikely to get a score which reflects their true ability. Anything you can do to help your child keep cool under pressure will help them succeed in all areas of life, and this can start at quite an early age.
Any game or app which involves a countdown timer will help your child to practise this skill, so you can find anything which takes their fancy. We particularly like this Time shock game which is included in our Midwinter box. The ticking on this little blighter is enough to send anyone into a panic! And it’s also great for spatial reasoning:
Dobble is also a great game for working at speed and under pressure. Players have to race to spot the matching symbol on two cards. Suitable for a wide range of ages, portable, quick to play and great fun - definitely worth a look!
Unfortunately, there aren’t many ‘magic tricks’ which make mental maths fun. Practice is the key, as you’ll have no doubt heard plenty of times from your own childhood! This is one area where apps and games can be really helpful.
For a bit of a storyline, and practice in the four basic operations, it’s worth taking a look at the Mystery Math Town app. Unfortunately, this is only available on iOS, but if you have access to an iPhone or iPad it’s a good one to start with. The difficulty level is customisable, it looks beautiful and engaging and the ‘equation’ style questions are great for 11+ or Common Entrance practice.
The other apps which were always a hit with my students were from the Squeebles bundle. The brand made their name with a times tables app, but have now extended the range to a whole host of maths and literacy games. Kids are spurred on to complete challenges using the back story of rescuing cute little Squeebles from the Maths Monster. I found that, although the games themselves were relatively bland, the rescue mission and ‘completionist’ element was enough to get most kids playing regularly. The games are available on iOS, Android and Kindle Fire so hopefully available to a wide audience.
Sometimes your child will need to use the facts in front of them to slowly work their way to an answer. Brainteasers and mathematical word problems are a great way to get them thinking in this way. Games like Sudoku and Hangman are also very helpful. As are Criss-Cross (or Word Fit) puzzles, where you have to fit given words into a crossword-style grid using the length of words and available letters rather than clues; or Code Cracker puzzles where you have to use your understanding of spelling and letter frequency to work out which letters are represented by the numbers given.
Most puzzle books will have some of these, and there are a few websites which have free versions for you to have a go at, or which will allow you to make your own. We also have some in our Sleuth booklets.
Mastermind game: An oldie, but a goodie. This game promotes calm, logical thinking as well as working on memory skills and attention to detail.
Depending on your child’s level, you may find that they’re not quite ready for formal comprehension practice. If that’s the case, take a look at the post for activities for younger children and read through the comprehension advice there. All of that is relevant to older children too - it just depends on the individual.
If you think they’re ready for some more formal practice, take a look at the books below to get you started. There’s also some advice on the excellent Eleven Plus Exams website.
The Bond 11+ Range has a huge number of books in various styles and ability levels so they're definitely worth a look. I always recommended starting at the age level below your child's, in order to build confidence and momentum.
There’s a wide range of English Comprehension practice books available on the Eleven Plus Exams site too - useful for everyone, not just for those sitting the 11+.
These are just some suggestions - the possibilities are endless but, hopefully, these ideas will give a good foundation if you want to start doing some informal bits which you know will be useful later on. It is REALLY important that this all stays FUN though! Children learn much more effectively if they’re enjoying themselves and these games should just be seen as another way to spend time with them. The aim is not to prepare them for an exam, but rather to harness their natural curiosity and have fun. If you also manage to teach them a few skills which will be valuable throughout their life, that’s a really wonderful bonus.
Oh, and of course, all of our boxes and mini-packs are designed to work on core skills so do take a look at them before you go :0)
]]>This list was originally compiled in order to help people who were thinking of preparing their children for 11+ or Common Entrance exams, but the content is relevant and useful for any parent.
Below are some ideas of things you can do with younger children to start strengthening the core skills, and may also highlight areas which may need more attention as time goes on. Everyone has natural strengths and weaknesses, and it can be incredibly useful to understand in advance where your child excels and where they may need more support. Don’t panic though! These are all meant to be fun, family activities, and it’s vital that you don’t present them as work or any kind of exam preparation. Just think of these as games which are starting to build the muscles they’ll need later on.
Part of the reason these topics are daunting when children first see them is that there is little ‘real life’ experience which will prepare them for the way the questions are presented. These topics come up in all sorts of tests - not just at school, but also in job interviews and aptitude tests. Some people find that they are naturally very comfortable with this way of thinking but, for the rest, it's comforting to know that practice will help them to improve. In order to start building these skills, you may find it easier to turn to games such as the ones below. These will work the right part of the brain, and will help your child to become familiar with the type of logic required.
Ibbleobble Clever Clogs app bundle - The patterns app (or that section of bundle app) is great for NVR
These skills are vital for many areas of the curriculum, but are especially important for Verbal Reasoning, reading and comprehension. These subjects are vast - neverending in fact! - and so should really be thought of as part of your daily routine. Try to fill your child with as much general knowledge and vocabulary as you possibly can - they can never have too much!
