How to Nurture Your Child’s Mental Health

Adults have a tendency to remember childhood as an easy time. However, children can struggle to cope with a world that always seems to be changing around them. They may also be influenced by outside influences, such as being bullied and the pressures of social media. You never know what your child is facing unless you talk to them. Here are some important steps you can take to nurture your child’s mental health. 

Practice Active Listening

When your child talks to you, listen. Pay attention to tone, body language and other indicators of how your child feels. Consider how they’re saying what they’re telling you. If your child tells you they’re not doing well, they’ve taken a brave step that they may have mulled over for a while. Let them know you’re there for them, and if action is required on your part, take it as soon as you can. 

Provide Sufficient Structure

Children thrive when given routines and activities that keep them engaged. Making plans with your child — and keeping them — can set you apart as a solid foundation in their ever-changing life. Being reliable may not feel like much if it comes naturally to you, but it can make all the difference in a child’s life. This is especially true when things don’t go their way.

Avoid Over Scheduling

Scheduling is good, but over scheduling can lead your child to be overwhelmed. If your child is never bored, they don’t have a lot of time for independent thought. Having time to themselves to do whatever they want is essential to having balance in life. People of all ages could benefit from setting aside a little more time for play. 

Allow for Failure

It can be hard to watch your child fail when it’s something they’ve put a lot of time and energy into. However, failing is an essential part of life. Your child needs to know how to fail and overcome their failures after feeling what they feel in the moment. Giving your child permission to fail is as important as celebrating their accomplishments. This is the only way to build resilience, which will become essential as they grow older and more independent.  

Encourage Healthy Habits

Taking care of your body is crucial if you want to have a healthy mind. Children may not make this connection. When they lose a few nights of sleep to their new favorite game, they might be perplexed about why they’re starting to feel depressed or anxious. Encourage your child to get in a few minutes of moderate physical activity a day, eat nourishing foods and get adequate sleep every night. This can extend to personal hygiene as well, especially for teenagers who often let it slip. The better your child feels physically, the better they’ll generally feel mentally. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we recognize the importance of mental health for students, especially as they grow and develop. Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

What to Look for in a Christian Private School

Sending your child to the perfect school can involve a great deal of research. You may think you’re done when you look up “Christian school near me” and find one in a reasonable driving distance. However, not all Christian private schools are the same. They come in all shapes and sizes, similar to any private school. Finding the perfect one for your child takes careful consideration. Here are a few things you should look for when choosing a school for your child. 

Faith Development Programs

There’s more to Christian school life than praying in the classroom and having a minister on campus. Christian schools should focus on teaching the whole child, from integrating gospel teachings into academic lessons to providing opportunities for faith development. The more children relate to faith as an aspect of their lives, the more meaningful they will find their Christian school experience. 

At NTCA, students participate in UNCOMMON, a faith development program that offers service, discipleship and celebration activities to keep everyone on campus immersed in their Christian faith. 

Emphasis on Student Wellbeing

Going to school can be a great experience for some students and less so for others. Children who frequently feel sick, for example, may see school as a burden. On-campus resources like the Health Office at NTCA allow students to take a breather and get back to class when they’re feeling better. In addition to health resources, programs that deal with bullying between students on campus can help resolve conflicts and get to the core of issues that cause bad behavior. Consideration for physical and mental health is essential.  

Extracurricular Activities

Private schools are often limited in their extracurricular offerings, partly because there are fewer students to participate in each activity. However, it’s important to make sure that your child has access to sports and other activities that will keep them engaged. NTCA offers volleyball, basketball, golf, soccer and Esports, as well as partnerships with local sports facilities, to provide a variety of options.  

Innovative Teaching

The world is always changing. Teaching techniques that worked well enough for a long time aren’t always a great fit for the modern world. Look for a school that offers an innovative approach to education. NTCA emphasizes real-world project-based learning, allowing students to achieve more and emphasizing each individual child’s gifts and creativity. These lessons are often integrated with serving the community, which is an integral part of their Christian faith. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we offer more than a place for children to learn. Students at our Tampa Christian school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Helping Your Child Overcome Test Anxiety

Most students experience uneasiness when taking tests. For some, this turns into full-on test anxiety. Students feel the pressure to perform, and they begin to cave under it. Standardized tests can be especially intimidating because, more often than not, how a student scores can determine some aspect of their future. Here’s how you can help your child overcome anxiety over testing. 

Studying Smarter

Reading the same notes over and over may work for some students, but for most, this isn’t the most effective way to learn. For example, have your child create timelines of what they’ve studied in history class, then tie the events together. Consider real-world examples of the lessons they’re learning in science class. See if they can solve math problems in a different order or talk their way backwards from the solution. Mixing up the material can help your child master it. 

