Supporting your child’s individual learning style

We are not all learning like robots. We all develop our own individual learning style which needs to be nourished and encouraged from an early age. If we block our child’s ability to learn in their own way it can inhibit their ability to learn, it will devour their self-confidence and their interest in learning will spiral down very fast.

Here are some sound reasons why supporting their individual style will accelerate your child’s learning: Let them take ownership of their learning style.

Optimised Learning: Tailoring your support to your child's learning style ensures they can absorb and retain information more effectively. This optimisation leads to better academic performance and a deeper understanding of the material. A child will remember much more if they are in control of their learning. The brain is wired to connect to the child’s learning in a way that will be deeper and richer if the child is in control of what and how they learn.

Boosted Confidence: When children are taught in a way that aligns with their learning style, they tend to feel more confident about their abilities. This increased self-assurance can lead to a more positive attitude toward learning and taking on challenges. A confident child will learn with more gusto and memorise the content for longer.

Reduced Frustration: If a child's learning style isn't accommodated, they may become frustrated and discouraged. Shutting down to learning could be the outcome. Understanding and supporting their preferred learning approach can reduce their frustration and make the learning process more enjoyable. Try not to understand their learning style and accept that it works for them.

Enhanced Motivation: Children are more motivated to learn when they find the learning process engaging and relevant to their interests and preferences. Catering to their learning style can spark their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.

Improved Communication: Understanding your child's learning style allows for better communication between you and your child's educators. It enables you to advocate for your child's needs and collaborate effectively with teachers to create a conducive learning environment. Accept that your child is unique and in the classroom teachers know how to accommodate such variation in a child’s learning. Be there to talk to the teacher about how your child chooses to learn.

Personal Growth: Supporting your child's learning style fosters their ability to adapt and learn independently. They develop problem-solving skills and the capacity to explore various learning methods, which are valuable life skills. Your child’s individual style when encouraged strengthens their sense of self-worth and they value how they learn.

In summary, recognising and supporting your child's learning style can lead to more effective learning experiences, increased confidence, reduced frustration, enhanced motivation, improved communication with educators, and personal growth. A child will perform better when happy and are more conducive to learning when they feel confident that they know how best to learn. Give them space to experiment with how they learn and you will see a child taking more ownership of their learning.

What parents need to think about when our children go to school

As parents of children in school, there are several important concepts and considerations that you should always keep in mind to support your child's education and overall wellbeing.  These concepts are all about good parenting skills that help you keep your eye on that all-important issue of education.

Communication: Maintain open and regular communication with your child's teachers and school staff. Effective communication is essential for ongoing connection between the school and teacher. If things were to change you would learn about them quickly.

Support and Encouragement: Encourage your child's curiosity and love for learning. Provide emotional support and praise for their efforts, achievements, and resilience in the face of challenges. Be a positive parent who encourages their efforts and celebrates achievements of all sorts.

Active Involvement: Be actively involved in your child's education by attending parent-teacher conferences, school events, and volunteering when possible. Your presence and engagement can have a positive impact. Such involvement will show your child how you value their education and love learning. Be a partner with the school.

Consistency: Establish consistent routines at home to support your child's learning. This includes setting regular study times, creating a conducive homework environment, and ensuring a balanced daily schedule. Encourage your child to be part of the weekly planning of the family routine.

Individualised Learning: Recognise that each child is unique with their own strengths,        weaknesses, and learning styles. Support and advocate for individualised instruction when needed. Recognise your child in their own learning style and avoid labelling them.

Wellness and Health: Prioritise your child's physical and mental health. Ensure they get enough sleep, maintain a healthy diet, and engage in regular physical activity. Address any health or emotional concerns promptly. Talk openly about maintaining good health and encourage open conversation about what makes you feel well and happy.

Homework and Study Skills: Help your child develop effective study habits and time management skills. Encourage them to take responsibility for their homework and assignments. The more independent they are here, the more effective the homework will be.

Reading and Literacy: Foster a love of reading and literacy. Encourage reading both at school and at home, and provide access to a variety of age-appropriate books. Make your house a visual delight with books and magazines scattered throughout.

Technology and Media Literacy: Monitor your child's use of technology and media. Teach them responsible digital citizenship and ensure they have access to safe and educational online resources. Discuss electronic safety with the school as they have ways and resources to help parents cope at home.

Critical Thinking: Encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Ask open-ended questions and engage in discussions that promote curiosity and independent thinking. Have plenty of games around the house and discuss news items that can lead to healthy debate.

Respect for Diversity: Promote an appreciation for diversity and being inclusive. Teach your child to respect others' backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Be open to invitations and show your child that exclusivity is a dangerous and narrow position to take.

Advocacy: Be an advocate for your child when necessary. If you have concerns about your child's education or wellbeing, communicate with the school and seek solutions together. Work cooperatively with the school and listen to what they have to tell you.

Lifelong Learning: Emphasise the importance of lifelong learning. Show your child that learning is a continuous and enriching journey that extends beyond the classroom. Talk about how you keep learning and what excites your imagination when discovering new facts.

Balanced Expectations: Set realistic expectations for your child's academic performance, recognising that success may vary from subject to subject and year to year. Also, focus on rewarding the efforts put into their work rather than the results.

Positive Role Model: Be a positive role model for your child by demonstrating a commitment to learning, resilience in the face of challenges, and a growth mindset. Discuss from time to time what makes you tick and find opportunities to show the way using common sense and emotional maturity

Self-Care: Remember to take care of yourself as a parent. Maintaining your own wellbeing and balance is essential for being able to support your child effectively. Also, your child needs to see that your self-care is essential for everyone’s wellbeing.

These ideas help you as a parent develop healthy and effective parenting skills to support their learning. The path is never even but keeping them on the right track steers them in the right direction.

‘There is no such thing as a perfect parent. So just be a real one.’

Sue Atkins.

The fun of joint projects with your child

Finding good reasons to spend time together shows that you are keen to build a strong relationship with your child. Finding projects that you can share together is not only educational but leads you both on a journey of discovery together. Shared projects mean you are both actively engaged to discover and learn new things. What better way than to show your child how you value learning as much as them.

In a shared project there is give and take and lots of healthy questioning along the way. It means that conversations with your child are rich and lead to happy negotiations between the two of you.

