Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.

-Oprah Winfrey

Every Sunday night we go through the same resistance to the school week starting. “It’s boring. There’s too much work. There are too many kids. We never do anything fun.” And on and on and on. There’s even a really popular (and funny!) TEDtalk on this topic as well. But since our kids have to go to school, boredom and lack of creativity in the classrooms aside, what can we do to help them best succeed?

Here are some ideas:

• Simply listen to them- what’s really going on here underneath the surface? Is there a bigger issue going on? Help them figure it out for themselves so they have more clarity about what’s truly bothering them.
• Help them focus on the positives- what do they look forward to? Who do they enjoy spending time with/playing with at school? What are their favorite subjects?
• Reframe the parts of the day they dislike- show them how you actually use math in your daily life. Let them see how your writing skills come in handy with your weekly blogs. Talk to them about your reading skills and how all the books you read (yes, for fun!) make you smarter.
• Focus on upcoming school events- a big track meet, the school dance, a field trip, etc. The fun things that break up the monotony of the school week.
• If all else fails- Focus on your upcoming fun family plans during the next school break.

We’ve all been there, sometimes day-to-day life can be really hard, and having things to look forward to can help bring hope back in to the big picture.