https://www.scmp.com/rss/12694/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com My Year 5 daughter is very good at maths, but she’s finding it boring this year and says it’s too easy, a Hong Kong parent writes. I understand that there are children with different abilities in her class but why doesn’t the school put pupils in streams so the good mathematicians can have more challenging work? Whatever the academic grouping system a school has in place, whether it be streaming, ability grouping within a class or mixed-ability teaching, it is imperative that all children are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3002652/primary-school-maths-streaming-high-ability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/3002652/primary-school-maths-streaming-high-ability?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Mar 2019 07:00:12 +0000 My Year Six daughter is desperate to sign up to social media, but I strongly believe she’s too young, a Hong Kong parent writes. She’s getting distressed about being left out and says she’s missing out on lots of social interactions at school. Other parents allowing their underage children to sign up has left us in a difficult situation. Can schools do more to help? A surprising number of primary age students are already on social media, having lied about their age to enrol. It is likely that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2188639/my-11-year-old-daughter-wants-social-media-account?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2188639/my-11-year-old-daughter-wants-social-media-account?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Mar 2019 05:03:26 +0000 I’m wondering whether my Year One son should repeat a year at school, a Hong Kong parent writes. He was born in December, making him the youngest in his class. He finds the work hard and hasn’t really made any friends. He was excited about starting school, but now he says he doesn’t like it and he always seems to be disciplined by teachers. It’s getting harder to get him to go to school. The situation you describe has been called an accident of circumstance, or even “a calendar conspiracy”. Why... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2185952/should-my-son-repeat-year-school-he-youngest-class?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2185952/should-my-son-repeat-year-school-he-youngest-class?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Feb 2019 03:15:45 +0000 My son did not do very well in his mock GCSEs [which Year 10 students take], a Hong Kong parent writes. He found it very hard to focus on revision during the school holiday and he seems to be overwhelmed with studying so many subjects. Are there any strategies I can suggest to help him revise? Summer exams may seem like a long way off but they creep up very quickly. The recent mock exams may have given your son a bit of a shock and made him realise that he needs to knuckle down; but that’s not... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2184035/exam-revision-my-son-overwhelmed-how-can-i-help-him?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2184035/exam-revision-my-son-overwhelmed-how-can-i-help-him?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jan 2019 11:48:51 +0000 My son is about to take his first tests at high school, and I’m concerned because his handwriting is very slow and laborious. He always underachieves in tests because he can’t get his knowledge down on paper under time pressure. Isn’t it time that children at least have the option of doing tests and exams on a computer? After all, this is the way he does most of his other work. An increasing number of universities are trialling e-exams and the first results are encouraging. If successful, this... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2181703/why-cant-my-slow-writing-son-use-laptop-exams-asks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2181703/why-cant-my-slow-writing-son-use-laptop-exams-asks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Jan 2019 08:33:49 +0000 My son is very good at sport but there seems no incentive at his primary school for him to win, a Hong Kong parent writes. Even school “sports day” seems to have been dumbed down to novelty team activities. They also cancelled the fathers’ race this year, saying it had become dangerous. The focus seems to be protecting children from “losing”. I am sad that my son doesn’t have the opportunities to compete properly and showcase his talent. With record numbers of obese children entering schools,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2176715/school-sports-wheres-competitive-spirit-when?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2176715/school-sports-wheres-competitive-spirit-when?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Dec 2018 18:00:45 +0000 My Year Five daughter has a best friend at school who is unkind and controlling, a Hong Kong parent writes. She is also a bad influence on my daughter’s behaviour and distracts her in class. My daughter’s mood goes up and down, depending on whether her friend treats her nicely. I want to discourage her from spending time with this so-called friend. Is that interfering too much? “Helicopter parenting” is a term we hear a lot nowadays and its invasiveness is not always helpful to children. I... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2173321/my-daughter-has-unkind-controlling-friend-should-i?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2173321/my-daughter-has-unkind-controlling-friend-should-i?