Amid the pandemic in 2020, a survey conducted amongst children in Singapore revealed that children are more anxious about their examinations as compared to catching the COVID-19 virus. 7 in 10 children felt negatively about upcoming school exams – bearing emotions of “angry”, “worried” or “sad” – with more than 3 in 5 feeling “worried”. (Source: The Straits Times)
While schoolwork and examinations are important, they should not occupy a child’s entire schedule. Finding the right balance between studies and leisure activities provides many benefits to your child’s overall growth and development.
1. Social and Emotional Development
Engaging in leisure activities allows your child to spend time interacting with friends and family, strengthening their social skills. It is important for children to develop skills like communication, empathy, cooperation and conflict resolution through interactions during childhood as these would be useful in the future workforce.
2. Enhanced Creativity
A recent survey of more than 1,500 Chief Executive Officers from 33 industries around the world has shown that CEOs believe that creativity is the most important skill required to successfully navigate an increasingly complex world.
Having playtime allows children to explore their interests and interact with the world around them and have the chance to unleash their creativity and imagination. It is only during leisure activities where they are allowed to think outside the box to find unique solutions and strategies in a more relaxed environment. This is especially important for the PSLE Composition component where students need to come up with creative story plots to engage the marker. Some past year questions are as follows:
2019 PSLE Paper 1: Write a composition of at least 150 words about a celebration.
Consider the following points when you plan your composition:
- How did the team members work together?
- What did the team members hope to achieve?
To better help support your child for his/her PSLE English compositions, WRITERS AT WORK has carefully curated a primary school holiday composition writing programme where we will cover composition phrases, model compositions and latest exam trends. Check out our website and social media for more information closer to the date!
Beyond what our teachers can offer students, parents play an indispensable role in ensuring your child does not overwork him/herself and suffer burnout. Here’s some practical tips on how you can help your child strike the balance between academics and leisure:
1. Create an Effective Routine
Younger children tend to have a shorter attention span, and studies have proven that their level of concentration diminishes after approximately 30 minutes. Hence, instead of planning long study sessions in their schedule, consider breaking these down into multiple shorter sessions. Give your child 10 minutes of break after each session for them to rest and recharge. This keeps them motivated to study as well.
2. Set Clear Boundaries
Instilling discipline in children is difficult but critical. In order for your child to have a structured and effective routine, you must help them clearly distinguish between play and study time. This ensures that your child is fully focused when preparing for examinations, but also fully relaxed during designated leisure time. Discourage them from multitasking and avoid distractions like TV and video games during study sessions.
3. Pursue an Interest or Hobby
Every child is different and will have his/her own interests. Try not to force your child to sign up for music lessons or sports just because similar aged peers are doing so. Instead, engage in a heart-to-heart talk and help your child discover his/her own passions. Joining clubs or groups provide structured leisure time and is productive time spent.
Helping your child balance his/her academics and leisure activities can be challenging , but you must realise that this is crucial for their academic success. At WRITERS AT WORK, we are committed to supporting your child in every aspect of their development, whether academically or holistically. Stay tuned to our website for similar blog posts where we will share more tips and strategies for you to support your child during their examinations.
Attain Stellar Results with WRITERS AT WORK!
English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.
At WRITERS AT WORK, we are committed to providing the smoothest learning experience for your child sitting for their English exams. With our carefully curated methods of teaching your child how to write well, your child will learn how to present their thoughts and arguments in a coherent and concise manner. WRITERS AT WORK reinforces your child’s language skills and provides a strong foundation for their academic success, keeping up with all aspects of their progress both inside and outside of the classroom to nurture them holistically. For more information about how WRITERS AT WORK makes a difference, feel free to explore our website, watch our YouTube videos and catch us LIVE on TikTok!
If you are interested in our primary English tuition and secondary English tuition in Singapore, WRITERS AT WORK has expanded to 9 convenient locations. To find the nearest location that suits your needs, please explore our options. If you have any inquiries regarding our range of programs or class schedules, please feel free to contact WRITERS AT WORK!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
1. What Do You Learn in English Writing Class?
At WRITERS AT WORK, students are first taught to break down questions to understand what is being asked. Learning what the question wants is just as important as learning how to answer it. Next, students will learn how to use the Plot Curve to craft logical and coherent plots, and interesting, well-developed characters, all the while learning key phrases which broaden their vocabulary. Students will use ideas from all the lessons taught at WRITERS AT WORK in the exam.
2. How Can I Improve My Child’s Creative Writing Skills?
One way to enhance a child’s creative writing skills is by reading model compositions. After all, children cannot write about what they do not know. By reading how good essays are written and attempting to imitate them, children will pick up sentence mechanics and vocabulary they can use in their own exams. Reading more will also give students ideas about the various contexts they can write an essay about as they will be able to broaden their horizon of experiences.
3. Why is It Important to Take Writing Classes?
Writing is the most challenging literacy skill to teach because it is a combination of many different skills and abilities. Students must be logical and creative when writing to create a coherent plot while remembering how to use the correct sentence mechanics. Furthermore, a wide range of vocabulary suited to the context must be used to create the correct imagery and tone.
4. What Age Do Kids Start Creative Writing?
Children typically begin creative writing in primary school. In Singapore, children are required to do Situational Writing and Composition for their PSLE exams in Primary 6. They may begin with simple prompts and first learn how to craft basic sentences, then progress to telling a story with a coherent plot which has a source of tension and then a resolution.