To find joint projects, look at things you do at home that can be shared. Think about what motivates you and what will motivate your child. Once you have a good sense of an activity that you both will enjoy then go for it. The project does need to be wanted and accepted by both of you. It will fail if the passion wears off quickly. Think about how your family operates and what interests them enough to join in with you on project developments.

Here are some suggestions:

• Gardening, setting up veggie areas together.

• Building a small cubby house.

• Fixing bikes and toys together

• Cooking, experimenting with new recipes.

• Doing a drawing course together.

• Painting the child’s room together.

• Building a major Lego set.

• Sewing and learning about patterns.

• Build a bird feeder.

• Art and craft activities with toilet rolls etc.

• Be involved in exercise together.

• Nature activities, setting up equipment together.

• Research together where next to go on holidays.

• Develop a family scrapbook together.

 The list is endless and is only limited by your imagination.

Together you are teaching your child more about the world, showing them new skills and deepening your relationship with them. You are also fostering teamwork and bonding. Your child needs to see how you value learning and want to share your wisdom with them.

‘Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.’

                                                       -Albert Einstein.

Seven ideas to help your child with homework

Homework can mean different things to different children. Some simply love it and others see it as a drudgery. Either way, finding ways to ease the pressure after school for your child is the best way forward in managing homework. Of course, it will be different for each child.

These ideas are suggestions to make the task of homework meaningful and enjoyable.

1. Homework Hangout Corner: Transform a cozy corner of your home into the ultimate homework haven! Add comfy cushions, good lighting, and all necessary supplies. Make it a fun tradition by letting your child personalise their space with posters or stickers. They may like to play their favourite music there too.

2. Timer Tango: Set a timer for short study bursts followed by mini-breaks. For example, 25 minutes of focused homework followed by a 5-minute quick snack away from the study area. This rhythm keeps things engaging and prevents burnout. It also gives them something to look forward to in short, sharp bursts.

3. Snack & Solve Sessions: Combine brainpower with delicious bites! Create a "snack bar" full of brain-boosting treats like nuts, fruits, and yoghurt. Let your child indulge while tackling their assignments - a tasty incentive to power through. Try to be more relaxed about food issues while they are studying. Too many pressures and controls can reduce their enthusiasm for the work.

4. Question Quest: Turn homework into a treasure hunt! Write clues related to the subjects your child is working on. As they solve problems, they move closer to discovering a small surprise at the end of their quest. This is really all about putting some joy into the activities. It also shows your interest in their work.

5. Study Selfies: Encourage creativity by letting your child take "study selfies." They can snap a pic of themselves studying in a unique way each day. This adds an element of fun and lets them showcase their creative side. Set up a board where they can write notes, put up photos, celebrate success and work completed. By keeping it close to their workstation they can occasionally look up and enjoy the moment.

6. Teach-back Time: Let your child be the teacher! After completing their homework, have them explain a concept to you as if you were the student. This reinforces their understanding and boosts their confidence in their own learning.

7. Choosing the best time: When is the best time at home for your child to learn? Some children prefer to do their homework in the morning before school. Others straight after school. Discuss with your child when they think they cope better with homework. There is no set pattern. However, watch that tiredness does not interfere with their homework.

Homework is always a complimentary part of their work. Should they come across difficulties that cannot be worked through, then do not linger on it. The teacher is responsible for setting the homework and it is their responsibility to help the child through the problem the next day.

Remember, the goal is to make homework a positive experience that nurtures your child's growth and learning. The above light and easy ideas can turn mundane tasks into memorable moments!

‘Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn’

-Albert Einstein

Six great ideas that parents can use to build their child's interest in learning:

For some children, school can be long, demanding and tedious. The key is to keep your child interested in learning and to be excited about what is possible. We can really encourage a love for learning by demonstrating how we love to learn new things in our own lives.

Here are six great ideas that parents can use to build their child's interest in learning:

1. Make Learning Fun and Engaging: Create a positive and enjoyable learning environment by incorporating games, hands-on activities, and interactive experiences. Use educational apps, puzzles, and creative projects to make learning feel like play. Show your children how you enjoy learning all the time. Set your house up for easy access to books and all sorts of learning materials. Make it a visual feast of all things that lead to reading and discovery

2. Follow Their Interests: Pay attention to your child's natural interests and passions. Tailor learning experiences to align with their curiosity, whether it's dinosaurs, outer space, art, or animals. When children see that learning can be related to their interests, they become more motivated to explore and discover. Have fun with them when they do projects. Here you can use all sorts of materials and discuss many and varied topics.

3. Read Together: Reading is one of the best ways to foster a love for learning. Set aside regular time for reading together, exploring a variety of genres and topics. Discuss the stories, ask open-ended questions, and let your child's imagination flourish. Have plenty of reading material around the house.

4. Encourage Curiosity: Create an atmosphere where questions are welcomed and encouraged. When your child asks a question, help them find answers through research, experiments, or discussions. This shows them that learning is about satisfying their curiosity and finding solutions. Play games in the car where you learn and discover about the surroundings. Make life a learning experience all round.

5. Connect Learning to the Real World: Help your child see the practical applications of what they're learning. For instance, involve them in cooking to teach maths and science concepts, or go on nature walks to explore biology and ecology. Showing how learning connects to everyday life can make it more meaningful.

6. Provide a Variety of Learning Experiences: Expose your child to a diverse range of learning experiences, such as visits to museums, science centres, historical sites, and cultural events. Exposure to different subjects and fields can spark new interests and expand their horizons. Whilst being consistent has its values this is about putting variety into their thinking processes.

 Remember, the key is to create a positive and supportive atmosphere that encourages your child to explore, discover, and enjoy the process of learning. Be patient, flexible and adaptable to your child's learning style. Always be ready to celebrate their achievements and efforts, no matter how small. Don’t be surprised when they come up with strange and wonderful ideas. Let all that flow into creativity and a love for learning. Finally don’t worry about mistakes being made. We all learn best from our mistakes. Here we grow!

‘Learning is a pure journey of discovery.’

                                                            -Gail Smith

Eight Fun Ways to Enhance Handwriting Skills in Kids!

1. Artistic Doodles: Encourage your child to doodle creatively! Provide them with a dedicated sketchbook and a set of colourful markers or pens. Engaging in imaginative doodling exercises will help them develop better control and precision in their writing. It is also a fun activity that younger children especially enjoy. Take care to affirm their efforts as they progress through the stages of improving their writing.