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Nov 2018 09:07:39 +0000 My Year Six daughter finds maths really hard and especially panics when attempting word problems, a Hong Kong parent writes. She is dyslexic and gets extra support with reading and writing but not maths. Should I question this? Links between dyslexia and difficulties with maths are well established. Recent research has shown that maths dyscalculia – a term describing students who consistently have problems learning maths – is hugely under-diagnosed. Given that all children occasionally have... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2168320/how-help-children-avoid-panicking-over-maths-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2168320/how-help-children-avoid-panicking-over-maths-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Oct 2018 11:02:49 +0000 The teacher of my seven-year-old son tells me he doesn’t retain concepts easily and often needs to have instructions repeated, a Hong Kong parent writes. She says he’s always tired in class and has recommended he sleeps longer to help his memory and concentration. He finds it hard to fall asleep and wakes early even if he goes to bed late. Could this be a reason why he can’t remember things? For many years research has clearly shown that getting enough sleep is crucial to the learning process.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2165550/importance-sleep-childrens-ability-learn-and-remember?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2165550/importance-sleep-childrens-ability-learn-and-remember?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Sep 2018 12:48:17 +0000 My nine-year-old daughter likes reading, but rereads the same books over and over again, a Hong Kong parent writes. Most of the books she chooses are below her reading level so I’m worried her comprehension and vocabulary will never improve. I don’t want to push her too hard and put her off reading, but how can I encourage her to read new and more challenging books? Every parent wants their child to be a good reader, not only for the skills it develops, but for the pleasure it can bring to their... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2163503/how-best-encourage-your-child-read-more-challenging?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/2163503/how-best-encourage-your-child-read-more-challenging?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Sep 2018 12:00:00 +0000 Looking through my son’s primary schoolbooks in the summer holiday I noticed some work has been marked by children instead of the teacher and some not marked at all, writes a Hong Kong parent. Is this usual and acceptable? Thoughts and beliefs about marking have changed over recent years. Depending on a school’s approach to marking and the time they give for student reflection, it can provide useful feedback or frankly amount to a total waste of time for everyone, simply adding to a teacher’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2160020/why-pupils-not-teachers-mark-some-their-classmates-work-these?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2160020/why-pupils-not-teachers-mark-some-their-classmates-work-these?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Aug 2018 05:32:15 +0000 I’m already dreading the long summer holiday, writes a Hong Kong parent. Keeping my Year 6 daughter entertained is difficult and expensive. She’s an only child, which doesn’t help, and I don’t want her on her phone or computer all day. Can you suggest some ideas? As parents it’s tempting to try to over-organise our children. When we feel they are using their time productively, it may make us feel better; however, it has been shown that helicopter parenting is often counterproductive, and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2154572/summer-holiday-activities-how-entertain-your-child-without?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2154572/summer-holiday-activities-how-entertain-your-child-without?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Jul 2018 11:45:15 +0000 My Year 2 son finds school boring and isn’t excited by it at all, a Hong Kong parent writes. His teacher is quite strict and he seems to make them do a lot of worksheets. At home he’s chatty, interested in everything and always asking questions. I thought the education system had improved. Firstly, your son’s curious nature is an extremely positive attribute, which should be nurtured and encouraged. Recent studies show that children who are curious, solve problems and take responsibility for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2152286/how-make-sure-school-engages-your-childs-curiosity-rather-leaving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2152286/how-make-sure-school-engages-your-childs-curiosity-rather-leaving?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Jun 2018 10:46:40 +0000 When my daughter was at primary school I often used to help her with homework, a Hong Kong parent writes. Since starting high school she has become very private about her homework and won’t even tell me what she has got. I feel totally out of touch with what she is doing at school. Many parents would be grateful to be in your position. Your daughter is showing independence and developing the self-organisation skills necessary for success at secondary school. If she is not completing homework... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2149853/my-child-not-letting-me-help-her-her-homework-and-i-feel-left-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2149853/my-child-not-letting-me-help-her-her-homework-and-i-feel-left-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Jun 2018 12:04:19 +0000 There are more girls than boys in my son’s Year 4 class and the teacher splits the boys up, sitting them alternately with the girls, a Hong Kong parent writes. My son doesn’t like working with the girls because he says they’re bossy. Do teachers normally dictate seating like this? I would suggest that despite your son’s feelings about being made to sit and work with girls, there are many advantages. It has long been recognised that girls have a positive influence on the work habits of boys when... