Dear Parents

Sometimes, images doing the rounds of Facebook can strike a chord with me and this one certainly did. In our daily lives we can get caught up in our problems and issues. Often, we discuss these with or in front of the children because we don’t stop and think about whether our child has the maturity to think about and understand the cause, background or future consequence of these problems.

Children are not mini adults, they are just children. The latest research on brain development suggests that brains are not fully matured until they are in their early twenties. The immature brain is unable to make sense of the nuances of an adult’s issues, they can only understand it at face value.

From time to time, I hear adults asking their young child to make a decision about something that is actually an adult’s responsibility to decide. Your child may seem very mature to you. You may think, because they are tall or articulate or bright, that they can understand issues way beyond their years. They physically can’t as the research into brain development clearly shows.

Think before sharing your financial situation with your child. I know, from experience that children worry about whether their parents have enough money. Think before you ask your child to make a decision that is actually your decision to make, not theirs. Think about discussing touchy subjects in front of your children. Think about the words you use. Children may not understand the issue at a deep level, but the understanding they get at a surface level may cause them to stress. They are powerless to control any adult’s situation or ‘fix’ any adult’s issues so burdening them with knowing about these may just make them anxious.

Let the children play, let them laugh, let them enjoy make believe. Let them be obsessed with dinosaurs or Frozen. Let them bicker and squabble with their siblings. Let them run up and give you a big hug. Childhood passes in a flash and those real world worries about money or relationships or terrorism will soon be part of their adult world, so don’t burden them too soon.

Kind regards
Janice Adamson

Please note that we have SEVEN events coming up:

• RATBAGS our senior school production – see below
• Second hand uniform shop sale TOMORROW … 19 August
• Crosscountry – 6 September
• Quiz Night – CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS NOW
• Brainwave Trust talk.  – New date 18 OCTOBER at 7pm
• Also the Maths Information Session for 19 September at 7pm
• Read-a-Thon
  

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Parent Mathematics Information Evening

Wondering how we teach maths in schools today? Like to see the way children are taught to work problems out? We are delighted to welcome back Lucie Cheesman who led a maths evening at VAS a couple of years ago. Following Lucie’s presentation, teachers will have maths stations around the hall so you can see and participate in maths activities.

SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALE! – TOMORROW Friday 19 August 8:30am – 9:15am

Due to the second-hand sale, the uniform shop hours on 19 August will change to 8.30-9.15.
Please donate your clean, good-quality uniform to our sale. Items may be left at the office.
Due to the second-hand sale, the uniform shop hours on 19 August will change to 8.30-9.15.