Smelly socks. Mouldy lunch containers. Underwear. A fancy ladies? coat. As the parent volunteer in charge of the lost and found at her son?s elementary school in Toronto, Christine ten Brummeler thought she?d seen it all. But nothing could have prepared her for the time her own little guy came home from school wearing only one shoe. ?I thought, ?Really" How could he not notice"? It can be so frustrating when they lose things. It?s a pain in the neck, not to mention the cost.?
Got one of those kids" Then you?re probably dreading the last-ditch attempt to track down your child?s missing hoodie or late library book before school?s out for summer. But at least you?re in good company. ?It?s perfectly normal and common for six- and seven-year-olds to lose things,? says Calgary child psychologist Cheryl Gilbert MacLeod. ?Kids this age tend to be focused on lots of things, and their goals are still very ?me-oriented.? When they?re running out the door to play at the end of the day, remembering to put their water bottles in their bags isn?t always a priority.? While some children are just naturally better than others at keeping track of their belongings, it?s up to Mom and Dad to provide their kids with the right tools and strategies to be successful. ?It?s our job to teach good organizational and planning skills. These are behaviours that children need to learn, and they develop slowly over time with practise,? adds Gilbert MacLeod.
The number one thing parents can d...