How to Prepare Your Child for School Interviews
Friday, October 26, 2018
How to Prepare Your Child for School Interviews
Entrance interviews for schools can be a particularly trying time for children and parents, and negative experiences can scar children for life. Unfortunately competition for schools is high in Hong Kong and has led to a rise in ‘tiger parenting’, to the extent that parents coach their children heavily for school interviews. Sadly this often has the opposite effect on many children, with teachers speaking of children who come into their classrooms mute or hysterical with terror, unable to participate in the interview and leaving everyone upset all round.
The key to successful interviews and preparation is being relaxed with your child, and ensuring they are comfortable and at ease in answering questions. Most importantly, do not over rehearse - teachers can tell when a child has been prepped too hard beforehand and this tends to give a negative impression of parents and an inaccurate assessment of the child’s abilities.
Remember, schools don't want to see a parrot, they want genuinely thoughtful answers so don't over-rehearse and make your child memorise answers. In fact, zero preparation is better than too much preparation! Teachers are genuinely interested in knowing what makes your child unique; their strengths and interests, as well as areas they need more help in. After all, this is what teachers do! Observing children play, speak naturally, converse and interact with others are all ways which teachers assess and plan better, knowing that they have the children’s interests in mind. This allows teachers to tailor lessons according to the needs of the children.
If you do decide to go ahead and prepare your child, go slowly. Introduce a few questions at a time when children are relaxed and conversant, such as at the dinner table, or perhaps when travelling on transport. Keep your tone light and inquisitive, and be generally interested in their answers. After all, they are expressing thoughts, opinions and experiences and you are showing them the value of their input, that they matter.
In the days and weeks before the interview, make sure your child interacts with other grownups, known or new, to ensure that they are comfortable talking to adults in the presence of their parent. It doesn’t hurt to teach them good manners, such as taking turns to talk, or waiting for the other person to finish talking, as well as shaking hands or greeting politely.
The day before the interview, make sure your child gets plenty of rest and sleep to make sure they are well-rested. On the day, make sure they eat a good meal and go to the bathroom before the interview starts. During the interview, allow them time to speak and answer, as well as ask questions. Don’t be tempted to answer the teacher’s questions for them. This will not be kindly looked upon!
Above all, remember it's not the end of the world if your child doesn't succeed at a particular school interview. Instead see it as a sign that the school is not the best fit for your child (not the other way around!) and as a good opportunity to find the school that best fits your child's learning style and needs. Don’t forget to praise your child after the interview for their courage and bravery - no matter the effort. People of all ages find interviews very stressful and they have achieved something many adults are unable to do. You should be proud of your little one’s attempts - this will build their confidence for future situations and help them overcome any stress or anxiety the next time round.
Our Mighty Oaks Club provides parenting support as well as regular get togethers, workshops and community events for parents and helpers. Join our Mighty Oaks Club free at: https://www.mightyoaks.edu.hk/eng/mighty_oaks_club/background and download a copy of our e-book ”50 questions your child might be asked at school interviews” .
Entrance interviews for schools can be a particularly trying time for children and parents, and negative experiences can scar children for life. Unfortunately competition for schools is high in Hong Kong and has led to a rise in ‘tiger parenting’, to the extent that parents coach their children heavily for school interviews. Sadly this often has the opposite effect on many children, with teachers speaking of children who come into their classrooms mute or hysterical with terror, unable to participate in the interview and leaving everyone upset all round.
The key to successful interviews and preparation is being relaxed with your child, and ensuring they are comfortable and at ease in answering questions. Most importantly, do not over rehearse - teachers can tell when a child has been prepped too hard beforehand and this tends to give a negative impression of parents and an inaccurate assessment of the child’s abilities.
Remember, schools don't want to see a parrot, they want genuinely thoughtful answers so don't over-rehearse and make your child memorise answers. In fact, zero preparation is better than too much preparation! Teachers are genuinely interested in knowing what makes your child unique; their strengths and interests, as well as areas they need more help in. After all, this is what teachers do! Observing children play, speak naturally, converse and interact with others are all ways which teachers assess and plan better, knowing that they have the children’s interests in mind. This allows teachers to tailor lessons according to the needs of the children.
If you do decide to go ahead and prepare your child, go slowly. Introduce a few questions at a time when children are relaxed and conversant, such as at the dinner table, or perhaps when travelling on transport. Keep your tone light and inquisitive, and be generally interested in their answers. After all, they are expressing thoughts, opinions and experiences and you are showing them the value of their input, that they matter.
In the days and weeks before the interview, make sure your child interacts with other grownups, known or new, to ensure that they are comfortable talking to adults in the presence of their parent. It doesn’t hurt to teach them good manners, such as taking turns to talk, or waiting for the other person to finish talking, as well as shaking hands or greeting politely.
The day before the interview, make sure your child gets plenty of rest and sleep to make sure they are well-rested. On the day, make sure they eat a good meal and go to the bathroom before the interview starts. During the interview, allow them time to speak and answer, as well as ask questions. Don’t be tempted to answer the teacher’s questions for them. This will not be kindly looked upon!
Above all, remember it's not the end of the world if your child doesn't succeed at a particular school interview. Instead see it as a sign that the school is not the best fit for your child (not the other way around!) and as a good opportunity to find the school that best fits your child's learning style and needs. Don’t forget to praise your child after the interview for their courage and bravery - no matter the effort. People of all ages find interviews very stressful and they have achieved something many adults are unable to do. You should be proud of your little one’s attempts - this will build their confidence for future situations and help them overcome any stress or anxiety the next time round.
Our Mighty Oaks Club provides parenting support as well as regular get togethers, workshops and community events for parents and helpers. Join our Mighty Oaks Club free at: https://www.mightyoaks.edu.hk/eng/mighty_oaks_club/background and download a copy of our e-book ”50 questions your child might be asked at school interviews” .
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