Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

05-03-2022

Offer General Suggestions When Your Child Needs an Idea

Your child should be doing a writing assignment, but instead keeps staring at the blank sheet of paper. "I can't think of anything to write about." Or perhaps the science fair project plan is due tomorrow, but your child hasn't started yet. "Everything I think of is boring."

Even with a world of ideas to choose from, children can't always come up with one when they need one. One way you can help is by making general suggestions that will lead your child to think of a good idea to pursue.

Here are some tips:

Make more than one suggestion. This leaves the choice up to your child.
Focus on your child's interests. "You are interested in training our puppy. Could that turn into a science project?"
Encourage your child to make the suggestion more specific. "You really like riding your bike. What is something about bicycles you could write about?"
Don't get upset if your child doesn't choose one of your ideas. Show an interest in whatever your student chooses.
Remember that coming up with ideas for school projects is not your main responsibility. If you can't think of anything, don't feel guilty.

After the choice is made, let it be your child's project. Yes, you might have done the project differently. But children learn by doing projects their way.

Brought to you by:

Webster County Schools

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