The 8 Most Important Days to an NNAT Parent

It’s hard to believe, fellow NNAT parent, but we’re into the last month of 2014. Even scarier, there are only 4 weekends left before January – which leaves you only 8 days that aren’t taken up with work, school, soccer practice, and all the other hectic activities that take up our weeks and make the days fly by.

This is crucial, because it’s during these 8 days that you’ll have the opportunity to make sure that your child is getting the best education they can. I know that when I was raising my kids, I spent the weeknights cooking dinner and making sure they got their homework done and their teeth brushed. The big decisions – the decisions that pushed my children toward a brighter future – came on the weekends.

If you’re anything like me, the only time you are able to take bold stands for your children is when you’re not distracted by the to-do list that takes up most of your days. Think back to the beginning of 2014, to all the things that you vowed your child would achieve this year. Now the year is almost over.

If your child will be taking a test in the upcoming months, you need to start preparing now – before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season gets into full swing. Don’t wait until January to start getting your child ready for the test. By then it may well be too late. Get online NNAT practice questions and other resources from sites around the web.

And with the holiday season upon us, it’s now the busiest and most hectic time of the year. Most, if not all, of the remaining weekends will be taken up by shopping, gift wrapping, traveling, and acting as a taxi for relatives coming from and going to the airport.

Make the most of the 8 relatively clear days you have left, and make sure your child is ready for the NNAT test. You can’t afford not to.

How the NNAT Test is Like Cranberry Sauce

It’s hard for us NNAT parents to believe, but Thanksgiving is almost upon us. It’s always so nice to come together with family and remember the things that we’re most grateful for. Of course, the bounty of food that most of us enjoy on Thanksgiving Day isn’t so bad, either.

Last year, I was quite proud of myself as I laid out the Thanksgiving dinner spread. I had it all: the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, a green bean casserole, homemade rolls, and a mixed salad. And, of course, I had an arsenal of desserts lined up and ready to go: pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and a fresh-churned vanilla bean ice cream.

Yes, I certainly had thought of it all. Imagine my surprise (and horror) then, when my son uttered the first words of the meal: “Where’s the cranberry sauce?”

Of course. The cranberry sauce. Here I thought I had knocked Thanksgiving dinner out of the park, and I had forgotten one of the most elemental parts of the meal. Cranberry sauce had never even crossed my mind until my son said those fateful words – and by then it was too late.

To my mind, test prep for the NNAT test is kind of like the cranberry sauce of your child’s education. It’s perhaps not the most obvious thing on your to-do list, but forgetting about it can have enormous consequences. Most parents have plenty to worry about when it comes to making sure their child gets a top-notch education. Even while they’re still in utero, you’re obsessed with making sure they get the proper nutrients and care.  When they’re little, you’re constantly making sure that they get enough exposure to language and stimuli that will keep their brains engaged and give them an edge on their one- and two-year-old colleagues. Then, of course, there’s making sure they crawl, walk, and potty train on schedule. Once they reach kindergarten age, you’re teaching them to read and freaking out that they aren’t catching on fast enough.

But preparing for the NNAT test is more important than ever, especially as the test gets more competitive with each passing year. Don’t let preparation fall by the wayside – make sure your little one is prepared.

 

Kim Kardashian Doesn’t Worry About the NNAT Test

As the media-engrossed society and celebrity-obsessed culture that we’ve become, we parents of children taking the NNAT test know that you can’t even go to the grocery store without being inundated with gossip mags touting Kim Kardashian’s latest travails.  And, unfortunately, anyone who’s even remotely conscious this week has had to unwillingly endure the already ubiquitous pics of Kim.  What?  Why?

Did she lose a few million followers last week and felt the need to get their attention again?  Did she hear from an old beau whom she wanted to remind of what he was missing?  Or, did she simply want to show off her latest Botox injections?  Whatever the case, after viewing the photos, and contemplating our society’s never-ceasing narcissism, I had to ask myself, “Is Kim Kardashian a good mom or downright shameful?”

For those of us preparing our children to take the NNAT test and go on to do great things, we have to wonder why parents like Kim Kardashian are the ones getting all the attention and glory. I’m not sure exactly what she’s done to earn her fame (or notoriety, perhaps more appropriately).

It’s thought provoking at best … how could this woman possibly have time to lovingly ponder her child or her child’s future when she’s tweeting her twelfth Kim selfie of the day?  It’s certain that Kim doesn’t have to spend any time preparing her children for the NNAT test – the types of things that we have to worry about normally won’t apply to her.

One thing is for sure: I’m grateful to have a life where I focus on my child’s well being and the quality of the education they’re getting. I’ll gladly take the stress and anxiety of preparing for the NNAT test over the hollow and empty fame that celebrities like Kim Kardashian have achieved.