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2145975/do-teachers-hong-kong-normally-make-girls-and-boys-sit-next-each?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2145975/do-teachers-hong-kong-normally-make-girls-and-boys-sit-next-each?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 May 2018 07:02:10 +0000 My daughter started secondary school last year and often comes home with her skirt rolled over at the waist to make it shorter, a Hong Kong parent writes. She’s also started wearing make-up for school.  I think this gives off the wrong message but she says all the girls do it and the teachers don’t say anything. The school makes uniform rules but they don’t seem to follow up and there’s no consequences for breaking them. The old stories of girls being made to kneel on the floor to check the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2144272/my-childs-not-following-school-uniform-rules-school-doesnt-seem?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2144272/my-childs-not-following-school-uniform-rules-school-doesnt-seem?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 May 2018 10:33:52 +0000 My son has attention difficulties in class and sometimes finds it hard to control his behaviour, a Hong Kong parent writes. He is academically bright but the teacher says he is nowhere near reaching his full potential. He gets taken out of class for some lessons to help him concentrate but gets embarrassed about this and says the other children in his group are slow with their work and naughty. I’m worried that this is holding him back and not really helping his behaviour. The approach to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2142092/my-child-has-attention-issues-and-gets-pulled-out-class-i-worry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2142092/my-child-has-attention-issues-and-gets-pulled-out-class-i-worry?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Apr 2018 12:02:52 +0000 My Year Four son finds it really hard to learn his times tables, a Hong Kong parent writes. We help him practise at home, but he never does well in his tests at school. He gets upset and says the teacher goes too fast, then he loses confidence even more. What should we do? Many parents experience frustrations when trying to help their children learn the multiplication tables. It can be very challenging, especially if a child has the type of brain that does not retain facts or information easily,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2139044/how-can-i-help-my-child-learn-multiplication-tables-parent-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2139044/how-can-i-help-my-child-learn-multiplication-tables-parent-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Mar 2018 23:34:23 +0000 My daughter is in her first year in high school; she is completely disorganised and close to being late for school most days, a Hong Kong parent writes. It takes her at least half an hour to pack her bag in the morning, and even then she forgets to take homework that she’s actually completed and gets detention. She is so concerned that her hair looks exactly right it takes her even longer to get ready. It’s always a mad rush and causes lots of arguments and an unpleasant start to the day. First,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2135831/what-parents-can-do-help-their-kids-get-school-time-and-be-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2135831/what-parents-can-do-help-their-kids-get-school-time-and-be-more?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Mar 2018 04:32:51 +0000 A Hong Kong parent writes: My son is artistic and talented at drawing but art seems to all but have disappeared from the curriculum at his school. He is not academic but when he was younger he used to get compliments from his class about his drawing, which helped his self-confidence. His school recently did well in an inspection but a “good” school seems to be measured by academic results. What about subjects like art? There is always a danger that even primary schools feel under pressure to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2133382/whatever-happened-art-classes-schools-hong-kong-parent-asks-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2133382/whatever-happened-art-classes-schools-hong-kong-parent-asks-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Feb 2018 10:46:25 +0000 A Hong Kong parent writes: it really frustrates me that my Year Six son cannot use apostrophes correctly. The teaching of the English language appears very arbitrary these days, and it seems that instruction in the basic skills is being forgotten in the name of “creativity”.  It has been shown that even university students, not just schoolchildren like your son, are struggling to use apostrophes correctly these days. In fact, some linguistics researchers believe that the apostrophe may soon... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2130031/why-cant-my-son-use-apostrophe-properly-grammar-still-taught?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2130031/why-cant-my-son-use-apostrophe-properly-grammar-still-taught?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jan 2018 23:47:28 +0000 A Hong Kong parent writes: I rarely go in to my son’s primary school but I took a day off work recently to help on a school trip and was appalled by the general behaviour. I was shocked to find children pushing each other on the stairs, running along the corridors screaming and shouting. One child almost knocked me over without even an apology. My son’s teacher seemed to be able to control the children in the classroom during the briefing but I was not at all impressed with the school as a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2127770/hong-kong-parent-appalled-bad-behaviour-sons-school?