Take the time to teach your children the names of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, animals (male, female, baby, group name, habitat etc), countries, cities, flowers, sports… ANYTHING you can think of! Schools don’t have time to teach this stuff any more and you’d be AMAZED at the gaps I’ve seen in children’s knowledge.
Try to work these things into everyday life as much as you can - make sure your child knows what’s in the food they’re eating and, even with small children, try not to over-simplify (… they can cope with the word ‘risotto’; it doesn’t have to be ‘cheesy rice’!). Get them looking at maps if you’re on holiday and, if you’re abroad, try to teach them a few basic facts about the country (e.g. what continent is it a part of; is it an island or does it have land borders; what is the currency and language; what does the flag look like…)
Car games are great for general knowledge. Go round the car trying to name as many things in a certain category as you can until someone gets stuck and is out. Or play 20 questions, where you get to ask 20 ‘yes or no’ questions in order to try to guess what the other player is thinking of.
This is such a huge section that it’s best to have it as part of your daily routine rather than something which gets worked on here and there. Don’t be afraid to use the internet, dictionaries and reference books in front of your child either. They don’t expect you to know everything, and showing them how to find information is just as important as imparting it to them. By helping them to find the answers to questions, you are empowering them and encouraging their natural curiosity.
Many exams and tests require children to work at high speed, and with incredible accuracy. Often, students will know the answers but will be unable to complete a paper in the time given without lots of practice. Others will make silly mistakes because of the time pressure so, although they may finish easily, they are unlikely to get a score which reflects their true ability. Anything you can do to help your child keep cool under pressure will help them succeed in all areas of life, and this can start at quite an early age.
Any game or app which involves a countdown timer will help your child to practise this skill, so you can find anything which takes their fancy. We particularly like this Time Shock game which is included in our Midwinter Box. The ticking on this little blighter is enough to send anyone into a panic, and it’s also great for spatial reasoning.
As with vocabulary and general knowledge, this is something best worked into everyday life. Get very young children counting and doing basic adding and subtraction as often as you can. Even if it’s just counting how many red cars you see on the way to school; or getting them to count how many eggs are in the fridge before and after breakfast… anything at all to work that mathematical muscle. As they get older, take the time to ensure that their times tables, number bonds** and mental arithmetic are used as often as possible and really up to scratch. Those basic skills are so important and will be of huge benefit to them going forward.
Cooking is a really valuable tool when looking at maths skills. Exposing your child to things like simple weights and measures, time, and basic fractions (cutting cakes into pieces etc) will be an enormous help to them. These things are much easier to learn in a practical way, and they’ll really enjoy doing it. (Plus, you’ll get some cakes out of it!)
There are some apps which can help with maths skills, but they’re usually aimed at slightly older children. Anything will be useful though, so see what grabs your child’s attention. We particularly like:
Ibbleobble Clever Clogs apps - the maths apps are good for the four main mathematical operations, and there is also a great sequences app which is perfect for the 11+. These are only really appropriate for older children in this age bracket though (Years 1 and 2). Take a look at http://www.ibbleobble.com/ to see all the apps they make.
**The number bonds are pairs of numbers which add to make round numbers like 10, 100 etc. So, for 10, the number bonds are: 1+9, 2+8, 3+7, 4+6 and 5+5
Using that as a starting point, you can move on to basic pairs for 100: 10+90, 20+80, 30+70 etc
From there, eventually, you want your child to be able to notice the number bonds within more complex sums. So, for example, if they see 57+23, they’ll immediately know that the answer will end in 0 as the units (7 and 3) add to make 10.
Again, at this age, there is little point doing anything ‘formal’ towards comprehension practice, but there are lots of things you can do to stimulate the right parts of the brain. Reading is key, of course, but it’s useful to start turning your child into an active reader (or listener) as early as possible. Once you start, you’ll find that this is very easy to do. When reading with your child, just get used to asking them questions at the end of some pages.
Simple things like, “What flavour jelly do you think that is?”, will encourage them to make logical deductions (if the jelly is red, they should assume it’s something like strawberry or raspberry, but not orange or lime). Questions such as, “How do you think he’s feeling at the moment?” or, “Why do you think she did that?”, will get them engaged with the emotions of the characters and will help them to infer greater meaning from the story. If there is a joke, or something out of place, get your child to try to explain why it’s funny or not as it should be.
The opportunities are endless and you’ll find plenty of questions once you get in the habit of it. Starting this kind of work early will really pay dividends and, usually, children really enjoy it (in moderation - remember, they shouldn’t feel bombarded by questions every time they pick up a book!).
You can also ask similar questions about TV shows and films, and it’s a useful exercise to get your child to summarise what’s happened in something they’ve watched. At this age, they aren’t usually competent enough readers to be able to summarise a book plot, but telling you the ins and outs of an episode of Fireman Sam is an excellent way to build comprehension skills.
