Perseverance implies that a person will persist with a task even when he would rather do something else or when the task becomes difficult.

Parents can assist their children to develop the virtue of perseverance by;

• Praising them while they are undergoing difficult and challenging tasks.
• Giving them the assurance that they support the tasks.
• Educating them about the importance of the task and benefits thereafter.
• Assisting them to set goals and break the larger tasks into smaller and manageable pieces
• Letting them know that it is natural to make mistakes while learning to achieve your goals.

Some quotes about perseverance are;

• “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”– Thomas A. Edison
• “Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.”– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• “Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.”– Samuel Johnson
• “Be like a postage stamp, stick to something until you get there!”– Josh Billings

•                                                    Be accessible to your children
• Learn about your children’s interests — for example, favourite music and activities — and show interest in them
• Initiate conversations by sharing what you have been thinking about rather than beginning a conversation with a question.
• Notice times when your children are most likely to talk — for example, at bedtime, before dinner, in the car — and be available.
• Start the conversation; this makes your children know you care about what is happening in their lives.
• Find time each week for a one-on-one activity with each child, and avoid scheduling other activities during that time.
•                                                Let your kids know you are listening
• When your children are talking about concerns, stop whatever you are doing and listen.
• Express interest in what they are saying without being intrusive.
• Listen to their point of view, even if it’s difficult to hear.
• Let them complete their point before you respond.
• Repeat what you heard them say to ensure that you understand them correctly.
•                                                Respond in a way your children will hear
• Soften strong reactions; kids will tune you out if you appear angry or defensive.
• Express your opinion without putting down theirs; acknowledge that it is okay to disagree.
• Resist arguing about who is right. Instead say, “I know you disagree with me, but this is what I think.”
• Focus on your child’s feelings rather than your own during your conversation.
•                                                 Note the following;
• Ask your children what they may want or need from you in a conversation, such as advice, simply listening, help in dealing with feelings or help solving a problem.
• Children learn by imitating. Most often, they will follow your lead in how they deal with anger, solve problems and work through difficult feelings.
• Talk to your children — don’t lecture, criticize, threaten or say hurtful things.
• Children learn from their own choices. As long as the consequences are not dangerous, don’t feel you have to step in.
• Realize your children may test you by telling you a small part of what is bothering them. Listen carefully to what they say, encourage them to talk and they may share the rest of the story.

Children in this age bracket go through dramatic changes. It is normal for them to swing from being happy to being sad or from feeling smart to feeling dumb. They may worry about personal traits that are vital to them, but hardly noticeable to others. With a growing ability to see the consequences of different actions, they are increasingly considering who they are and who they may become.

Some of the critical aspects of child development (10-14 years) are;

• Physical Development- Puberty reigns at this age. Puberty, however, has several stages for both boys and girls, which is why you will see children  developing at different rates between the ages of 8 and 18. This is the age when they need to start using deodorant and learning more personal hygiene. Between ages 12 and 14, children become very aware of their own sexuality and others’ sexuality.

• Intellectual Development–Most children enjoy the social aspects of learning at this stage. Around ages 11, 12, and 13, shifts occur in their thinking. Many of them move from concrete to abstract thinking. At this age they think there is too much homework.
• Emotional Development-Moodiness and roller-coaster emotions emerge during puberty. Children  can be happy one moment and then violently angry or very depressed the next—and you often won’t be able to figure out why. Many talk in violent terms. Many children can become very emotionally sensitive. They are easily offended and easily hurt.
• Social Development– This is the age when peer pressure has the most influence. Children are more interested in “being the same” and “being accepted.” Thus, many will do things with others they would never do alone. Relationships can become quite complex. Some of them have large shifts in their social circles as they go through puberty. At this age, they can have a twisted sense of humour. Cliques and tight-knit groups can form. They become very aware of who is in which group—even if they are not always sure where they fit.

       Learning and School – This is a great age to cultivate the attitudes and skills for persevering in learning, despite distractions and difficulties.

As children within this age group grow, new and exciting abilities are noticed. It’s not uncommon for children of this age to want to play only with friends of the same sex.

Some of the critical aspects of child development (6-9 years) are;

• Physical Development- More physical abilities will develop. Most learn how to ride a two-wheel bike. They become more skillful at skipping and catching and throwing a ball. Many become restless and wiggle if they sit for too long, which is why school can be difficult for some children at this age.
• Intellectual Development– They learn to read gradually. Children who are encouraged to read tend to develop more quickly intellectually. They become more sophisticated in understanding the concept of time. They enjoy hearing about times past.
• Emotional Development– Children tend to be self-centered. Most want to be first, and most want all the attention. Children tend to have their feelings easily hurt. They also tend to assume that people who hurt them “did it on purpose.”
• Social Development– Children this age become more skilful at relationships, but they also may have many conflicts with their peers. Many children are competitive, and can become argumentative and quarrelsome when they lose. Children in this age group can be hard on their younger siblings. At age 6 or 7, they tend to do best with one friend, but by age 8 or 9 they can begin working well in small groups of three or four.
• Learning and School – The first few years of school are very important. Children in this age category are in elementary school.

This is critical time in the life of children as they make friends and begin connecting with more adults beyond their families. They want to explore and learn about everything.