2. Tracing Trails: Create fun tracing worksheets with their favourite characters or shapes. Use dotted lines for them to follow along and trace the letters or words. This activity reinforces muscle memory and fine motor skills essential for neat handwriting.

3. Sensory Writing: Make handwriting tactile and exciting by incorporating sensory materials like sand, rice, or shaving cream. Let your child practice writing letters in these materials, stimulating multiple senses for a more engaging learning experience. Children need to be tactile.

4. Storytime Calligraphy: Transform handwriting practice into storytelling adventures. Have your child copy short passages from their favourite storybooks or write their own tales in a beautiful font. This activity will inspire them to take pride in their penmanship. Use different pens and pencils, experimenting with shapes and colours.

5. Buy them a fancy book (perhaps leather bound) where their penmanship can be given full attention and value. Also, encourage them to handwrite thank you notes and to select the best paper and words making them quite a self-expressive gift.

6. Letter Formation Relay: Set up a relay race where each team member writes a letter on a whiteboard before passing it on. Use timers to create a friendly competition and motivate your child to form letters accurately and efficiently.

7. Digital Drawing Fun: Utilise drawing apps or interactive pen tablets to merge technology with handwriting practice. Children can trace letters on the screen, experiment with different fonts, and enjoy instant feedback that enhances their handwriting skills.

8.   Have fun with the children practising their best signature. Display them on the fridge. Encourage them to keep improving and talk about how that signature symbolises them.

Finally, patience and positive reinforcement are key when teaching children to improve their handwriting. Development can be slow but as they mature you will notice major differences. By making the process enjoyable and creative, you'll motivate them to develop excellent penmanship naturally! Let them see that you are making quite a statement when you send a written note to people. Let them see that their handwriting is all about them.

Our learning increases as we handwrite better. We own it, we created it. Therefore keep up with handwriting so that our memory keeps growing and our personal statement to others is clear.

-Gail J Smith

Children All Learn Differently: Embrace Their Unique Learning Journey

As parents, we often want the best for our children, especially when it comes to their education. It's important to remember that each child learns differently and has their own unique style of learning. Our role as parents is to support and encourage them as they discover what works best for them.

Here are some enjoyable and easy-to-implement ideas to support your child's individual learning journey:

1. Encourage Their Individuality: Recognize that your child may have different learning preferences, such as being more visual, auditory, or tactile. Embrace their uniqueness and avoid being anxious if they seem to deviate from traditional learning patterns.

2. Embrace Experimentation: Allow your child to experiment with different learning ideas and methods. Trial and error is a natural part of the learning process and can lead to valuable discoveries.

3. Celebrate Breakthrough Moments: Sometimes, children may struggle to find their way, but suddenly, they might have a breakthrough. Trust in their independent journey and celebrate their moments of success.

4. Lead by Example: Share your own learning habits with your child. Talk about how you like to learn and the tools and resources that help you. Demonstrating that learning is a lifelong journey will inspire them.

5. Create a Supportive Learning Environment: Involve your child in setting up their learning space. Encourage their creative ideas and be open to changes in their study location. This discovery time can help them find their ideal learning environment.

6. Stimulate Curiosity: Encourage your child to actively engage with their environment. Let them be observant, listen to others, and watch for signs and symbols. This fosters a curious and inquiring mind.

7. Positive Reinforcement: Always celebrate your child's efforts and value their contributions. Make them feel appreciated and show genuine interest in their learning progress.

8. Take Short Breaks: Encourage frequent short breaks during study sessions. This practice will help them return to their desk refreshed and eager for more information.

9. Intrinsic Motivation: Nurture your child's self-determination by allowing them to pursue learning topics that interest them personally. When the learning is meaningful to them, they will be more motivated.

10. Respect Their Timing: Allow time for your child to develop their learning style and adapt to the school system. Be patient and supportive as they grow and evolve.

Remember the old saying, "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." As parents, our job is to empower our children with the skills and confidence to become independent learners who can thrive throughout their lives.

Enjoy the journey of discovering your child's unique style of learning, and celebrate the progress they make along the way!

Six ideas to help children focus on learning rather than just completing work

1. Encourage Curiosity: Be spontaneous and look for occasions to be curious. Foster a sense of curiosity and exploration in your child. Encourage them to ask questions, seek answers, and dig deeper into topics that interest them. For example, if your child is learning about space, you can encourage them to research and discover more about specific planets or space missions.

2. Promote Project-Based Learning: Encourage your child to engage in project-based learning, where they can apply their knowledge and skills to real-world scenarios. The more they engage in real life activities the quicker they learn. This can involve working on hands-on projects, conducting experiments, or creating presentations. For instance, if your child is learning about endangered animals, they could create a poster or a short video highlighting the importance of conservation. Help them with ideas and share in their work.

3. Connect Learning to Real Life: Help your child understand how what they are learning in school is relevant to their everyday life. If they are learning about fractions, you can involve them in cooking or baking activities where they need to use fractions to measure ingredients.

4. Encourage Reflection and Discussion: Create opportunities for your child to reflect on what they have learned and engage in discussions regularly.  This can be done through regular conversations about their school day or specific topics they are studying. Ask open-ended questions and listen actively to their responses. For instance, after reading a book, ask them about their favourite part or what they learned from the story. Watching the news together can be a stimulating time to reflect together on wide topics.

5. Incorporate Technology and Educational Resources: Utilise educational apps, online resources, and interactive platforms to enhance your child's learning experience. There are numerous educational websites, interactive games, and educational videos available that can make learning more engaging and interactive. For example, you can use educational apps that provide interactive quizzes or virtual simulations related to their subjects.

6. Foster a Love for Reading: Encourage your child to develop a love for reading by providing access to a variety of books and materials that connect with their interests. Take regular trips to the library, set aside dedicated reading time, and discuss books together. Reading not only enhances their knowledge but also promotes critical thinking and imagination.

You can help your child develop a deeper love for learning and an inquiring approach to life by supporting them in some of the above ways. You are an ideal partner in developing and sharing their love and passion for knowledge.

‘Show your child how passionate you are about learning and watch how that passion rubs off!’

                                                                                  -Gail J Smith

Helping the shy, less confident child

For some of our children, finding the confidence to speak up is a hard process. In fact, it can become quite a habit to sit back, observe others and have no expectations of putting yourself forward in a group situation. The confident, more dominant personality, will take centre stage and the quieter child will become the audience. There are some strategies you can use to help build a child’s stamina in this area.

