An oversized backpack on a child not only shows the physical burden he carries; it is also a symbol of society’s overemphasis on academic achievement, which is no longer a predominantly Asian conundrum.
Recognising it as a worldwide concern, a global group that calls itself Parenting 2.0 (P20) is advocating a better life skills educational process and greater collaboration among educators. (“2.0,” according to the group, indicates every adult’s role in “raising” future generations while promoting a holistic approach to human development.)
Come Friday (May 4, 2012), P20 will kick off an awareness campaign online targeting parents and educators.
It is aimed at underlining the importance of children’s basic needs – sleep, hydration, nutrition and exercise. The name of the programme?
Backpack-Free Friday.
At the heart of the effort is the group’s belief that students do not work or socialise well with others when they are tired and hungry. And a heavy backpack of books certainly does not make things any easier.
“When I was a student, during exams I had to get enough sleep, make sure I drank enough water and exercise a little because we need to rest and be in good health to perform well,” says Sydney-based Dr Yvonne Sum, a parenting leadership speaker, coach and author. The former dentist, 48, who grew up in Kuching, is a key member of P20.
The aims outlined under the campaign are:
1. Leave back packs at home on that day.
2. Prioritise sleep, hydration, nutrition and exercise.
3. Find creative ways to underscore the importance of water, sleep, nutrition and exercise, for all aspects of a child’s performance.
4. Encourage professionals to promote the importance of prioritising personal care.
5. Share the concept of Life Skills Report Card.
“We are not taking away the children’s academic performance but trying to find a balance that will benefit them. We need to listen to our kids and get their input on what they like to do, know their dreams and nurture those dreams,” says Dr Sum.
“During non-examination years, children should be able to do more fun and enjoyable things. Through sports and games, children learn about socialising, healthy competition and being a good sport,” adds the mother-of-two whose parents are Malaysian.
P20 defines life skills as non-academic, foundational skills children learn to develop and communicate optimally with others. These include – but are not limited to – personal care, safety, finance, organisational, interpersonal communication and social skills.
“The Life Skills Report Card functions like a template for parents and teachers to work with the child; with it parents can see what their child is missing or is excellent at. We can also get the child to score their own card and then compare it with their parents’ version.”
P20 founder, American Marlaine Paulsen Cover, first created the Life Skills Report Card in 2004. Similar in format to an academic report card, the Life Skills one features five key categories – personal care, organisation, respect for self and others, communication, and social.
Sub-categories include sleep, exercise, spirit, safety, time utilisation, finances, ownership in problems and conflicts, altruism, and environmental consciousness.
“Personally, I hope the campaign gets parents to start a conversation going in their kids’ schools about the need to focus on nurturing the whole person, and not just academic performance. We also hope to point parents to experts who can show them how to create and support balanced growth in their children,” says Dr Sum.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
