Guidelines for Parents: Supporting Your Child’s Development at Age 6-7

PARENTING GUIDE

At the age of 6-7, the brain mechanisms that allow a child to succeed in learning begin to form.
Doctors believe that during this period, it is very difficult for a child to deal with themselves. Our great-grandmothers were a thousand times right when they sent their children to gymnasiums only at the age of 9, when the nervous system had already formed.
However, serious breakdowns and illnesses can be avoided even today by following the simplest rules.

Rule 1.
Never send a child to both first grade and an extracurricular activity or club at the same time. The beginning of school life is considered a heavy stress for 6-7-year-olds. If the child does not have the opportunity to walk, rest, and do homework without rushing, health problems may arise. Therefore, if music and sports activities seem like an essential part of your child's upbringing, start taking them there a year before school begins or in the second grade.

Rule 2.

Rule 3.
Avoid excessive demands. Don’t expect everything from the child all at once. Remember, important qualities such as diligence, neatness, and responsibility do not form instantly. The child is still learning to manage themselves, organize their activities, and needs a lot of support, understanding, and approval from adults. Parents need to be patient and help the child.

Rule 4.

Rule 5.
Don’t think for the child. When helping a child with a task, don’t interfere with everything they do. Otherwise, the child will start thinking that they are incapable of handling tasks on their own. Don’t think or solve things for them, or they will quickly realize they don’t need to try because parents will always solve everything.

Rule 6.

Rule 7.
Computers, televisions, and any activities requiring intense visual load should not exceed one hour per day, according to ophthalmologists and neurologists worldwide.

Rule 8.
Above all, during the first year of school, your child needs support. Not only are they forming relationships with classmates and teachers, but they are also beginning to understand that some people want to be friends, and others don’t. It is at this time that the child forms their own view of themselves. If you want them to grow into a calm and self-confident person, be sure to praise them. Support them, don’t scold for marks or dirty notebooks. All of this is minor compared to the fact that endless reproaches and punishments will make your child lose faith in themselves.

Rule 9.
Be sure to create small celebrations. It’s not difficult to come up with reasons for this. Celebrate their successes. Let both you and your child have a good mood.

A few short rules:
Show your child that you love them for who they are, not for their achievements.
Never (even in the heat of the moment) tell your child that they are worse than others.
Answer your child's questions honestly and patiently whenever possible.
Try to find time every day to be alone with your child.
Teach your child to communicate freely and comfortably, not only with their peers but also with adults.
Don’t be afraid to emphasize that you are proud of them.
Always tell your child the truth, even when it’s not convenient for you.
Don’t strive for success by force. Coercion is the worst method of moral upbringing. Coercion within the family creates an atmosphere of destruction for the child’s personality.
Evaluate actions, not the child themselves.
Acknowledge the child’s right to make mistakes.
Be honest in evaluating your feelings toward your child.
Think about the child’s "bank of happy memories."
A child treats themselves the way adults treat them.

And sometimes put yourself in your child's shoes, and it will be clearer how to behave with them.