Contrary to what some parents may think, spending seven and a half hours a day, for five days a week, for four terms a year, children still do most of their ‘learning for life’ outside school. In fact,  most of their character shaping comes from family influences. Therefore, what they are learning within the family allows them to apply it outside the family. In the same way, what they learn in school needs to be applied outside school.

‘Play is the Way’ is the social and emotional learning methodology that we focus on in our Pastoral Care lessons. ‘Play is the Way’ helps us develop empathetic, independent, self-managing, self-motivated young people of good character. Wilson McCaskill, creator of ‘Play is the Way’, has created a series of short videos aimed at parents on a range of practical topics to help support their child’s development and your role as the parent/carer. This article allows you to take a look at four episodes:

• Episode 1 - Role Modeling: Parents must choose to become good role models when raising children: children learn to do as we do, not as we say.

• Episode 2 - Friend or Parent: The frequently asked question ‘Should I be my child’s friend or parent?’ Bottom line: be your child’s parent first and foremost.

• Episode 3 - Emotional Children, Emotional Parents: ‘How do I stop my children from upsetting me?’ Wilson talks about the importance of emotional security from parents – how children need security and rational thought over emotional parenting. Bottom line: be the adult in the relationship between your child and you. Be rational with your decisions and parenting. Don’t let irrational emotions drive you as a parent.

• Episode 4 - Helping Children Find Their Path: Parents have a common issue: ‘my child seems to be going nowhere.’ Wilson discusses the best way to look at success for your children and elaborates on why success should be measured through the right path for your child. Bottom line: help your child find their path in life. That will inevitably bring them happiness and success.
  
  

Chelsea Formosa
Director of Junior Primary