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2127770/hong-kong-parent-appalled-bad-behaviour-sons-school?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Jan 2018 00:46:08 +0000 A Hong Kong parent writes: I have a strong belief that eating good food is important but since my daughter started high school this year it’s been very hard to supervise and keep track of what she’s eating. She wants to eat at the tuck shop with friends, and although there are some healthy options they sell a lot of junk food, too. Also there are vending machines at school that sell confectionery, crisps and fizzy drinks. Don’t schools need to ban these? I am in total agreement with you... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2125980/should-schools-ban-vending-machines-asks-hong-kong-parent-worried?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2125980/should-schools-ban-vending-machines-asks-hong-kong-parent-worried?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Dec 2017 09:20:01 +0000 A Hong Kong parent writes: We often sing nursery rhymes with our daughter at home, but she doesn’t seem to sing any at her international kindergarten. I presumed this was an important and natural part of a young child’s education. According to research, many young children today cannot recite famous nursery rhymes. Parents are now more likely to see them as old-fashioned and, as a result, are no longer singing them with their children. A leading UK school inspector recently warned that this... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2123461/why-no-nursery-rhymes-hong-kong-kindergarten-theyre-great-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2123461/why-no-nursery-rhymes-hong-kong-kindergarten-theyre-great-way?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Dec 2017 04:49:18 +0000 My son’s primary school has recently acquired some new standing desks. My son says he prefers working standing up instead of sitting down, but he hardly gets to use them because there are only three in each classroom and the children argue over using them. What is the purpose of these desks and is it a good way for children to learn? The concept of standing desks is still a fairly new one in education. Although it may seem strange to those of us who were expected to sit up straight at school and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2118778/will-standing-desks-classrooms-help-kids-learn-or-encourage-them?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2118778/will-standing-desks-classrooms-help-kids-learn-or-encourage-them?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Nov 2017 04:46:23 +0000 My Year 5 son attends an international primary school where there are no separate lessons for computer skills. Sometimes he only uses a computer once or twice a week, as there are only enough for children to share one between two (and these are also shared with another class). Also, most of his homework is still written by hand. Surely nowadays schools should be providing more access to computers? The lack of resources in schools can be frustrating. Computers are expensive to both buy and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2116585/lack-computers-hong-kong-international-school-questioned?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2116585/lack-computers-hong-kong-international-school-questioned?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Oct 2017 04:46:13 +0000 My Year 3 son has become quite reluctant to go to school. He is very quiet and studious, but a lot of boys in his class are boisterous and disruptive. I get the impression from him and other parents that the class teacher can’t really control them. He often has to sit next to naughty children who mess around and distract him. What should I do? Every primary class has students with a wide range of abilities who demonstrate different behaviour patterns. Although schools often put a great deal of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2113325/naughty-classmates-are-distracting-my-year-3-child-what-should-i?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2113325/naughty-classmates-are-distracting-my-year-3-child-what-should-i?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Oct 2017 09:17:19 +0000 My daughter is left-handed and has just entered Year 2 at a school in Hong Kong. Her Year 1 teacher was very aware of her needs and gave her extra help with handwriting. This week my daughter asked for left-handed scissors and was told by her new teacher that there aren’t any. She also came home upset because the girl who sits next to her is getting cross because they keep banging elbows. Should I go to see the new teacher about this? Historically, being left-handed was considered strange,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2111783/how-can-teachers-help-left-handed-children-classroom-advice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2111783/how-can-teachers-help-left-handed-children-classroom-advice?