SETTING UP FOR SUCCESS : GREAT STRATEGIES TO HELP YOUR CHILD THRIVE THIS SCHOOL YEAR cont.

risks, and may shut down more quickly when something became challenging. Dweck describes this as having more of a fixed mindset. When we combine that mindset with our own parenting expectations of what a child "should" be able to accomplish, we're setting our kids up to shut down when faced with a challenge and fall short of expectations. Kids who were praised for effort were found to try harder, and persist longer at tasks. These kids tended to be more resilient and considered to have a growth mindset. Be careful in praising the effort, it needs to be genuine, and there is more to simply saying "good job working hard" to tap into a growth mindset. It's also giving kids the message that the brain can be changed and improved. It's helping kids understand that if something is hard, it just means they haven't mastered it - yet.

Next time your child is struggling with school work, acknowledge how hard you see them working, and talk about what you can do next to continue to support this area of learning. Then, point out something else that had been hard for them, that through hard work they did eventually master. "I appreciate how hard you are working on math tonight, and can see that you're starting to catch on. Let's review these flash cards again tomorrow morning during breakfast, so you feel ready for the day. Remember when memorizing your math facts was hard? Now you've got it down! Keep working hard and we'll get there. You're brain is getting stronger through this practice."

SET GOALS: SCHOOL PORTALS: ASK YOUR CHILD WHAT THEIR GOALS ARE FOR THE YEAR

The brain loves goals. When you set a goal that excites you, the brain releases dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter, which can boost your mood and energy. But dopamine doesn't stay present in the brain for long, making it harder to remain consistent in doing the work required to achieve the goal. To help, break a big goal down into smaller steps. This creates mini-goals. Checking off the mini-goals while working towards bigger goals can re-engage motivation and excitement, increasing the odds of achieving the goal. It is also an outstanding executive function practice for planning and follow-through.

Have a conversation with your child about something (or things) they'd like to accomplish this year. Help them think about how they would feel when they accomplish that goal. Maybe it's making new friends, trying a new sport, or getting a good grade in a hard class. Help your kids identify a goal that is personal and exciting to them, and remember, this needs to be their goal, not yours!

Next, map out a plan of the mini goals, or steps and timeline needed along the way. Write out the goal and steps and keep it out and visible, as a constant reminder. A note taped on the bathroom mirror, or at their desk with a big smiley face, as a reminder of how good they'll feel when they achieve their goal!

SCHOOL PORTALS: CREATE A ROUTINE OF STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT 

Parents have more visibility and information than ever at their fingertips, thanks to school portals. While the portals can be a helpful way to keep track of work, grades, and even behaviors, they can be overwhelming, and confusing at times. Not all teachers update the portals with the same consistency or information, which can create more questions than answers.

Start the year by finding out how each teacher uses the portal, and how frequently they recommend checking it for their class. If they only update grades bi-weekly, then checking weekly to review completed work, won't be helpful, and may make it look as though your child hasn't completed an assignment.

Choose a night to sit down and review the school portal together with your child. Review what has been completed, as well as what is coming up. Focus on keeping the interaction positive and supportive (replace "why didn't you turn that in?" with "let's find out more about this assignment"). Work together to create a plan for the upcoming week. Ask questions to understand what work has been completed and graded, and what is coming up. This will benefit you, as well as ensure your child has a good grasp on the status of their assignments and tests. Anytime the information is unclear, encourage your child to email their teacher, and CC you on the communication. This will help to provide a direct answer, as well as teach your kids that it's okay to speak up and ask questions.

Next help support the plan with gentle reminders and guidance, where needed, to help keep your child's work on track.

Learning isn't just for kids! As parents, we are continuing to learn and grow as well. If you learned something new and helpful in this article, share that information with your kids. Talk about what you learned, and how you are going to work to incorporate it into this school year to help set them up for success in school. •

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Rebecca Jackson is an industry leader in brain health and optimizing the brain to enhance how you feel and function. She brings 15 years of Brain Balance experience as Chief Programs Officer. In this role, she leads research on improving cognition, development, and well-being, drives programmatic enhancements, and creates new programs to meet the growing demands of people wanting to achieve more -for themselves and their children. Dr. Jackson is the author of the book Back on Track (mcpress.mayoclinic.org/product/back-on-track), and is a frequent media guest as an expert on improving brain health, development, and cognition. Dr. Jackson's work has been featured in Mayo Clinic Press, Forbes, Psych Central, Business Insider, and more. She has appeared on local and national news and shows such as The Doctor's Show, and NBC's Nightly News. Visit brainbalancecenters.com