These are just some suggestions - the possibilities are endless but, hopefully, these ideas will give a good foundation if you want to start doing some informal bits which you know will be useful later on. It is REALLY important that this all stays FUN though! Children learn much more effectively if they’re enjoying themselves and these games should just be seen as another way to spend time with them. The aim is not to prepare them for an exam, but rather to harness their natural curiosity and have fun. If you also manage to teach them a few skills which will be valuable throughout their life, that’s a really wonderful bonus.
]]>The first, and possibly most important point here, is that not every child should pass the 11+ exam. There are only a set number of grammar school places available so, each year, the exam’s job is to create a hierarchy of students. The ones who score most highly will be offered those places, regardless of what their scores actually are. If a whole cohort performs relatively badly (or if the exam is particularly difficult), they cannot have an entire year empty in all the grammar schools. They will just take the top-performing students, and so the pass mark will vary each year depending on how the children perform. Success, therefore, does not only depend on how well your child does on the test, but also on how well every other child does on the test.
To give an example from my old stomping-ground, roughly a third of students who take the exam in Buckinghamshire will pass. So, in that area, your child's test result needs to be within the top third in order for them to be successful. Before embarking on lots of expensive and, if handled badly, stressful tuition, you should ask yourself if you are confident that your child is in the top third (or at least the top half) of their year at school. If not, it would be well worth taking some time to consider whether grammar school would be right for them. Grammars are extremely competitive environments, and spending seven years struggling to keep up will do little to motivate or encourage a child academically.
If you feel that your child is actually not right for a grammar school, there are still plenty of things you can do to give them an academic boost alongside their peers, as well as giving them the best possible chance should things change during Year 5. Take a look at our posts outlining “Family Activities to Build Core Skills” for some of our suggestions.
If you are confident that your child will do well in a grammar school and you are happy to go down the route of structured tuition, there are three main options open to you. You could take on the role of tutor yourself, and set up a schedule of work for your child. You could hire a one-to-one tutor to manage it all for you. Or you can enrol your child in a group course.
Obviously, the most cost-effective option is to manage the work yourself. There are a handful of distance learning courses which you can buy to help you to structure everything and give some reassurance that you’ve got everything covered. Although these obviously come at some cost, it is usually significantly cheaper than hiring a tutor. There are also some excellent forums and online communities which will help to guide you. It will all take time though, and you’ll need to be prepared to dedicate a fair chunk of your life to trawling through all the information.
There are two big downsides to this approach. The first is that children rarely work well for their parents. Try as you might, it is very difficult to separate the tuition from everyday life. If you try to sit with your child and do an hour’s concentrated vocabulary work, they will bring with them any bubbling resentment from the rest of the day. If you’ve just had an argument over them not putting their socks in the laundry bin, that comes into the lesson. Your time is also less protected than a tutor’s would be. If you have other children, it can be really hard to get them to leave you alone while you work. (And, if you think you can get them out of the house doing something fun instead, just imagine what your 11+ student will think about that plan!) There’s also always a chance that you’ll give in and allow them to do the lesson tomorrow. If your child is difficult enough, maybe, just maybe, you’ll give up and let them watch Britain’s Got Talent instead. That just doesn’t happen with a tutor, who will have a protected time slot and a very specific purpose.
The other big downside is a lack of competition. As noted earlier, it actually doesn’t matter how well your child performs in isolation. It’s how they perform in comparison to their peers, and under the pressure of an examination environment. Having to work alongside other students not only helps children feel less isolated or ‘singled out’ for extra work, but also gives them a real chance to improve and get a sense of their strengths and weaknesses. This can be really difficult to achieve at home and so can leave some children ‘coasting’, confident that they’re competing only with themselves.
If you decide to go down this route, I would strongly recommend booking your child in for some external mock exams throughout your 11+ journey. These will give some authentic exam practice and will go some way to stop them feeling isolated. It will also give you a better idea of how they perform in comparison to other children, and will help to identify any weaknesses caused by the stress of an exam room and the distraction of others around them.
In order to overcome some of the other hurdles, try to be as structured about the work as possible. Block off certain times each week for 11+ stuff, just as you would with a tutor, and try not to bring the subject up outside of those times. That way, your child won’t feel that you’re constantly nagging them, and they’ll probably be more compliant as they know what to expect. Make the work as fun and positive as you possibly can, and always leave your own anxieties about their performance out of the lessons.
Having a one-to-one tutor is more expensive (expect to pay £30 - £40 per hour, and to have at least a session a week from January to September), but it does remove a lot of the problems outlined above. Some tutors will come to you, and this is great in some ways. Generally, children are more relaxed at home which can help to build confidence in more nervous children. There’s also less worry about them forgetting to bring work with them, and it’s usually much more convenient for the parents. It can be harder to get the feeling of separation from the rest of the family though, and you’ll need to make sure that you have somewhere suitable for them to work. Having a lesson at a tutor’s premises can be a real pain if it doesn’t fit in easily with your schedule, and you may want to take extra precautions (such as checking the tutor has an up-to-date DBS check, insurance etc). This does give a more formal feeling to the whole thing though, which can be useful if you have a child who struggles to concentrate. And, unfortunately, it may be the only option open to you. Tutors can fit in more students in an evening if they don’t have to travel, so it tends to be a more common approach. You may find that you don’t have the luxury of choice and will have to go along with their usual format.
