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Another fabulous week could have been another 100% for two days - so close!

This week's chapter will be a controversial one. But an interesting read all the same. Do we give our children enough opportunity to take and manage risk? If you don't can children learn from failure or adversity?

Chapter 7 of The Anxious Child by Jonathan Haidt, titled "The Role of Parenting in Anxiety," delves into how modern parenting styles contribute to the rise in anxiety among children. Haidt argues that overprotective parenting, which has become more common in recent decades, plays a significant role in exacerbating anxiety in children. He attributes this shift to the rise of what he calls "helicopter parenting," where parents are excessively involved in their children’s lives, striving to protect them from even the slightest discomfort or potential harm.

Haidt explains that this trend in parenting stems from societal changes, particularly the growing concern about safety and the rise of risk-averse cultures. Parents, fearing the worst outcomes for their children, often over-shelter them, providing constant supervision and minimizing the risks children face. While this may seem like a form of love and protection, Haidt argues that it prevents children from developing the necessary skills to handle anxiety, uncertainty, and minor challenges. By shielding children from discomfort, they are not able to learn how to cope with adversity or failure.

A key idea Haidt discusses is the importance of allowing children to experience small, manageable risks. He emphasizes that experiencing and overcoming minor difficulties is essential for developing resilience. If children are never allowed to face challenges, they never learn how to navigate the world confidently. This lack of exposure to manageable stressors contributes to heightened anxiety because children are unable to build the coping mechanisms they need when larger challenges arise in their lives.

Furthermore, Haidt addresses how the current culture of overparenting and fear has shifted the focus from encouraging independence in children to an emphasis on micromanagement. Parents, wanting to ensure their children’s success and safety, often avoid letting them fail, inadvertently fostering a sense of helplessness. This lack of autonomy can lead to greater anxiety.

Try these at home:

Give mealtime a math infusion. Do your kids like to help out in the kitchen? Meal prep is the perfect time to get children counting, measuring, estimating, comparing, and recognising shapes. Ask your child to measure and count cups of ingredients, count how many plates and utensils are needed for the whole family.

Supercharge your storytimes. Your daily book reading sessions are golden opportunities to actively build early literacy skills. To boost vocabulary knowledge, watch for words you think your child may not know and briefly define and talk about them. When you reread a book, ask your child if they remember what the word means, and try to use the new words at other times of the day to reinforce knowledge. 

Make a museum. Your child can make a museum at home with a little imagination and a few simple materials. If your child has collected little treasures over the years (rocks, shells, toy dinosaurs, buttons, etc.), show them how to arrange their collections in themed displays using shoe boxes, small jars, or egg cartons. 

Enjoy the outdoors. Engage in outdoor family activities that give your child’s motor skills a pick-me-up. Choose activities that involve both gross motor skills (running, jumping, playing catch, dribbling a ball) and fine motor skills (collecting and sorting objects, using small tools). Go on a family walk and play “I Spy.” Have an outdoor family dance party. Collect things like pine cones, acorns, and pretty stones in a pail, and help your child sort them into groups. Make and hang homemade feeders for your backyard or windowsill birds. Your kids will get critical motor skills practice, and the fresh air and fun will give everyone an emotional boost.

No Assembly this week due to our amazing Science morning!