The importance of the word ‘with’

As parents and teachers, we need to appreciate the importance of the word ‘with’ as we engage with the children. This notion is particularly powerful as we move back into more normal daily routines after two years of confinement due to the pandemic. During this time, children have perhaps become more dependent on the adults around them, so advice on how to empower our children is perhaps timely. ‘With’ rather than ‘for’ is the key message here.

It's what parents do with kids that is important rather than what they do for them.

Hopefully over the recent holiday break you enjoyed lots of ‘with’ moments. When our children reflect on the truly meaningful moments in their life, more often than not they will remember the time they spent doing something with us as opposed to what we may have bought for them or done for them. This is probably true when we look back on our own childhood.

A great deal of effective parenting, and indeed effective teaching, is done by osmosis or mimicry. Often, we do far too much for our kids rather than working alongside them and allowing them to become more independent. The act of encouraging kids to become independent requires us all to do things with the children but not necessarily for them. This type of teaching requires an investment of just one key ingredient: our time.

Together, let’s make this our common goal this term.

Steve Wilson
Head of Carey Donvale