 Consider:

• If you are a louder, more prominent personality, try to tone it down around your child. They will step back and not engage as effectively if they feel that you are taking over.

• If there are other more confident siblings around, make sure that your quiet child gets their voice heard. Perhaps at dinner time, everyone takes turns to talk about their day.

• Reassure with plenty of ‘I’ statements. ‘I like it when you tell me what happened.’ ‘I am so happy to hear that story.’ ‘Well done. That is a great idea. Tell me more.’

• Choose your words carefully and avoid harsh criticism. This is such a setback for a less confident child. They remember all the negative words.

• Giving them more independence builds their self-confidence. Start doing things for them but pull back and let them finish the tasks.

• Exercise listening more to what they have to say. This will affirm their worth. Give excellent eye contact and undisturbed attention when they talk. Choose a special time on your own to have those chats.

• Talking in front of groups can be difficult. Invite them to practise in front of the family, talk about their hobbies etc.

• Joining extracurricular activities means they will need to engage with others. Being a team member means committing to collaboration and engagement with others. Learning an instrument means presenting in front of people. It all helps.

• Encourage friendships. Having a friend requires effort and commitment.

• Remember when you praise be specific. ‘I was so impressed with how you spoke to your friend who was upset. You were so sympathetic.’

• Use open-ended questions. This gives them scope to answer expressively. ‘Tell me about the project?’ ‘What have you learnt at basketball training today?” We don’t want ‘yes, no’ answers.

• Surprisingly shy children act out in plays very well. In fact, they enjoy taking on another character. Encourage joining a drama group or simply dress up and reenact fairy tales at home. Home can become a great uninhibited theatre for the whole family. Perhaps your child can act out what happened at school that day.

• Reading stories out loud to the whole family is helpful. How about a family novel where each child reads a small section after dinner?

• When you hear of some lack of confidence they display with regard to something at school, encourage them to set little goals to work on the issue. Then praise them for their efforts.

• Set realistic expectations at home. They want to please you and if they succeed they feel so much more secure in themselves.

• Play often with your child. This helps with building positive self-talk. They feel confident and happy to plough through the play and learn more about themselves.

Little by little your shy, less confident child can become quite a strong, capable personality over time. Slow, steady encouragement while at the same time respecting their emotional and social stage of development is the best way forward.

‘Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”

                                                                            -Theodore Roosevelt

Keep our children active and physical

We are often focused on developing our intelligence which involves social, emotional and cognitive skills. What we need to keep in mind is that physical activity connects very much to our developing mindset and that children need to keep working on their physical development throughout their lives. In some cases, this is not difficult, as many children demand to be active and commit to different sports etc. very early in their life. There are of course some children who are reticent to be active and participate in team sports which are so beneficial for them on a range of levels.

There is considerable evidence that mental well-being is improved through physical activity. The synchronicity of mind and body is critical to good mental health. Who doesn’t really feel good when they are not physically active and moving well? Learning involves the brain, the body and the soul. At any age, physical activity helps us grow and feel so much better in ourselves. We learn better, we think better and we act better when we are more active.

This article is to remind us of the importance of keeping our children active and invigorating their days with movement of some sort.

Consider:

• When a child joins a sporting team, they gain immense skills in socially engaging with others, learning to be a team member and working in a collaborative manner under pressure.

• Keep your child regularly active. Consider joining them daily with a bike ride or just a walk around the park. The habit is a powerful reminder of what will make a difference to them in the long run.

• Use your backyard. Put up a basketball ring, a bounce set etc. Let them use all their domestic spaces to exercise and feel free.

• Talk about physical fitness frequently. Chat about heroes that work to keep fit.

• Set up routines with physical fitness for the family. It might be weekly bike rides or walks in parks. Develop a pattern where your children think that routine fitness is a family affair and one that is important to you.

• We often find after exercise that we are mentally more alert and keen to take on the challenges of the day. Choose the best time of the day for family exercise. Timing is everything in this matter.

• School has excellent opportunities for children to join various sporting teams. Encourage this and support them by attending sessions where possible. Children learn a lot more social skills when playing sports with peers. They also learn about empathy and cooperation as a team member.

• If your child does not show interest in sports, at least take them walking, hiking, cycling etc. to keep them interested in being physical. Competitive sport is not for everyone. Lead by example and take them along for different physical experiences.

• Children talk up their sports and enjoy engaging with each other through games etc. Keep your child aware of the value of being active and physical. This keeps them in tune with their peers and strengthens their relationships with them.

• No child likes to feel unaligned with their peers. Being in tune with their physical needs and educated in the value of physical fitness gives them mental aptitude. They cope well with their peers and feel equal.

• It is all about alignment with mind and body. As your child grows, teach them that being physically active can improve general health and give them a great sense of personal satisfaction. As they become more familiar with the benefits of being fit they will want to keep up the momentum. They will notice the difference themselves.

Finally, with all that is said today about mental health, I cannot recommend anything better for family stability than collective involvement in family physical activities. It is so good for the body and spirit and that wonderful sense of togetherness without complications.

‘Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude and your mood’’

                                                                                          Unknown

Watch out for self doubting. It can creep in slowly and stealthily

Now that children are back at school and getting orientated around a new school year, keep an eye out for the creeping nature of self-doubting or more destructively known as self-downing. Children are very prone to make comparisons with other children. It is natural. What is a concern is when they begin to see themselves as less worthy or less capable. They can make strong connections between their self-worth and their performance.

From an early age, we need to build a sense of self-acceptance. This is separate from performance. It is all about building a strong self-image and yes that will come with some failures and lack of success from time to time. That’s touching on building resilience which should strengthen self-acceptance.

Consider:

• Be repetitive. Tell them often that they are worthwhile and outline what makes them unique.

• Notice that they start to recognise that they can’t be perfect at everything and affirm that concept.‘Well done. You know how capable you are and sometimes not everything goes your way. That’s normal.’

• Teach them by your own example, that making mistakes is natural. It has nothing to do with how worthwhile you are as a person. You still like and value who you are.

• Show them that we all have strengths and weaknesses. It’s part of life. Let them see that we can also learn from experiences where we are a little weak. That makes us stronger and feeds into our self-worth.