Although your child will still be lacking the obvious competition of other children in a class, the tutor will have a better frame of reference because of their other students so will be better placed to warn you of any weaknesses. Once again, I would still strongly recommend booking on to some formal mock tests alongside the tuition, but you then need to be very careful to ensure that your child hasn’t already done the paper with their tutor, so do discuss this with them before you organise anything.
When working with an external tutor on either a one-to-one basis or in a group environment, it is vital that you work in partnership with them and ask them before getting your child to do any additional work. A good tutor will have a plan of action and will be tackling things in a certain way. If you get your child to do extra bits without telling them, you may find you’re undermining their teaching methods or doubling up on work. This is especially true when it comes to practice exams. There are plenty of test papers available to buy, but they are of widely different levels of both difficulty and quality. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to learn that a child has done a paper at home already when you had it earmarked as excellent practice for a later date. Doing this can seriously undermine mock test results too. If you’ve gone to the trouble of finding a tutor, let them lead you. That’s what you’re paying for after all. If you have concerns or want to be more involved, tell them immediately. Any good tutor would welcome your support and input, but take advantage of their experience and don’t try to do your own thing.
The last option is group tuition, and this can vary hugely in quality, cost and amount of work. Some groups are very small, whilst others can be for up to 30 children. In my opinion, the very best 11+ tuition is done in a small, similar ability group (ideally 4-8 students), with supplementary large group sessions (such as mock tests) and a couple of one-to-one sessions to cover weaknesses. This gives the best spread of support for a child but can be very tricky to find. If you can find a small group setting for the majority of the work though, it’s usually the best way forward, and you can do the one-to-one stuff yourself and find external mocks if needed.
By having the bulk of teaching done in a small group, you ensure that no child can get lost or left behind, but that they still have a feeling of competition. They also feel less resentful of the work, as they can see that there are others in the same situation. The tutor generally has a better idea of your child’s particular strengths and weaknesses and so can more accurately advise you with regard to supplementary work which might be of benefit. Usually, there is more of a rapport within the group, and with the tutor too, which can make the whole process a lot more pleasant for both you and your child.
Large group tuition tends to still expect quite a lot of the parents. There is usually a lot of homework given as the work is less tailored. With so many children in the class, it’s safest for them to cover absolutely everything at every level, to give them the best chance of showing improvement in each student. The tutor is less likely to know your child as an individual, so these classes tend to rely more heavily on regular testing to keep on top of how a student is doing. This isn’t always a bad thing, and some students cope with it very well, but it can be stressful for more nervous children. It is good preparation for a grammar school though, as they tend to have large classes and regular testing, so if you feel this option is totally inconceivable for your child, I would urge you to think again about whether they would be happy in that environment.
Choosing a route through 11+ tuition is a difficult and confusing task. You know your child best though, so do go with your gut. The best recommendations and information tends to come from other parents at the school gate. Really good tutors usually don’t have to self-promote - their clients fill their timetables for them. If you choose to hire someone, go with a person you trust, that your child likes and that you feel will bring the best out in them. Keep communication open at all times and let them lead you. If you decide to do the tuition yourself, be prepared for lots of extra work and research, and use every available resource to help you.
Whatever you decide to do, you should make sure it’s the right approach for your child, and that your end goal is both achievable and in their best interest.
Ask a one-to-one tutor:
Ask a group tutor:
Many parents, not surprisingly, believe that the best chances of success lie with starting tuition as early as they can and doing as much preparation as they can reasonably manage, right up until the exam. They were usually very surprised to learn that I did not agree!
Starting tuition too early can cause problems in two very distinct ways. In some children, it can lead to a total loss of confidence in their own abilities. Regardless of how you may try to reassure them, it will only take a throwaway comment from a child at school to make them question whether they’re having tuition because they are falling behind in some way. This can lead to a crisis of confidence where the child believes that they are less clever than their peers who are not yet having tuition.
The second common effect we would see was a loss of focus in the classroom. Children sometimes felt that it was less important for them to pay attention at school as they had the constant safety net of a tutor to go to if they were stuck. They became used to the one-to-one attention and so, slowly, allowed their focus to slip in a larger classroom environment. Obviously, this then means that you’re encouraging your child to be reliant on that support - potentially for the very long term.
If there are serious issues with a child’s Maths or Literacy, I would suggest a short course of tuition in Year 4 to ensure that the child goes into Year 5 with a solid foundation. This should be focussed, and deal only with the weaknesses you’ve identified. If you know your child struggles with fractions, by all means help them (or hire a tutor to help them) get to grips with fractions, but don’t feel that you should do a full course covering every aspect of the Maths syllabus, as this can cause the same problems outlined above.
