Dear Members of the MJS Family,

I want to talk to you about success. We all want our children to be successful but what exactly does success mean, does it have to be the same for everyone and what happens when success means different things to different people?

I believe success is striving to be the very best that you can be. We, the MJS family, can take active steps to ensure our children are the best that they can be by creating an environment which gives them the skills and experiences to thrive.

But you don’t have to take my word for it. Research has discovered 6 fundamental principals that we should all try…

1. BE A WARM, RESPONSIVE AND ACCEPTING PARENT OR TEACHER

Science shows us that feeling accepted and cared for as a child is one of the best predictors of adult success, well-being and life satisfaction. This is not surprising when we think about how young children are shaped by their daily interactions. A warm and responsive parent or teacher sets the foundation for future mental health, providing memories of a happy childhood that are a lifelong source of strength.

 2. TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO MANAGE THEIR EMOTIONS

From experience, I know that this is easier said than done! It is not a skill with which we are born – we have to learn it. It is our role to teach our children how to control their emotions for their future health and happiness.

 The primary way in which children learn to manage their emotions is from watching others, particularly those in positions of authority such as parents and teachers. If we shout at our children or lose control every time they misbehave, we cannot expect them to stay calm when they get upset. We, as parents and teachers, must be aware of our own actions and how they can influence the responses we see in our children.

 3. LET CHILDREN PRACTICE DECISION MAKING

 I know that we always want to protect our children but controlling too much of their lives can actually hinder development. Making sound decisions requires practice, which can only come from experience. I actively encourage our students to get out of the classroom and ‘learn by doing’. Making a bad decision is a very effective motivator to make a better choice next time!

 4. CHALLENGE THEM JUST ENOUGH

 I love to see our students being challenged but we must guard against pushing them too far, too soon. Some students can be overwhelmed by a science project that others find easy so we rely on feedback from the MJS family to ensure we always work to a student’s individual needs. We should not be afraid to set challenges, I am constantly surprised at how much our students can achieve so we must work together to ensure the balance is right for everyone.

 5.  MOTIVATE CHILDREN THROUGH VALUES.

 This is something close to my heart. I want Milton Junior School students to choose the right path because it is the right thing to do rather then being driven by rewards or punishments. Whilst useful in the short term, rewards and punishments rarely create positive long-term behaviour change.

 I want our students to be intrinsically motivated, that is, motivated from within.  To do this, we must share our values such as explaining the importance of schoolwork. It is not just memorising ABCs, it is about gaining knowledge, understanding the world around them and growing to be the best person they can be.

 6. KIND, FIRM AND RESPECTFUL DISCIPLINE

 I believe discipline to be the most important value for any child. It is instilled in every student from day one. However, it needs to be taught with care.

Being overly strict with your child can stifle their development as they are rarely given the option to make their own decisions. Conversely, not being strict enough can lead to mayhem!

 Being kind and firm means you can kindly let your child know what the boundaries are and then firmly enforce them. This approach has been consistently linked to success in school as children are more resilient and have better coping skills than their peers.

 I am proud to say that discipline is a key pillar of Milton Junior School and sets the foundation for all aspects of school life. I believe this lays the foundation for future success.

I hope you have found some useful advice here, I know that I am always learning. I hope that by sharing what I learn with you, we can be stronger together, creating the best possible environment for our children’s success!

Very best wishes,

Tony Milton

Founder and Director