• I have heard of an activity where you set up a box and from time to time, write down qualities that you notice about your child. Some parents do this as a journal and at the end of each week, they talk about what the journal has to say. Children love hearing about themselves in such a way.

• Watch the language. Take care not to use downing words with your child. When they hear them, that is all they hear, even though you may have thought what you had to say was helpful. Downing words are powerful destroyers of rational thinking.

• When your child tells you that others have put them down, remind them that sticks and stones may break bones but they are fly-away words. Teach them to shut down when they hear such negative talk. Learning to shut down on such words reminds them that self-approval will not be interfered with by such talk. I am stronger than this!   

• Always keep in touch with your child’s teacher if your child is troubled by some downing at school. Teachers are very skilled at managing these issues which can become quite unsettling in classroom situations from time to time.

• Listen to the conversations they have about self-acceptance. For example, if they feel they are useless because they failed a test, put it into perspective.‘OK, so this test you were not successful in but given how determined and capable you are, you can move on from this test’.

Here you are separating their sense of being worthwhile from a simple test.

• When you spot examples of them talking about how they feel strong and competent, jump on it and reinforce the various aspects you notice that demonstrate their personal strength. Try not to use general words but rather be specific.‘You are so skilled in organising those games with your friends. So wonderful to be an organiser.”

In your day-to-day experiences, talk about how mistakes are natural. Just making a mistake is part of how we learn. It does not reflect who we are or suggest how vulnerable we are as people. At all times remind them that they are worthwhile and have much to offer the world. 

                  ‘The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.’

                                                                                       -Sylvia Plath

Now after Mother's Day what is there to celebrate?

I say keep the party going by keeping your image above water.

The job of a mother is too complex to put in one sentence or paragraph. It is different for everyone and everyone will respond differently to being a mother. I believe there are some important thoughts you need to keep in mind as you enter the post-Mother’s Day period.

• You are human and this means you are allowed to make mistakes. In fact, your child will see the real you by being authentic. That’s all they want anyway.

• Being positive with your child all the time is hard work, so if you need a break from being a mum for a short while, take it. In the longer run, you will feel better and be happier. More content women make better mums.

• Don’t be too hard on yourself when the day doesn't work out the way you wanted it to. Sometimes, our children will be disappointed and that’s OK. They need to see and learn about the real world, that it doesn’t entirely revolve around them!

• Plan each day with yourself included. This could be just a short walk or sipping tea on your own. You have a right to feel content throughout the day.

• Remember that you don't have to do everything around the house. The more independent you make your children by giving them jobs, the better they will develop independent skills.

• Friends and chats have a great healing capacity. Make sure you allow personal time for chats with good friends throughout the week.

• Little treats help to keep up the spirits. Discover a treat that makes you feel good and build it in occasionally. Don’t feel guilty. Children need to see that you need nurturing as well.

• Remember that you are working hard to be the best mum. That means that you don’t need to knock yourself out all the time to prove it. Slow and steady nurturing parenting does the job. In the longer term, this is what is remembered and valued.

• Your child loves you for who you are. You don't need to keep justifying why you do the things you do, this can get very tiring. Just be content that you are a work in progress as a great mum. That’s good enough.

 Finally, keep up your dignity. Tired mums often feel lowly about themselves. A little lipstick and powder and the right t-shirt can lift the spirits for the day.

 Happy Mother’s Year 2023-2024.

What about our so-called underachievers?

I have real concerns about the word ‘underachiever’, especially when referring to children. This implies there are children who can perform much better, but actually do not perform well. The name and hence label ‘underachiever’ puts a very damning perception on a child. It implies that they are just not up to the mark and will always be below the line.

In my experience as a school principal for 30 years, I have seen many children, who for a variety of reasons, underperform in some way. Yet over those same years, through sound support and shifting social and emotional growth, they no longer underperform. We all are evolving and morphing into well-rounded human beings. There will always be variations as we grow in how we perform.

If a child has a perception that they are an underperformer, they feel a sense of failure in many and varied ways. It totally saturates their sense of self-worth and their endeavours to do better are very poor. They have little motivation to change that perception.

Here are some reflections to help your child if they feel they are underachieving:

• Look at your own parental attitudes towards achievement. Take care not to demand unrealistic high performance. Are your expectations appropriate in light of your child’s anxiety in this area? Remember every child is different.

• If you have little interest in your child’s performance and general school work, they can’t see the point in trying too hard. Always show interest that demonstrates excitement in their work. It is easy to disengage when interest from parents is low.

• Be careful not to put your child down if they perform less than perfect. Always acknowledge their efforts, applaud the process and celebrate how far they have come. Affirming their performance only because it reaches your suitable expectations can lead a child to be very angry, frustrated and disheartened. They will feel despondent because they cannot reach such expectations all the time.

• Some children will underperform, as they do not want to be different from their peers. I have seen this quite a few times. Easier to be one of the gang, than to stand out with a good effort. In this case, discussions need to be had with the teacher to establish how socially active your child is and how they engage with others. This is more about self-esteem matters.

• If your child is underachieving, take little steps. Affirm their work along the way. If they write a story, affirm the stages they are at and compliment them on their efforts.

• Play games where they sometimes win and talk about the fun of having a go and succeeding. Simple games like snakes and ladders can build confidence in young children. Building blocks are a great tool for seeing success through the endeavour.

• If your child hates chores and says they are boring, simplify the chore. When they finish, have some fun and tell them how finishing the chore makes your life easier.

• Select small attainable goals at home. They will be less frustrated as quickly and feel that they want to finish it off. Sometimes doing the goal with them can be helpful as well.

• It can become a habit to underachieve. Find occasions at home to notice when they did complete tasks well. Talk about them and make a fuss about the success it showed.

• Use positive upbeat language. Not words that can easily put down your child. Words like:‘Wonderful effort’,‘Great show’, ‘Much appreciated’, ‘What an outstanding effort’ and‘Wow what a great job’. It’s all about getting them to hear positive thoughts about their achievements, no matter how inconsequential.

• Little positive notes around the house, in their bedroom and in lunchboxes, about how they did well to achieve certain things is a very effective visual way of letting them feel like an achiever. I used to put a little positive note in each child’s desk each night. This made such a difference to their motivation and drive.