Practicing the Test

The aspect of tests that causes the most anxiety is fear of the unknown. Take time with your child to go over the material that is likely to be on a test. For most standardized tests, practice versions of the test are available. The format of the test doesn’t need to be a surprise, and it’s often better for students to have an idea ahead of time. If your child really struggles with testing anxiety, consider having them take a few practice tests before they have to do the real thing. Make sure to keep track of the time during each practice session. 

Boosting Confidence

With the way schools build up standardized tests, some children conclude that the tests are simply going to be too difficult to pass. Children also tend to perceive other students’ performance as better than theirs. This can lead to a lack of confidence. Help your child become more confident by providing positive reinforcement in studying and in other areas of their lives. Give them kudos for solving difficult problems at school. Thank them when they do something kind for yourself or someone else. The more confident they are, the less pressure they’ll feel. 

Relaxation Techniques

Testing puts a great deal of pressure on students. This kind of pressure promotes stress, which causes more physical reactions than we may realize. Deep breathing, stretching and taking breaks from studying to get up and walk around can all ease the tension caused by stress and anxiety. When your child sits down to take the test, they can quietly perform deep breathing exercises without disturbing other students or taking time away from the task at hand. 

Taking tests can be a source of anxiety for students, but that stress doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Why the Arts Matter in Education

When most people think of education, the first things that come to mind are subjects like math, science and reading. However, for many students, there’s more to life than mastering numbers and memorizing facts. These students often need encouragement to break out of their shells, and studying the arts can do just that. The arts are just as important as STEM subjects when it comes to developing a full understanding of the world around us. Here are a few ways students benefit from the arts being part of their education. 

Meaningful Collaboration

Making art among other students, whether it’s on the canvas or on the stage, gives students the feeling that they’re part of something. They collaborate with other students, even while working on solo projects. This teaches them communication skills that they might not learn in a strictly academic setting. They learn not just to communicate their thoughts but also their feelings, which leaves room for deeper, more meaningful collaboration with others. 

Observation Skills 

All art is inspired by something. Students with artistic gifts and hobbies become aware of their surroundings and allow themselves to be influenced by the world around them. Through their creative ventures, they often observe things that others don’t notice. This can range from their own thoughts and feelings to changes in their surroundings. 

Self-Expression 

Expressing yourself is hard, especially when you’re learning about who you are and how you feel. While self-expression seems like the obvious benefit of arts in education, it shouldn’t be downplayed. Learning how to express yourself, especially for artistic children who can struggle with other outlets, can open up a world of possibilities. 

Willingness to Take Risks

Art has a unique ability to inspire students to try new things. Every time they explore a new medium, a new genre, or even a new character, they’re immersed in a new world they never knew was there. For many artists, this willingness to dive into new challenges translates to more confidence in life beyond art. 

Enhanced Cultural Understanding

Every culture creates art in some way, shape or form. From the beginning of time, and all around the world, art has been a fundamental part of the human experience. By studying the arts, students gain an understanding and appreciation of other cultures and perspectives.
The more they learn about different styles and cultural customs, the more well-rounded they become as artists and citizens of the world.

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we encourage students to learn about and explore the arts. Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

6 Ways to Foster Critical Thinking Skills in Children

While most children are naturally inquisitive, critical thinking is a skill that most develop over time. When your child asks you a series of questions, you may be tempted to pass them onto Google. However, in some cases, taking a moment to ask some questions back can get them thinking and put them in problem-solving mode. Here are a few ways you can help your child develop critical thinking skills. 

Encourage open-ended questions

When a child has a question, they often expect one simple answer. To encourage them to start thinking critically, consider reframing the questions they ask to be more open-ended. For example, instead of asking a closed question like “Do you like pineapples on pizza?” ask a question like “What do you think about pineapples on pizza?” 

Engage in imaginative play

Choose age-appropriate ways to incorporate more imagination into your child’s routine. Whether it’s coming up with backstories for their dolls or playing board games that involve improvisation, you can always incorporate more critical thinking into play. This will encourage your child to think critically and have fun in the process!

Promote problem solving

You may want to fix all your child’s problems for them. However, it’s important for your child to branch out and learn to come up with their own solutions. When they ask you about a situation they’re dealing with, talk through it, and allow them to come to their own conclusion. If that conclusion needs refining, you can add your input after the fact. 

Lead by example

Show your child what critical thinking looks like. Talk to them about problems you’re having in your life and how you were able to solve them. If they want advice that’s more relevant to them, consider discussing ways you resolved conflicts when you were younger. 

Encourage categorization

One important aspect of critical thinking is organizing your thoughts. Similar to naming emotions to tackle hard feelings, categorizing thoughts can help your child think things through. Discuss how thoughts relate to each other, and encourage them to stay on track by categorizing thoughts into the respective areas of their lives. 

Ask probing questions

Some people don’t like being questioned, but it’s an important part of life. If your child becomes stubborn about an assumption they’ve made, talk through it. Ask questions like “Why do you feel that way?” or “Did someone tell you that?” This can help them think more deeply before drawing a conclusion, which is at the core of critical thinking. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we encourage students to think critically. Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.