In terms of timing, assuming there are no concerns around performance at school, I’ve always advocated starting focussed 11+ tuition in the January of Year 5. This allows children a term to settle in to their new class, and gets them through the madness of Christmas. It’s very difficult to do much of use in that first term anyway, as there are so many extra activities going on (not to mention the inevitable coughs and colds which leave everyone feeling miserable!). Much better to start properly in the new year with a fixed goal ahead of them. A full 9 months of targeted tuition should be more than enough to get children through the exam if they are right for a grammar school - and this last caveat is an important one.
Not every child will do well in a grammar school. It is possible to hothouse children to pass the exam, but this may well come at the cost of a very miserable secondary school career. Children who are happy at school invariably achieve more than those who are unhappy and, for some children, being at the bottom of the class and perhaps supported by tutors for their entire school career will be extremely damaging. If you feel that your child will not pass the exam after 9 months of good quality preparation, I would urge you to seriously consider if they are right for the grammar school environment. You may find that they achieve far more, and gain much more confidence, being at the top of the heap in another school.
This is not to say that it’s best to leave your child entirely to their own devices until they start tuition. There are lots of activities you can do as a family which will be helping them to prepare for the exam without the involvement of tutors, workbooks or vocabulary lists. I'll soon be posting about “Family Activities to Build Core Skills”, giving ideas of things you can do at home which will not only give them invaluable skills for the 11+ exam, but also help to build their core skills and benefit them for the rest of their lives.
]]>This box is great for keeping the kids entertained during the dark evenings leading up to Christmas - it's a brilliant mixture of challenges to get your child thinking; craft activities for them to enjoy and hilarious competitions to bring the whole family together.
Order yours now and get it delivered by the 1st December. Or, if your child is feeling artistic, why not get them to enter our bookmark competition and they could win one! The winning design will also be professionally printed and included in all of the boxes.
To enter the competition, just get your child to design a bookmark (roughly 18 x 6cm) on the theme "Celebration", and either post it to us at Lucky Gecko, PO Box 1567, Tring, HP23 9BU or scan it in and email it to competitions@luckygecko.com
Make sure your child's entry is with us before 21st November and then keep an eye on our social media for the winning design. We can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!
]]>We're absolutely thrilled that they've featured Lucky Gecko as part of their collection, and there's a review of our Ornithology box up on the site too. Click here to take a look at the review, or check us out on page 86 of the magazine's Spring issue.
It's a privilege to work with such wonderful brands as part of this job, and we're so pleased to be able to spread the love. Happy browsing!
]]>Take a look at our boxes to see what's available at the moment, but do keep checking back as we'll be adding new products as time goes on. (If you want to be the first in the know, just sign up to our newsletter at the bottom of any page.)
Within each theme, there are currently three mini-packs and a bumper box to choose from. There's a detailed description on each product page to help you decide which is the best option for your child, but if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us and we'll do all we can to help.
We can't wait to start inspiring a whole new group of children the Lucky Gecko way, and really hope that your child will join us on their own journey of discovery.
]]>Oh, and if you're not in Bucks, take a look at the blog anyway. There'll be loads of general, sensible advice regarding tutoring and work you can do to help your child outside of the classroom. There's plenty there which will be of interest to any parent, regardless of where you live (even if we do say so ourselves...!)
]]>Blake's Small Talk (via the Daily Mail Online)
]]>Lucky Gecko Saves Those Rainy Summer Holiday Days
Take a look around the blog and their social media too - they're well worth a follow!
]]>Picture Taker Memory Maker - we can't get enough of this gorgeous family and there are some truly fabulous photos as part of this review. Mum, Chloe, is a super-talented photographer so we're thrilled to have so many beautiful pictures of her three girls enjoying the boxes.
The Brick Castle - we were a bit overwhelmed when the mega-popular Brick Castle wanted to review our little boxes! Turns out that Jenny and her lovely gang are beyond delightful and we're pleased as punch that they liked their box!
Actually Mummy - once again, we had to pinch ourselves when Helen of the awesome Actually Mummy blog said she and her son would like to review a box. Turns out that her older daughter couldn't resist getting involved too, which we take as a tremendous compliment!
]]>In the fourth in our series outlining the “7 c’s” from Guy Claxton and Bill Lucas’ book Educating Ruby, we’re turning our attention to communication.
One of the major frustrations between children and adults is a perception that they cannot communicate with each other. Kids don’t listen; adults don’t understand.
As a consequence, one of the most valuable things you can teach your child is to be an effective communicator – knowing when to speak up and when to listen; being comfortable talking to people of different backgrounds, cultures and ages; and being able to express their own emotions clearly.
Much of this skill builds on a foundation of confidence. A confident child will not be frightened of asking a ‘silly’ question, or saying the ‘wrong’ thing. They will be brave enough to approach someone who seems different to them and try to find some common ground. Perhaps most importantly, they will value their own feelings enough to see them as something worth expressing.
Once again then, creating a supportive and open atmosphere at home is one of the best things you can do to help your child. Encouraging discussion of feelings – not just those of the family, but also those raised through reading or watching films and television together – is wonderful practice for a child learning to navigate the world. Showing them how to listen effectively and to offer opinions in an appropriate way is another way in which you can have a huge influence merely by setting an example.