We all have periods of underachieving. Our children will have shifting emotions that, from time to time, may lead them down that path. Just keep up the positive talk and minimise occasions where that sense of hopelessness and reduced drive can linger longer. We don’t want over-achievers; we want natural achievers. 

‘The achiever is the only individual who is truly alive.’

                                                                                          George Allen

Watch out for the impostor syndrome that can creep up slowly

Have you ever felt that you were just not worthy of rewards or that you felt that people had misjudged you or that you weren’t as capable as people thought. Perhaps somebody else should have your position? Beware, this is called the impostor syndrome. This is where we tend to believe that we are fooling others and rising above our status and capabilities. It can be one of those syndromes that can start early and I have seen, in some children, a lack of willingness to take awards, or put themselves first, because they thought others were more worthy. A child can start to develop stepping back approach to and not expecting to be chosen because of their feeling of unworthiness.

Let us consider how we can ensure that our children reduce their feelings of insecurity:

• Always try to reinforce with them why they have succeeded. In this way you are being specific about their achievements. They are real and clearly being stated “Well done. You won that award because you can run so fast. It is a great skill of yours.”

• Encourage your child to put their names forward for all types of events and opportunities. Explain that better to be in the race than not.

• Talk about how you cope with feelings that others deserve it more than you. Perhaps you have had times when you were reluctant to put yourself forward. How did you handle it?

• Having knowledge that you are capable and that there are good reasons why you should be chosen is a key to being on top of this problem.

• Reinforce regularly to your children that we all have some fear about taking on new steps but that they are worthy and that they should feel proud of all their achievements.

• Sometimes it’s worth just listing all the capabilities your child demonstrates. Sometimes seeing it gives a strong message of their sense of worth.

• Talk to your child’s teacher and ask if there are any signs that your child is choosing to stand back from being chosen or is reluctant to put up their hands. Teachers are very good at bringing children into the scene and ensuring that their engagement in the class is full and healthy. The classroom is an especially important space for your child to feel strong and confident in themselves amongst their peers. So much of this impostor syndrome is about you feeling less worthy than others.

• Try to avoid put downs to your child. These are sure fired ways of making them feel less worthy. Words stick and can be remembered for a long time.

• Take care not to rush to negative talk when a situation develops. Here we are trying to encourage our children not to immediately focus on the negative. When a tricky situation occurs think about the positive first. Be drawn to thinking about good outcomes before honing in on the negative.

Finally, we all can suffer from being a little nervous but here we are trying to ensure that our children do not become conditioned to stepping back and feeling less worthy than others. A healthy dose of personal confidence and feeling of worthiness is what we seek for our children. It is a very healthy disposition to like yourself and feel achievable and worthy.

                   ‘Love isn’t something you have to deserve.’

                                                                                  -Jennifer Echols

Keep an eye out for perfectionism

Perfectionism is closely aligned to anxiety of various sorts. It can be triggered in many ways, but once it takes hold it can very destructive. It can become toxic. Children particularly can be affected by perfectionism. It may manifest itself when doing a test. It can be all about not completing work for fear of getting it wrong. It can also encourage procrastination where a child chooses not to make decisions. There are many irrational beliefs that a child can develop when perfectionism creeps in. I have noticed that first children can have reservations about completing tasks that are not good enough. Often, the second child was more relaxed, the first child showed reservations caught up with fear of making a mistake. Here it was about not letting anyone see their mistakes, the least of which was parents. Perfectionism holds you back from achieving your goals.

As parents, we can be partially responsible for our children having fears and doubts, as they do not want to disappoint us. This is very big in their mind, especially as they see how excited we are about their achievements. At a very early age, they see the excitement on the face of their parents when they are successful.

Consider:

• When affirming your child, try to comment on their efforts not focusing too much on the outright success. The measuring of success can make a child anxious. Sometimes good is good enough.‘You got everything right just like the other day. How smart you are.’ This can set a precedence where the child has to keep up the performance. Nothing less that perfect is what is required!

• Explain that nobody is perfect and it is all about the effort and outcomes that come from the drive.‘You certainly put all the effort into your work. Congratulations.’

• When you talk about your child’s strengths, occasionally mention those areas that they are working on.‘I notice how great you are at helping with setting the table. Thank you. Sometimes help with the dishes is good also. Let me show you the best way to stack the dishwasher’. Here we say we are always working to improve and learn new skills.

• Always state that you do not expect your child to be perfect. In fact perfection is a myth. It is important to articulate that to your child. Sometimes they simply need to hear it! Often! Remember perfectionism is all about earning approval.

• Use the rating scale. It comes in handy. Ask your child occasionally what number out of ten do they give themselves for some activity. Talking about the number reminds everyone that life is a work in progress. It is all about continuous improvement.

• Children love heroes. Talk about some of their idols such as sporting heroes and their struggles and determination to overcome being the perfect athlete etc. How do they manage being satisfied with their performance especially when they don’t win? How do they manage a lack of perfection? Where or how do they find contentment in their flaws?

• Sometimes simply making one mistake can be catastrophic and take over a child’s belief that they are a complete failure. We could call this self abuse! This is of course a major problem for some children. From an early age focus not on the performance but the effort and passions that your child shows. Affirm their contributions and applaud their recognition of other children’s efforts. ‘Well done. You tried so hard and worked so long with that project. Such endurance. It is also pleasing to see that some children also showed great creativity in their work.’ Teaching them to share the glory strengthens empathy. It defuses the        importance on the child as well.

Finally, children learn from an early age to compare themselves to others. Many external influences are out of your control. Your role is simply to remind them by word and deed that they are a special individual and that performance is not a measure of how successful they are as a person.

‘Perfectionism is the art of never being satisfied.’

                                                                                          -Unknown

Start the year understanding ourselves better

Consider what is holding us back in many ways. If we are always focusing on helping our children, we also need to think about matters that we can turn around in our own life.

Sometimes we preoccupy ourselves with self doubt. We are quick to think its too hard, too difficult or not within our realm of capabilities. We have a tendency to inflate the threat in our mind and this can cause a shutdown of interest, in pushing further with the idea or activity. Show your child that we can manage self doubt by focusing on positive feelings about achievement. If your child sees how you push ahead with determination and avoid the negative feelings that make you doubt your ability, they will learn to be determined and start to develop a non defeatist mentality.

