Last week you would have received your child’s Semester 1 Report and this week speaking to their class teacher during parent teacher interviews. The report and interviews provide a great opportunity to discuss your child’s learning with them. Please find below some ideas taken from ‘Big Life Journal’, for talking to children about their work.

How can you help your child understand that what THEY think of themselves and their work is WAY more important than what others think of them?

You can do so by helping them develop internal validation so they stop seeking validation from other people. Easier said than done, right?

Our human's primitive brain is wired to seek validation from others. We want to be accepted by the "tribe" so that we're safe and protected from external threats. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Nevertheless, you can make a big difference on how much your child values their own opinion of themselves and their work.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Begin by paying attention to how you give them feedback.

Next time, instead of immediately jumping to praise or offer criticism about something your child has done, ASK them questions instead:
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“What do YOU think you did well?”
“What do you think you could have done better?”
“How did you feel when you were making this?”
“How does your work make you feel?” 

And if your child answers with "I don't' know", it's a great reason to continue to encourage them to self-reflect. 

When we ask our children for their own assessment instead of immediately jumping in with our opinion, we’re giving them a chance to self-reflect and self-evaluate.

This helps them develop internal validation, which is the most important voice to be listening to.

Mrs Lillian Del Giudice

Assistant Principal