Beyond this, it is worth remembering that, at some point, we all have to have some sort of a stab at ‘public speaking’. Whether it’s for “show and tell”; the oral requirement of a GCSE language exam; a part in the school play or a presentation at work, your child will be forced to speak in front of people. Being comfortable doing so will be a wonderful weapon in their arsenal as they go through life.
So, once again, what can you do to help your child hone those communication skills?
Talk!
Obvious this one, but amazingly difficult to do. Remember to tread softly – bombarding your child with questions the second they walk through the door from school is unlikely to yield results. It’s far more effective to simply create a culture of openness in your family. Eating together is always helpful so try to make time for family dinners. Car journeys are often great times to talk too, so try to keep the music low and take the opportunity. (Some studies have shown that sitting next to (rather than opposite) someone makes it easier to discuss our feelings as we’re not having to make eye contact.) More than anything, be prepared to be open yourself and sympathetic to what they have to say, even if it’s hard to hear.
Play games
Playing games like “Just a Minute”, “Call My Bluff”, “Articulate” or “Taboo” together will help children get used to speaking in front of people under (relatively!) high pressure conditions. They are easy enough to create at home, or you can buy board game versions of Articulate and Taboo, as well as similar games. Playing these games with varied groups of people will help them get used to dealing with their audience – understanding that they may need to use different examples to help their grandma guess the word in Articulate than if they’re playing with their sibling, for example.
Listen
We’re all busy, and sometimes kids talk A LOT(!) but remember that all that chatter is important to them. Maintaining that level of communication throughout the school years will be really helpful for the whole family, and it will be invaluable for your child. If you can continue to be a person they feel comfortable talking to, you are best placed to help them in all areas and stages of their life. Don’t judge. Don’t feel you always have to have an opinion. Sometimes it’s enough to just listen.
Next time we’ll be looking at creativity. But right now, we’re off to play Articulate… let the shouting begin!
Have a great day!
Team Gecko
If you’d like to explore these ideas further, we highly recommend you find a copy of Educating Ruby or visit their website www.educatingruby.org . The book is enjoyable, informative and uplifting and we think it would be of benefit to every parent and teacher.
]]>Hello again! We’re continuing our series on on the list of attributes we should try to foster in our children (according to Bill Lucas and Guy Claxton, in their book Educating Ruby). Our last two newsletters focussed on confidence and curiosity. This week’s topic may seem a less obvious choice, but read on to find out the value of….
Collaboration
As the world becomes more and more connected, we are increasingly thrown into the path of people who are ‘different’ to us – whether it’s via social media; world travel; working in multinational companies or just being exposed to films, books or art from other cultures. Our children will need to survive in an increasingly diverse world and work alongside a huge range of people. That is such a wonderful gift, and the best way to take advantage of that gift is to embrace the differences in all of us.
By working with others and hearing what they have to say, we learn more about ourselves.
Teaching children that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses; that we all think and see the world slightly differently; and that working together is the best way to solve problems, will be incredibly empowering to them. What we often forget is that, by teaching our children to accept others, we are also teaching them to accept themselves, as they are, faults and all.
So what can we, practically, do to help our children navigate this diverse society in an open minded and collaborative way?
Actions speak louder than words
As Claxton and Lucas point out, it’s very difficult to ‘teach’ kindness. However, as parents, we can create an environment where we value the differences in each other, and where we try to show empathy and understanding when dealing with people. Actions speak louder than words on this one, so the way you treat people around you, and the way in which you try to get the family working together, will be crucial.
Acknowledge the differences between members of the family. Treating all siblings the same, or trying to compare one to another, is rarely constructive. They are all individuals and should be treated as such. Think of your family as a team and try to highlight and utilise the skills of each team member so that you can get the best out of everybody.
Give feedback
It’s very rare these days to have a job which doesn’t require giving and receiving some form of feedback. It’s everywhere, and we need to learn how to deal with it. Being able to give constructive feedback is a fabulous skill to take into adulthood, but so is the ability to listen to it. How many of us cringe and shrink at a compliment, and find criticism (even if truthful, fair and well-meaning) personally wounding?
By teaching our children to deal with being on both sides of the feedback fence, we will make them better team players. And that is going to get them a long way in life. Show them how important it is to listen to and learn from criticism – even if you don’t agree with it. Try not to act defensively but, again, lead by example. It’s very empowering to know that you are capable of speaking up (calmly, kindly and constructively) if things aren’t right, but also that you can learn from the experience of others without feeling under attack.
Practise!
The best way to become a better team player is, like most things, to practise! Get your child used to being around other people and working alongside them, rather than competing against them. This is where sporting teams, drama clubs and group activities (like the scouts or brownies) come to the fore. Far from being ‘less important’ add-ons to a child’s education, these types of activity will help them to prepare for adulthood in a positive and practical way.
So, teamwork for the win! We’ll be back next time with some babble about communication.
Have a lovely week everyone!