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Sep 2017 11:02:41 +0000 My son was excited about the prospect of going back to primary school, only to find that his new teacher is off on long-term sick leave. The school has employed a substitute teacher for now, but it is unclear whether this teacher will stay on. The whole situation is very unsatisfactory and parents have been told very little so far. Is this likely to have an impact on my son? This is not an ideal start to the new academic year and is disappointing for your son. Unfortunately, if a teacher has to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2107647/will-substitute-teacher-affect-childs-development-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2107647/will-substitute-teacher-affect-childs-development-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Aug 2017 23:02:32 +0000 My daughter, a pupil at a Hong Kong primary school, has problems remembering facts and skills after she’s been taught them, especially in maths. I’m worried her academic skills will suffer during the long summer break. Julie McGuire writes: Parents often fear that their children are going to regress academically over the summer holiday. This is rarely the case. However, during this extended period, important skills, especially those focused on reading and maths, can be consolidated and even... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2104179/relax-your-kids-need-summer-holiday-recharge-their-batteries-so?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2104179/relax-your-kids-need-summer-holiday-recharge-their-batteries-so?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:32:17 +0000 A Hong Kong parent writes: My son’s primary class has been practising for an end-of-year assembly to perform to the whole school. The rehearsals have gone on for weeks and all teaching seems to have come to a halt. My son is quiet, so he doesn’t have a main part. He knew the songs weeks ago and only has one line to say. He’s lost interest in school and seems to have done very little work in the past few weeks. Putting together an assembly or any kind of major performance for a whole school... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2103142/whats-point-hong-kong-end-year-school-assemblies-quite-lot-long?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2103142/whats-point-hong-kong-end-year-school-assemblies-quite-lot-long?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jul 2017 23:00:30 +0000 My Year Four son recently went on a school trip walking in the hills, tree planting and gardening. He hated it. He dislikes walking, especially in the heat, and is not confident going up and down steep hills. He also hates insects, especially mosquitoes, and is frightened of snakes. It’s difficult to get him out at the weekends and I don’t know how I can encourage him to enjoy the outdoors. Battling biophobia in Hong Kong - groups help children lose their terror of nature Life for some children... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2097152/how-help-hong-kongs-cocooned-kids-lose-their-fear-nature-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2097152/how-help-hong-kongs-cocooned-kids-lose-their-fear-nature-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jun 2017 22:46:19 +0000 My Year Six daughter has always been a night owl and always seemed to manage on very little sleep. Her teacher recently said she seemed to be tired in class and was finding it hard to concentrate. Although we send her to bed at a reasonable time, she rarely falls asleep before 11pm. What can I do to help her? There is no magic number for the hours of sleep a person needs in order to function in a rational and productive way. Some people naturally need more sleep than others, and alternatively we... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2094917/how-stop-your-child-falling-asleep-school-and-help-them-cope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2094917/how-stop-your-child-falling-asleep-school-and-help-them-cope?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 May 2017 22:48:39 +0000 My daughter loved history at primary school and often had her nose in a Horrible Histories book, a Hong Kong parent writes. But since entering Year Seven at secondary school, she says the subject is really boring. Apparently the teacher talks for most of the lesson and the class just have to take notes or answer questions from a textbook. Is this normal? As with most areas of the school curriculum, the enthusiasm and teaching methods of the individual teacher is crucial to the success and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2092010/how-hong-kong-history-teachers-could-make-secondary-school?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2092010/how-hong-kong-history-teachers-could-make-secondary-school?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 May 2017 00:15:12 +0000 A Hong Kong parent writes: my son could write all the letters of the alphabet by the age of four. His Year Two teacher says he needs to join up his letters, but he wants to keep them separate. The pressure to join them up is making him reluctant to write. How important is cursive writing? Much of the educational research about writing highlights the value and importance using cursive handwriting. Studies show that joining letters not only helps to increase the speed at which children work but... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2085005/why-digital-natives-must-still-learn-handwriting-so-they-can-pass?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2085005/why-digital-natives-must-still-learn-handwriting-so-they-can-pass?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Apr 2017 05:05:09 +0000 My daughter, who is in Year Four, is already a proficient musician and music lessons at her school are pitched way below her ability. Her class is learning to play the recorder. She says it’s really boring and the other children make a horrible noise. Can’t schools cater for more able children in music lessons as they do in maths and other subjects? Most people would agree that the noise of novice recorder players – or indeed beginner violinists or trumpet players – can be excruciating.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2081566/why-cant-hong-kong-primary-schools-teach-music-properly-pupils?