Every parent likes to celebrate their children’s academic successes. If your child’s teacher tells you that they’re doing a great job in class or they receive high grades, you naturally want to congratulate them. No matter what your child has in mind for their future, you want to emphasize the importance of education.
But what if your child has been struggling in school lately? You want to help them improve their study habits and boost their grades. Yet at the same time, you don’t just want to focus on their shortcomings. You also want to come up with a few ways to keep celebrating them. Here’s how to celebrate your child’s many accomplishments outside of the classroom!
Athletic and Physical Abilities
Does your child have a passion for sports? If they’ve been working hard as part of an athletic team, you can celebrate their progress! Even if your child isn’t on a team, they might have a solo sport they’ve improved at recently. For example, maybe your child recently attended a yoga class with you - you can celebrate their commitment to caring for their body and mind.
Creativity
Sometimes, students who have trouble in the classroom thrive in creative hobbies outside of the classroom. If your child tends to have difficulty with certain subjects at school, but they’re always working on exciting artistic projects at home, this definitely calls for celebration.
You could hang up your child’s art on the fridge or your walls, pick up cute notebooks and journals where they can write down their stories, or offer to record their music. Remind your child that fostering their creative talents is important!
Learning New Life Skills
Has your child recently learned some basic cooking skills with your help? Have they been lending you a hand in the garden and started planting fruits and vegetables? Or has your child expressed an interest in assisting you with basic DIY projects around the house? These are all accomplishments worth celebrating!
Some of the most useful life skills are learned outside of the classroom. If your child has picked up some new life skills, feel free to express how proud you are of their achievements. Knowing these skills will take them far in the future!
Healthy Habits
Practicing self-care is important for people of all ages, kids included! Maybe your child has taken the initiative to pick up some healthy habits. For example, perhaps you’ve had to take steps to curb their screen time, and they’ve cooperated easily by spending more time reading, going outside, or working on fun arts and crafts that don’t involve technology. Or maybe the two of you have been practicing mindfulness habits like meditation together.
Celebrating self-care is key. If your child learns that self-care is essential at a young age, they will keep up with these habits into adulthood.
Gaining Confidence
Sometimes, accomplishments aren’t quantifiable. They don’t come with a grade or a gold star, and they aren’t necessarily something you can measure. But as a parent, you know when your child has made progress internally.
Maybe you’ve noticed that they’ve been kinder and more patient lately, or that they’ve been far more eager to try new things and go out of their comfort zone. Perhaps you’ve seen them helping out their friends and siblings frequently. If you’re proud of your child’s character, go out of your way to celebrate this — it’s just as crucial as success in school.
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Are you wondering how to celebrate your child’s accomplishments outside of the classroom? Talking to a therapist can help. Reach out to us to discuss your options for scheduling your first session for child therapy or parenting counseling.