Beware perfectionism. It’s a killer when it comes to living comfortably around all sorts of things on a daily basis. It can make you feel vulnerable and never satisfied, anxious about not completing things. Even if you have this tendency, talk to your child about how it can make life difficult for you. Show them that perfectionism can bring you down and take care not to put too much pressure on them. Remind your child that they are good enough to do all sorts of things and they should take up opportunities where possible.

Remember that we have moments of feeling socially disengaged ourselves. Sometimes it is easier to stay disengaged and not put ourselves out there with others. Talk to your child if you have these feelings and tell them how you are working to solve them. Being socially engaged is critical for self development. Keep an eye on your child’s swings as your role is to motivate and encourage their social skills across many groups.

Remember we are not perfect individuals. As adults and parents we have all the usual fears and phobias that anyone can have across the years. The challenge for us is to be honest with our children and let them see that life is a work in progress. You are working on your own agendas and by inviting your child into learning about the strategies and tactics you use to help you, real understanding and teaching occurs. Your child loves you implicitly. They will be very sympathetic and will understand your journey better if you keep them in the loop. Rather than letting your child live around your own struggles and challenges, allow them in to see how you work on feeling better, getting better and setting goals. They are very sensitive to your emotional triggers and the more they understand about what presses your buttons, the more tolerant they are to the situation.  

You will be surprised how their developing empathy and love can do a lot of good for all the family. 

                   ‘I don’t want my children to follow in my footsteps

           I want them to take the path next to me and go further than

                   I could have ever dreamt possible.’

                                                                               -Picture quotes.com

The use of good language around our children

One of the greatest tools we have in working and supporting our children is our language. It is such a powerful tool that can change relationships, build stronger relationships and can strengthen personal self-esteem. As a parent, you have the opportunity to encourage good language and to teach your child that using the very best language is a very empowering part of life.

As a child grows, their language will gradually increase and with your assistance, it can reach new heights. This means that as a parent when you speak to your child, you can gradually increase vocabulary that they will learn and enjoy using. Let them experiment with new words. It’s fun!- For example, try replacing words like ‘nice’ with more descriptive adjectives. This highlights your conversation more sharply and your child learns to use better words that describe a situation better.

In some classrooms, I have seen teachers leave a column on the board where they build on vocabulary across the week. It is amazing how it catches on and children start using more interesting language and this takes them up a notch in feeling self-assured. People notice when a child demonstrates good articulation.

Another great trick teachers use is to invite children to build a vocabulary bank and use those words in their writing. All strategies help.

Teachers would sometimes introduce a new word for the day and children had to find ways of using that word in their work and conversation.

Here are some ideas that can support your work in building a child’s vocabulary:

• Instead of playing ‘I spy’ in the car, try playing ‘I spy something that is……….’ and use interesting vocab to describe it.

• Some families set up a vocab bank on their fridge where words are added that are interesting throughout the week.

• When you are describing something to your child, think about the words you are using and occasionally throw in a new word.

‘I bought some croissants. They smell so delicious and fresh.’

• When reading to your child, talk about some of the words used to describe situations, people etc. Invite them to think of other descriptive words for the characters.

• When your child writes a story, challenge them to introduce one or two new words that make the story more interesting.

• Playing around with google can be interesting where you can show your child the various words that can replace just one word.

• A game such as scrabble can be fun as you are exposing your child to new words.

• Play word games. There are many available in game stores and these can also provide hours of entertainment.

• Remember that learning new creative words should be fun and spontaneous. The more the child relaxes and experiments with words the greater confidence they will gain in using them both in speech and in writing.

• Reading books is a natural way of increasing one’s vocabulary. Leave plenty of books around at home for the children to pick up.

Increasing one’s ability to express themselves well will naturally present an attractive manner to others and who knows where and with whom it takes you.

‘Words are in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic.’

                                                 -J K Rowling’s character, Dumbledore

9 Tips about how to help your child love learning

The whole learning process for our children can be considered without a doubt, a family affair. Research over many years tells us that the more parents are interested and show an inquiring attitude to their child’s learning, the more successful the learner. You are after all the child’s first teacher. From infancy through to young adulthood, your child will depend on you physically, emotionally and socially. Challenges will come their way but you still remain a primary source for their learning and developing a passion for learning.

On many levels, you set the stage for understanding the value and richness of learning. Sounds like a tall order, but your work is done slowly and steadily over the years. It is not an overnight job and the more you take it on as a serious part of your role, the more likely the child will be engaged in their learning from a younger age.

Here are some simple tips that help us along the way from infancy through to well…. Adulthood:

1. Establishing a daily routine is important. Build it into all the expectations of the day and understand what school requirements are to be considered in your plan. Setting up a routine includes providing a quiet spot for them to learn at home. Consider the background noise issues, lighting and of course interruptions like younger siblings.

2. Regular conversations about school each day can keep the dialogue going in a positive way about what was learnt, achieved or found interesting. Remember this is not about an inquisition into the school day, but a gentle interest in what the child learnt or did in their time. Sometimes you may get a response, sometimes that may not happen.

3. Set tasks for your child that are manageable and within reasons. You can help them set goals in doing jobs at home. Also help them balance their homework time, play time and reading time. Teach them that the more they plan and balance their time, the happier they will be. Point out that by being organised, they get the recreation and play time that they want and deserve.

4. A most important aid in helping your child become a true learner is the modelling you give them. By your example such as reading, writing or being active in a range of learning activities, the child sees that this is the way to go. When you play as a family be intuitive and choose activities, games etc. that have a learning component to them, but at the same time they are fun. Learning to link fun and joy is the best way forward for a child. Also be an inquirer. Teach your child that asking questions is important. Have various ways of seeking information through books internet, conversations etc.

5. Set high expectations for your child, but make them achievable. A child needs to feel inspirational, but not have unreal expectations placed on them. Be proud of their efforts and affirm how hard they try to achieve their goals. ‘I am so impressed with all the effort you put into learning about elephants. You must have got so much good information.’

6. Be aware of their special talents and praise their uniqueness in all sorts of ways. Every child has unique gifts. Spell them out often.

7. Be proud to show their work to other members of the family. Learning is about a celebration of knowledge and achievements in many forms. We demonstrate that all learning should be boldly acknowledged.

8. Encourage overall development. This can be through their physical efforts, intellectual efforts, artistic endeavours etc. Show your child that there are many ways of achieving success in learning and you recognise so many of them in your child.