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2081566/why-cant-hong-kong-primary-schools-teach-music-properly-pupils?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Mar 2017 23:30:16 +0000 My Year Five daughter has lost confidence at school in Hong Kong and her work is going downhill. She finds it noisy and overwhelming being in a class of 30, and the teacher doesn’t have time to help her when she gets stuck. Her teachers say she is very quiet and doesn’t answer questions, but if she puts her hand up she says she never gets picked. I’m thinking of finding a school with smaller classes. Parents often fear that larger groups are more prone to disruption and children may receive less... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2075041/hong-kong-mother-worries-about-her-daughter-getting-lost-noisy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2075041/hong-kong-mother-worries-about-her-daughter-getting-lost-noisy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Mar 2017 08:48:40 +0000 My daughter is nine and is still not a confident reader. She struggles to sound out new words and often doesn’t understand stories because she’s concentrating so hard on reading the words. The teacher doesn’t seem to have time to hear her read much in school but I listen to her read most days. What else can I do to help? It’s not surprising that your daughter is not enjoying reading as she is finding the mechanics hard work and therefore can’t focus on enjoying the story. It is never a good... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2072343/my-daughter-struggles-reading-how-can-i-help-her?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2072343/my-daughter-struggles-reading-how-can-i-help-her?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Feb 2017 22:00:52 +0000 My daughter is very interested in world affairs and is encouraged by her Year Six teacher to read newspapers. She sometimes watches television news with me but I feel some of it is not appropriate. I don’t want to shelter her but neither do I want to scare her by exposing her to frightening images. It’s pleasing that your daughter is interested in world news at such a young age. This attitude of curiosity is key to being an active and successful learner. Many primary-school children show little... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2060887/how-avoid-news-scaring-preteen-hong-kong-child-curious-about?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2060887/how-avoid-news-scaring-preteen-hong-kong-child-curious-about?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Jan 2017 23:47:35 +0000 My daughter used to love sports at her Hong Kong primary school but she tries to avoid it now that she’s in Year Seven. She won’t join extracurricular sports clubs and tries to get out of school if she has PE. She’s become embarrassed about her body and says she doesn’t want to change with others because she feels she’s not as pretty or slim as some other girls. How can I help her to regain her confidence and love of sports? Moving to secondary school is a big change for students. Add to that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2056903/how-help-teenage-daughter-going-through-body-image-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2056903/how-help-teenage-daughter-going-through-body-image-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Dec 2016 23:02:03 +0000 My daughter is in Year Six at a Hong Kong primary school. She has lots of interests outside school, including dancing and sport, but she has so much homework she barely has time to fit these in. I’m totally against children getting such a great deal of homework in primary school. Am I being unreasonable? You are not alone in your views. A primary school in Britain recently made the bold decision to completely scrap homework. In voting for the change, the positives listed by parents for their... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2052608/how-hong-kong-primary-school-pupils-homework-load-has-put-strain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2052608/how-hong-kong-primary-school-pupils-homework-load-has-put-strain?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Dec 2016 03:31:22 +0000 My son’s great passion is science. He’s always doing experiments at home and attends an extracurricular club after school, but he’s disappointed his school hardly does practical work. He attends Year Five at an international school doing the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, which is sold to parents as being inquiry-based, yet science lessons seem to be mostly paper-based or research work. Surely young children need to have the chance to do hands-on experiments? There’s something... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2049720/why-no-lab-time-sons-ib-science-class-hong-kong-mum-wonders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2049720/why-no-lab-time-sons-ib-science-class-hong-kong-mum-wonders?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Nov 2016 05:02:26 +0000 Since my daughter started high school a few weeks ago, she has been complaining that her shoulders and back are aching. She walks to school and I’m concerned about the weight of the backpack she carries. She also spends more time crouched over her computer screen doing homework. I’m worried these activities are going to lead to back problems in the future. Sometimes age-old wisdom comes to the fore. Years ago my grandma used to nag me about two things – looking after my teeth and maintaining a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2039504/heavy-school-bag-or-too-much-screen-time-giving-daughter-bad-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2039504/heavy-school-bag-or-too-much-screen-time-giving-daughter-bad-back?