One of the largest issues suffered by teenagers is a lack of self-esteem. The rise of social media has created an environment in which it may appear that everyone is doing better than you. Subsequently, we are seeing a rise in the rates of depression in our youth. One of the first things we can do to work towards eradicating this trend is to help children boost their self-esteem – and education is one of the top tools. Whether it is art, computer science, or reading, having a passion, and a direct line to pursuing that passion, empowers your child to take ownership of their own outlook of their future.
The next thing we can do – is changing our attitudes towards children and subvert the idea of teacher classroom dominance and student compliance. At KTBYTE, we strive to achieve this in three different ways.
Dictate. Don’t dictate.
The word dictate has two meanings. The first one is to authoritatively state or order something. Think back to your favorite teachers and the teachers you disliked. The ones you disliked often forced a domineering impression and often used scare tactics to keep you in control. They followed the first meaning of dictate. Your favorite teachers probably followed the latter – simply just speak aloud. In this way, they created an environment where you not only learned well but also an environment in which you felt comfortable. At KTBYTE we train our teachers to work with your child, not against them, and in turn, help boost your child’s self-esteem.
Speak. But also listen.
Every child thinks about and processes the world around them differently. The idea that one lesson will work for everyone is ridiculous and we understand that at KTBYTE. Although at times our courses may seem more like lectures, we always ensure to dedicate time to listening to our students and opening up a door of communication. We allow students to give their input on lessons and let us know if they struggle with topics. In this, students are shown that not only are their thoughts valid, but also valuable, and this goes a long way towards boosting the self-perception of their ability.
Find the Success in Failure.
No child comes out of the womb walking. We run a continuous cycle of trying and failing before we can walk successfully without falling over, learning takes time and organization. This fear of failing is also too often seen in classes. As instructors, we recognize this and ensure that our teachers reinforce the idea of answering questions in class, even if it may be wrong. Our teachers know to work with your child’s failures, show them where they went wrong, and create an environment in which they can try again. As parents, it’s imperative to communicate that while the expectation is to succeed, failing can be a form of success, so long as the motivation to try again remains.