*TEAM* Gecko!
(Go Team!!)
If you’d like to explore these ideas further, we highly recommend you find a copy of Educating Ruby or visit their website www.educatingruby.org . The book is enjoyable, informative and uplifting and we think it would be of benefit to every parent and teacher.
]]>Our May boxes have landed safely with our subscribers and everyone’s been busy filling their minds with all things ornithological.
Here’s a little glimpse at what they’ve been up to…
Our Curiosity kids were sent ornithopters to build so that they could understand the science behind how a bird flies. They’re currently competing to see who can fly theirs the furthest. The winner will receive a prize so there’s more than just pride at stake!
The Imagination kids have been reading Flood and Fang by Marcus Sedgwick, and so far the response has been great! We’re starting to get entries for this month’s creative writing competition too and we can’t wait to see what everyone has come up with!
As well as the usual abundance of exam-style exercises, revision tips and items to help our Wisdom box subscribers unwind, this month they’ve been honing their spatial reasoning, patience and dexterity with our Smart Egg challenge. We’re eager to see who can complete this complicated 3D puzzle in the fastest time!
The best of luck to everyone taking part in our competitions and if you think your child would like to be part of the fun next month, there’s still time to sign up for June’s offering. Just head over to the our boxes page to get started.
]]>In our last news post we looked at the importance of instilling confidence in children in order to help them to embrace their own unique skillset and to see it as a work in progress which is under their control.
This week, we’re looking at the second of the seven ‘c’s outlined in Educating Ruby by Guy Claxton and Bill Lucas. This vital skill is…
Curiosity
It doesn’t take a genius to see that, here at Lucky Gecko, we place a high value on curiosity. When we developed our subscription boxes, we felt it deserved to be one of the three box titles. To be curious is a trait which, more than any other, makes learning easy. A curious student will find their own questions, which will lead them down the path of independent learning. When tutoring, there was nothing better than meeting a student who genuinely wanted to know more. Watching a young, curious mind at work is a wonderful thing.
Young children are bubbling with curiosity, but it’s very easy to knock it out of them. The endless “why” questions which spill out of kids when they’re two or three can be infuriating to adults who have learnt to just accept things the way they are. And yet asking questions and thinking differently is the only way we will ever truly progress. If we only ever learn what other people before us have learnt, we are not adding to the wealth of knowledge, but just continually counting it. The kids have it right – it’s us grown ups who are failing to see the value of those questions.
Another famous Einstein quote is very telling – “It’s a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.” Our education system is designed to teach students the answers to questions which are predetermined, not to answer their own personal questions which have been triggered by the learning process. Increasingly, there is little time within the school day to allow students to be curious and wander off down their own intellectual pathways. We are too concerned with getting things ‘right’ to even consider asking a new question, or looking at things in a new way.
So, how can we, as parents, encourage our children to remain curious and embrace that curiosity? Educating Ruby has a few suggestions…
Notice things!
Encourage your child to notice what’s going on around them – and while you’re at it, practise it yourself too! It’s amazing how many of us walk around too preoccupied to see things which are right in front of us. When children are very little, we do it naturally – “Can you see the horse?”, “Where’s the teddy gone?” and so on – but as enthusiasm for the grazing horses out of the car window dwindles, so does our tendency to draw attention to things. Games like I-Spy are the obvious way to reignite this attention to detail, but hidden object games are also great. Family car journeys or walks are all opportunities for noticing things and the fact that most of us can access the internet at the touch of a button means that answers are at our fingertips like never before.
Seen a pretty bird on your walk to school? Try to find out what species it is.
Noticed that lots of the cars in your road are red? Ask Google which colour car is the most popular in the UK.
Always walking past a blue plaque on a local building? Try to find out something about the person it’s commemorating.
The opportunities are endless and you’ll soon start to see how addictive it is.
Read, read, read!
Reading opens up whole new worlds to us – it shows us places we have never been; exposes us to cultures we may never experience and helps us to imagine what it’s like to be people we may never meet. This exposure helps to broaden a child’s horizons and get them asking questions.
The best thing you can do to encourage your child to read (beyond having lots of books easily available) is to read yourself. Not always with them, although this is invaluable, but in your own time too. Seeing their parents read is one of the most powerful factors in helping a child to become a voracious reader themselves.
Discuss and ask questions
My daughter has just got a new toothbrush, on which there is a picture of a cartoon beaver with big, sparkly white teeth. She made a passing comment that he looked a bit scary and I realised that she had no idea what a beaver is. Rather than just telling her, we took that opportunity to learn. We went on the internet looking at pictures of beavers and explaining why they have such big, strong teeth, and so why the little chap on her toothbrush was a good choice as a mascot. This then led to videos of beavers chewing through trees and building dams; and, inevitably, to human-made dams. Then (as we have Dutch family) to the dams and canals that she’s seen in Holland, and so it went on. All this, and she’s not quite three. She didn’t understand all (or even most) of it, but she still wanted to know and it will have gone into that little brain somewhere.