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Oct 2016 08:47:01 +0000 My son’s primary school recently organised a maths information evening for parents. The focus was mainly maths games and practical activities. While I can see these types of processing are fun for children and have some value, there seems to be a lack of formal teaching in the curriculum. The importance of learning multiplication tables was not even mentioned. The teaching of maths today is a far cry from the endless repetition of number facts and standard textbook problems that many parents... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2024580/hong-kong-mother-worries-her-sons-maths-lessons-are-too-much-fun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2024580/hong-kong-mother-worries-her-sons-maths-lessons-are-too-much-fun?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Oct 2016 08:32:22 +0000 My daughter has contracted head lice and I’ve been asked to keep her at home for the time being, which is very frustrating because she’s missing out so early in the term. She usually ties up her hair but other girls don’t always do so. There are no strict rules about girls tying up their hair even for PE and the nurse on site doesn’t do head checks. Why don’t schools have nit nurses any more? The “nit” nurse who dealt with head lice was a regular part of school life for generations of children... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2020063/why-dont-hong-kong-schools-perform-head-checks-lice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2020063/why-dont-hong-kong-schools-perform-head-checks-lice?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Sep 2016 12:01:11 +0000 My daughter has just moved into Year Three at her international primary school in Hong Kong and more than two-thirds of the class are boys. She doesn’t like sitting next to the boys because, she says, they disturb her when she’s trying to work. This ratio doesn’t seem like a healthy balance and I’m worried it will lead to more behavioural problems in class. I agree that the situation you describe seems less than ideal. Unfortunately, as a result of pressure on international school places and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2014880/hong-kong-mother-worries-there-are-too-many-boys-her-daughters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2014880/hong-kong-mother-worries-there-are-too-many-boys-her-daughters?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Sep 2016 09:01:38 +0000 My son is the youngest pupil in his class. He likes going to school and the teacher says he’s working well, but he is very immature and can’t organise himself. I’m wondering whether he should repeat a year? Unfortunately, someone has to be the youngest in the class. The December age cut-off used in some international schools in Hong Kong means the youngest children in the class are in a higher year band than they would be with a September cut-off. Educational research clearly shows it is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2005032/my-son-youngest-pupil-class-should-he-be-kept-down-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2005032/my-son-youngest-pupil-class-should-he-be-kept-down-year?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Aug 2016 04:46:07 +0000 My daughter has just finished Year Six in Hong Kong and is stressed about moving up to high school. She is very shy and not at all confident. Her best friend is going to a different school and she’s very upset about this. How can I help her feel better and prepare for high school? These days parents can feel confident that the links between primary and secondary schools are stronger than they used to be. Year Six pupils often visit their new school several times throughout the year. I recently... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2000795/how-parents-can-help-children-prepare-transition-secondary-school?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/2000795/how-parents-can-help-children-prepare-transition-secondary-school?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Aug 2016 08:00:24 +0000 My daughter loves writing stories and poems, but now she’s in Primary Five in Hong Kong she complains that the class hardly ever does this kind of writing. I have looked through her books and most of the work is comprehension exercises and research. What is happening to creative literature? Language is at the heart of any curriculum and creative literature is an important part of this. Creative writing develops students’ thinking and imagination, while encouraging a love of language. As well as... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/1988960/my-daughter-loves-creative-writing-her-hong-kong-school-seems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/1988960/my-daughter-loves-creative-writing-her-hong-kong-school-seems?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Jul 2016 00:00:15 +0000 My daughter is in Primary Six and is upset that friends are phone messaging hurtful comments about her. She used to enjoy school but has become withdrawn. I want her to talk to the teacher but she is reluctant. She seems to be the only girl in her peer group who doesn’t take a smartphone to school. I think she’s too young and I don’t think primary schools should allow them. More and more children in Hong Kong seem to own smartphones at a young age. Many primary schools strongly discourage or ban... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/1986060/my-daughter-bullied-primary-school-her-lack-smartphone-blame?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/families/article/1986060/my-daughter-bullied-primary-school-her-lack-smartphone-blame?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Jul 2016 05:02:37 +0000