9. Be a connector with the school. This shows your child that you value their learning space throughout the day. Connect to libraries, take your child to museums, places where creativity and adventure are alive. Keep an eye out for opportunities that introduce new concepts and open their minds in different ways. Show your child that you enjoy discovering new ways of seeing and understanding the world.

Finally, the learning process over the years is slow and steady. At times it will accelerate as different teachers and circumstances excite the imagination. Your role is to be the constant, everyday reminder that learning is an ongoing and life-giving experience. It is a growth that keeps developing all your life if the foundations teach you well. Be the ever-present learner in the life of your child.

                        ‘Once you stop learning you start dying.’

                                                                                -Albert Einstein

How to motivate your child to learn

This can be a challenge for some children who can lose motivation at school and find the whole exercise of school just too much. They can develop a flight or fight mentality to escape school or simply disengage, which is such a frustrating and helpless experience for the family to understand. Merely encouraging them or advising them about the advantages of school does not make a great deal of difference. In fact the more we talk about it, the more they can feel a failure in your eyes and further reject school.

Consider the following ideas to help motivate a child about school:

•      Develop at home an atmosphere where learning is seen as a good thing. Talk about how you learn and what you enjoy when you want to read a book etc. Keep reading alive at home as we know that being able to read is a key to being happy and successful at school. The process of learning to read helps keep the brain active in processing information and communication. A child who reads will have less problems being motivated at school. Reading excites the imagination and keeps the interest high in learning.

•      Encourage your child to be independent in their learning. Try not to put controls on them or limit what they must learn. We now know that children learn in all different ways and this creative process should be encouraged. Give them choices and affirm what they choose to learn. A motivated child will always want to follow their passions.

•      Keep the conversations going and keep them frequent. Make them positive and full of reassurance and confidence in their efforts. Listen to their opinions and applaud creative thinking. A child needs to feel that how they learn has value and that what they have to say is important. They may challenge you in the way they think but that is OK!

•      Notice the uniqueness of your child and home in on their interests. Sometimes their passions and interests last a short while, sometimes they last forever. Either way, your child needs to be supported in those interests and made to feel that their passions are powerful and valued. Help them to discover more about their passions. Perhaps if fishing is their interest go to the library together and collect books on fishing.

•      All children learn differently. Any teacher will tell you this. Don't be critical of their learning style. Allow them to discover their best way of learning. When we force their hand at changing how they learn, this can destroy a child’s confidence and they can begin to doubt their ability to learn.

•      Consider sharing games together. They are a great family activity but also reinforce that learning is a successful tool in playing games. A child works out that to be successful at the game they should try harder and understand more.

•      Remember that the process of learning is what is important. Reward and acknowledge the effort, not the outcome. Remember that a child looks for your approval and is more motivated by your acceptance of their efforts rather than how they were successful. If absolute success is your goal, a child will become anxious about rising to meet that challenge. This is where disengagement can happen.

•      Every child has strengths. It is easy for us to see our weaknesses and so important for a child to feel success through their strengths. Teachers are very good at picking up on this in class and will focus on a child’s strength to give them reassurance that they can easily learn. It also makes children less anxious about their weaknesses. This also teaches a child that failure is part of life and that we use it as a means to learn. Focusing on their weakness only shrouds them in a sense of failure and disengagement from school is not far away.

•      Be a learner yourself and use opportunities around you to engage your child in learning. This is about developing an inquiring mind. Learning is catchy and your child will see you as someone helping them to develop an inquiring mind and to be curious about all sorts of things.

•       Children can from time to time lose some motivation at school.

Remember they are children and may need time to simply rest a little from formal learning. Your teacher has an excellent knowledge on how your child learns and I would recommend you speak to them when motivation drops off.

 ‘There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly

                                                 -Buckskin Fuller

A few tips to get you started in term four

This is quite a special term in the school life. There is generally a very comfortable atmosphere in each classroom. It is also a term that talks about putting closure on the school year and that can come with excitement, anticipation or some anxiety about letting go of what they have built up all year.

 Here are some thoughts about the business of term four that you may find helpful:

•      Teachers come back to term four with plans of finally testing the children. October is a time when this may start and teachers will be now preparing for those final tests that will be the backbone of your child’s school report. If you are planning to be away, best to talk to your teacher about their testing plans.

•      Some children can become a little anxious as there is much talk about change for the new school year, class lists, being with friends and leaving their teachers. Also there can be rumours about who is leaving and discussion that is not healthy about what teachers you should not get for the new year. Try to avoid any negative talk around the school and reassure your child that the best will be put in place for the new year. Anxious talk leads to anxious thoughts.

•      Term four is also a celebratory term and there will be parties and fun activities planned for the school and class. Keep in the loop as to what is happening at the school and how you can be part of the end of year functions. After all, the school is an important part of your life as a parent.

•      Keep the conversation going at home about the change that will come at the end of the year. Some children need to be given more reassurance that the change will be a good thing and that they will grow from the experience.

•      Towards the end of the year some children become anxious that they may not be placed in the same class as their best friends. Here I would recommend talking to your teacher about this issue as in many cases a change is exactly what may be needed and your teacher may have very good reasons why this is the case.

•      Avoid writing letters to the school about why your child should be with a certain friend or teacher. Conversation is the best way to go forward and the teacher can give you a fuller understanding of the best placement for your child. This means placing trust in the school. They understand so well the dynamics of a classroom.

•      As the term progresses, talk to your child about how they want to farewell the year at school. Perhaps writing letters to friends and teachers. It is a wonderful time to reflect on the year and to be grateful for all the positive things that have happened. This is all about teaching your child to be reflective and say farewell gracefully.

•      Parent teacher interviews will be important if the school holds them. Write down all the questions you have and bring along your child to the interview. It is a very successful way of formally thanking the teacher for the year spent with your child. It will also help you put closure on the school year which has had a very big impact on your life.

Enjoy the term it will be a busy one and it will go quickly. Just keep talking to your child about how they are feeling with regard to the closure of the class and the prospect of change. Affirm their great efforts of completing yet another school year. Their end of year feelings should be a mixture of excitement, anticipation with a little bit of expected anxiousness about the unknown. This is a healthy mix!

 Finally this quote from A. A. Milne is worth talking to your child about:

        ‘How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.’

              ‘What feels like the end is often the beginning.’

                                                                                           Unknown