Some of the critical aspects of child development (3-5 years) are;

• Physical Development- Hopping, climbing, swinging, and doing somersaults begin at this stage. By age 5, many children can stand on one foot for at least 10 seconds. They draw circles and begin to learn how to copy a square and some capital letters. They often become frustrated with wanting to do something physically and not being able to do it yet. Thus, they have lots of falls
• Intellectual Development– Imaginary play is a notable milestone of this stage. Children begin to name colours and begin to understand simple counting. They gradually begin to understand the concept of time
• Emotional Development– They move easily between fantasy and reality, and can become quite emotional about their imaginary play. They often do not know the difference between fantasy and reality, so imaginary monsters under the bed or in the dark are as frightening to them as a real threat.
• Social Development– Interaction with other children increases at this stage. A great deal of social development occurs through fantasy play and imagination. Children learn how to deal with conflict and how to solve problems without so much emotion.
• School Readiness– The children within this age group should be in preschool. It is usually tough for parents to prepare them for a typical school day at this stage.

Being proactive means anticipating problems, seeking new solutions and doing your best. Being proactive and acting promptly are essential attributes of successful people. To be proactive, you will need to plan for potential problems, solve problems instead of dwelling on them, prioritize more effectively, and assess your current method of tackling tasks to make improvements.

A proactive parent is gentle but firm, flexible yet consistent, empathetic but unwavering. He recognizes and respects where his rights and responsibilities end and where his children’s begin and through his expectations and responses, teaches his children to do the same. A proactive parent is willing to forgo present thanks and pleasure for future rewards. He recognizes that today’s trials lead to tomorrow’s triumphs, both for himself and his children.

Some of the quotes about being proactive and acting promptly are;

• ‘’Action is the foundational key for all success.”– Pablo Picasso
• “Knowing is not enough. We must apply. Willing is not enough. We must do.”– Bruce Lee
• Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” William Hutchison Murray
• “People who end up with the good jobs are the proactive ones who are solutions to problems, not problems themselves, who seize the initiative to do whatever is necessary to get the job done.”– Stephen R. Covey

The early years of a child’s life are very important for his or her health and development. Every child is unique but parents deal with similar issues around the same time. The way parents choose to deal with these issues has an important impact on how healthy and competent their children grow up to be.

Some of the critical aspects of child development (0-2 years) are;

• Physical Development-Children will first learn to hold their head up, learn to crawl, walk while holding onto furniture, stand, and then walk two or three steps without assistance (usually by 12 months). At 24 months, children can begin to run, kick a ball, and walk up and down stairs (while holding onto someone’s hand).
• Intellectual Development-Children at this age learn by exploring with their hands and mouth. They bang, throw, drop, shake, and put items in their mouths. They learn how to use everyday objects. By age 2, a child typically will have a vocabulary of 50 words. He learns to use two- and three-word sentences while speaking.
• Emotional Development-Crying is the primary means of communication when their needs are not being met. They smile and giggle when they want more of something, and turn their head, shut their eyes, or cry when they want less of something.
• Social Development-They imitate facial expressions, and even develop social smiles by three months. Talking begins with babbling, which leads to gradually learning to say and respond to simple words and phrases. They will play in parallel—near another child, but not with that child.
• School Readiness- Children are prepare gradually for preschool at this stage.

Home is the first classroom where your child learns his first word or takes his first step. Schools make up a huge part of your child’s learning journey, but learning should definitely not be confined inside those walls. Children spend most of their time at home so it is important to make it a place conducive for learning. Parents must complement the efforts of teachers to ensure effective learning. Children nurtured in a conducive home learning environment possess firm foundation of positive attitudes and great learning experiences.

A core goal of education is to create lifelong learners and parents can engage in the following actions to create conducive environment for their children to learn effectively at home;

• Limit distractions during home study-With the advancement of technology, children are used to modern gadgets which reduce their concentrations while learning at home. Apart from increasing the amount of time it takes to complete the work, it also affects the quality of the study. Park the portable technology elsewhere in the house. Keep the smart phones out of reach. Remove instant messaging from the computer and ban Facebook during study time.
• Create a dedicated space at home for study. A place that is quiet, well ventilated with proper lightings will promote positive home learning environment for your children.
• Ensure Good Posture while studying. It is hard to maintain the same level of concentration when lying on the floor or propped up in bed as when sitting at a desk. The body’s habit when lying down is to relax and sleep. It is not helpful for a child to have to fight that tendency when studying. In addition, lying down promotes passive reading. It is hard to take notes or type while lying down. So children who are lying down are playing a less active role in their learning than those who are sitting up.
• Be available to assist with homework and answer questions– Children are more comfortable  and will concentrate better if they are aware that you are there to render possible assistance to them.

Having courage means to be brave when meeting new experiences, difficult situations, and/or challenging encounters. Courage may involve being firm because of strong moral convictions. In either case, there may be feelings of fear, anxiety, or apprehension. Courage has always been challenging to cultivate. We humans tend to shrink from doing what is difficult or unpopular.

Courage is the ability to do what frightens you. It’s the willingness to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. When we develop courage in pupils, we enable them to take appropriate risks, to take initiative and act — in short, to be a decision-maker and a responsibility-taker.

Some of the quotes about Courage are;

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.”  – Mark Twain

“Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.” – Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

“Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears.– Arthur Koestler

“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”– Walt Disney

“Trust the still, small voice that says, ‘this might work and I’ll try it.”– Diane Mariechild

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”– Winston Churchill