How the NNAT Test is Like Curling

Any parent who has faced (or will soon face) the NNAT test should read a recent Op-Ed in The New York Times by Pamela Druckerman which describes the phenomenon called “curling parenting.” What is this, you ask? In her piece, Druckerman spoke of parenting across the globe using terms such as “helicopter parenting,” which has become ubiquitous here, along with “hyper-parenting,” and my new favorite parenting moniker, “curling parent,” used in Scandinavia as an intimation to the sport where the team members furiously “sweep” the ice to allow a stone to “effortlessly” glide across it.

If you think about it, perhaps the Scandinavians have it right –maybe this “curling parent” model isn’t so far-fetched, but is really what most dedicated parents strive to become.  I know you’re thinking, “No, not me; I don’t baby or coddle or keep my kids from falling down with every step,” but hear me out.

When it comes to our NNAT children’s education, which will ultimately lead to their future successes, why would we not give them every opportunity available?  Just like a curler sweeps the ice, it’s important to make sure that there aren’t any unnecessary obstacles in your child’s way when they face the NNAT test, perhaps for the first time. Naturally, the process will not be easy, but it’s imperative that it not be any more difficult than it absolutely needs to be. As Druckerman put it in her op-ed, “There’s a bigger payoff for people with lots of education and skills.”

Druckerman also noted that the Buddhist-inspired approach to parenting is one of “total commitment to the process with total equanimity about the outcome.”  Which goes along with the old adage, “All gave some, some gave all.”  So, my question to you is, what are you giving as a parent?  Are you giving some commitment to your child’s future, or are you doing everything in your power to set them on a path toward opportunity and excellence?

The NNAT test will not be easy. But it will be worth it. Make sure your child is ready.

 

What Worries NNAT Parents?

Besides the NNAT test, is there anything you worry about more than your child? From the moment you find out you’re expecting, you are constantly fretting about every little thing – their diet, the pace of their development, and do they feel like they have a fever to you? Eventually, as parents we learn to live with the constant nagging feeling that we might not be doing something right, that we could be doing more to make our NNAT child the happiest and healthiest person they can be.

Even as we realize that many (if not most) of our worries are irrational, we can’t help but feel them. And the truth is that many of our anxieties are rooted in very real problems. Nutrition during pregnancy can have an enormous impact on your child’s development. Your child’s social circle will largely determine their behavior and whether they develop healthy or unhealthy habits, especially later in childhood.

And, of course, there’s education. Many parents are worried sick about the education their NNAT children are getting. Are they learning what kids their age are supposed to be learning? Will their education actually give them a good chance of making it into college?

And the biggest question of all: is this the best education they can possibly get?

Even if you live in a “good” school district, if you’re a good parent, you’re worried that there might be something better out there that your child is missing out on. Something that will challenge them more, push them out of their comfort zone, and give them the boost they need to open up a truly awesome future for themselves.

Unfortunately, very few parents turn that anxiety into action. Most of them sweep it under the rug in one fashion or another. “Oh, we live in a good school district,” they tell themselves, ignoring the fact that there are plenty of sub-par classrooms even in the best schools. Or “my child is smart enough that a bad teacher or bad class won’t affect them,” despite the fact that lots of extremely smart kids get bored or discouraged in classes where all the attention goes to the kids who need help staying afloat.
It takes a truly courageous parent – one who’s willing to stand up for their child no matter what – to question the status quo, and to do everything in their power to make sure their child gets the education they deserve. That’s why you’re preparing for the NNAT test – and it’s the right decision.

Shy Children and the NNAT Test

One question that parents whose children are facing the NNAT ask a lot is how to get a shy child ready for the test. After all, these children may be nervous around a test proctor, or even afraid to leave their parents’ sides. Many times, parents can’t enter the testing room with their child, so it’s important to get your child comfortable with the idea of being tested by a stranger well in advance.

If you’re able to let the NNAT tester know that your child is shy, this will help. That way, the proctor will be aware of your child’s personality and may be able to make accommodations. It depends in large part on the school or school district that’s in charge of administering the test in terms of how much leeway the testers have to encourage your child if they’re slow to warm up.

If you aren’t able to talk to the NNAT tester, or if they say there isn’t much they can do, it’s especially important that you prepare your child for the test. Start this months in advance of the NNAT. When you and your child go to the store or coffee shop together, have your child order. This is a great way to get your child used to the idea of talking to people that they don’t know.

Drive by the site where your child will take the NNAT test and tell them what will happen. Don’t refer to it as a test, but just let your child know that an adult wants to know what children their age know, and will be asking them questions to find out.

It’s not a good idea, however, to directly address your child’s shyness with him or her. This can make them self-conscious about the issue and may make it worse. Just do everything you can to open your child up and get them comfortable talking to people that they don’t already know well.