The prompts are everywhere, and most of us are lucky enough to have the answers to these questions at our fingertips. Try to encourage your child to be an active participant in the world, rather than being in a passive state of acceptance. You can help by not just telling them that the cartoon picture is of a beaver, but going and showing them what that actually means; why it was chosen and how they fit into the world.
Questions lead to more and more questions. What a wonderful thing that is.
Next time we’ll be looking at collaboration. Until then, stay curious you lovely people!
Team Gecko
If you’d like to explore these ideas further, we highly recommend you find a copy of Educating Ruby or visit their website www.educatingruby.org . The book is enjoyable, informative and uplifting and we think it would be of benefit to every parent and teacher.
]]>Here at Lucky Gecko, we’re constantly looking for ways of reimagining education. The book “Educating Ruby” by Guy Claxton and Bill Lucas is a powerful read for those of us who feel that the school system is no longer preparing students for the realities of the world they will live in. In particular, their identification of what they term the “7 c’s” resonated with us.
They propose that we should learn to foster and value the following attributes in our students in order to properly educate and prepare them for the future:
confidence, curiosity, collaboration, communication, creativity, commitment and craftmanship
Of course, parents are the most important educators in a child’s life, so we’ve created a series of posts to help you find ways in which you can help your child to blossom in these key areas.
First up, it’s… confidence
One of our biggest frustrations about the current school system is that mistakes are seen as a bad thing – getting something wrong, in many cases, is the “worst” thing that can happen in a classroom situation. Children are taught to aim for perfection at all costs.
In the adult world, however, mistakes are the pathway to progress. If children are not prepared to make mistakes, if they are frightened of making them, how can we expect to create adults who are able to push the boundaries of our understanding? We need people to take risks, explore new ideas and have confidence in their own ability to learn if they go wrong.
Confidence in our own abilities requires self-belief and a determined outlook. Confident people believe that they can get better at things if they work at them. This then leads to a more positive attitude and a willingness to “have a go” at things. It also encourages students away from the idea that some people are just naturally “better” at certain things, and replaces this idea with an appreciation of the power of hard work. The goal is, surely, for us all to acknowledge our own unique skillset and to see it as a “work in progress”. We can always improve – we just have to try.
As a parent, there are many ways in which you can encourage your child to have this outlook. The attitude you instil in them at home will have a huge influence on how they approach the challenges at school and in the wider world.
Allow your children to see you struggle
As in all things, they will learn more from watching what you do than listening to what you say. How you react to a problem, or a mistake, will be crucial in shaping their attitude. Try to demonstrate that making mistakes is a normal part of living and that it is a useful way to learn and improve. We all want to be our child’s superhero, but there’s a huge value in them seeing you wrestling with a problem and coming out the other side.
Avoid generalised praise
Claxton and Lucas point out that generalised praise (such as “Good work, Sarah”) or praise which suggests an innate ability (“You’re a natural!”) is less valuable than comments which highlight the journey a child has taken. If you can make your praise more specific (“I’m so impressed by how hard you worked on that painting and the time you took choosing the colours.”) it will help your child to see that putting in extra effort is worthwhile. If they think that they just have some magic ability in something, they will either become complacent and not improve, or not understand how they can improve.
Provide a “safe space”
An overused term, but an important concept. Your child needs to know that they are allowed to make mistakes and that you will help them to learn from them. If they fear punishment or disapproval, they will be reluctant to try new or challenging things and this will bleed into all aspects of their life.
Make them feel useful
Allow your child to take control of tasks, give them responsibility for certain things around the home, and help them to master the art of planning. If they get used to achieving small goals at home, this will build their self-belief and they will carry the same attitude into school. Setting achievable targets for them is crucial, and helping them work out their own solutions to problems (rather than simply telling them what they should do) will help to give them the confidence they need.
In the next post we’ll look at curiosity – a trait which we feel is so important that we named a box after it!
Have a wonderful week folks!
Team Gecko
If you’d like to explore these ideas further, we highly recommend you find a copy of Educating Ruby or visit their website www.educatingruby.org . The book is enjoyable, informative and uplifting and we think it would be of benefit to every parent and teacher.
]]>Welcome to a brand new chapter for Lucky Gecko.
Some of you may already know us from our previous incarnation as Lucky Gecko Tuition, while others may be new to the party. However you found us, we’re delighted you could make it!
For those of you that don’t know, we’ve used our 12 years of tuition expertise and experience to develop a range of monthly educational subscription boxes for children. Just imagine that we’ve taken our tutors, squished them and mashed them and squeezed them into boxes (metaphorically, of course… far too messy otherwise), ready to be posted out to you at home. All of that knowledge, inspiration and passion sent straight to you, every month.
We’re now officially open for business so, if you think your child would benefit from a delivery of bona fide Lucky Gecko inspiration, motivation and education each month, head on over to our boxes page and see which one you think will best suit them.
We’re so excited to finally share this new project with you and can’t wait to get back to doing what we do best – making learning fun.
Thanks for popping in!
Team Gecko
xx