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Test Scores Don't Tell the Whole Story 🤐 Here's What Really Matters

Plus: Getting Dad the coolest gift! 🔥

Author

Lakshmi Jayanthi
May 28, 2024

Hello and welcome to The Parenting Pitch by Pickup Sports!

The Parenting Pitch is a newsletter for laid-back parents navigating the elementary and middle school years. Enjoy doses of humor, easygoing advice, and simple hacks to help your children grow, learn, and thrive—without the stress.

Test Scores Don't Tell the Whole Story: Here's What Really Matters

Ugh, school years are coming to an end, which means testing season for kids. 😱

Whether it’s state testing, end of school testing or pop-up quizzes, it's enough to make even the most caffeine-fueled parent feel like they're drowning in flashcards and bubble sheets. But here's the truth few people tell you: those scores aren't the markers of your kiddo's awesomeness. (Mic drop!)

Remember that book “Hidden Potential” everyone raved about? (Yes, the one you haven't cracked open yet because, hello, laundry mountain.) In it, psychologist Adam Grant spills the tea on how to unlock your child's inner genius, and it has nothing to do with acing a single test.

Here’s the juicy part:

Grant makes the case that in a world where computers are taking on more and more cognitive skills, “the skills that make us human are increasingly important to master.” Character skills, such as determination and discipline, “elevate us above machines.” Grant looked at research that found that when children learned character skills early, they were more successful in the long run. The “capacities to be proactive, prosocial, disciplined, and determined stayed with students longer—and ultimately proved more powerful – than early math and reading skills.” When predicting adult income, “the ratings on these behaviors mattered 2.4 times as much as math and reading performance on standardized tests.” 

Forget the Scoreboard: It's all about intrinsic motivation, the cool term for that natural curiosity that makes kids obsessed with dinosaurs or building epic Lego castles. When we ditch the score-chasing mentality, kids build a love of learning and develop life-long curiosity. Boom!

Hidden Talents Alert!: Maybe your kiddo isn't a math whiz, but they can build a killer blanket fort or write stories that would make J.K. Rowling jealous. Tests don't always showcase the full picture, so celebrate those unique talents!

So, how do we turn this knowledge into action? Let's forgo the drill sergeant approach and:

  • Let Them Make Mistakes: One of the most important habits you can adopt is to make mistakes. Yes – that’s right. Making mistakes is one of the best ways to unleash potential. Let kids get uncomfortable with the discomfort and awkwardness of being underprepared with little knowledge.

  • Encourage deliberate play, not just deliberate practice. Strive to make skill-building fun. Instead of forcing kids to do drills, find ways to infuse play into their practice. Doing so will not only help them learn faster, but will fuel intrinsic motivation (win-win!).

  • Learning Adventures, Not Torture Sessions: Explore different learning styles, find ways to connect it to their passions, and encourage them to ask those endless "why?" questions. They're not annoying, they're a sign of a curious mind!

  • High Five the Effort: When your kiddo tackles a tough problem, it's not just about the right answer (although, bonus points if they got it!). Celebrate their hard work, their dedication, and that look of fierce concentration on their face.

  • Open Communication is Key: Test anxiety is a real thing, folks. Talk to your child about it, reassure them that one test doesn't define them, and maybe even share your own school-day anxiety stories (we all have them!).

Remember, testing is just a tool, not a fortune-teller. By focusing on intrinsic motivation and making learning an adventure, you'll help your child not just survive test season, but thrive and unlock their true potential.

Getting Dad the coolest gift!

Father's Day is just 18 days away! Let’s embrace the hilarious! Sure, home-made cards and sentimental photo collages are sweet, but dads need a little (or a lot) of... roasting! (Don't worry, we mean it in the best way possible!)

This year, swap the expected for sidesplitting fun with these snarky Father's Day gifts that are guaranteed to get a laugh (and maybe a groan) from Dad.

Tee Time with a Twist

Forget the "World's Best Dad" cliché. This year, dad gets to wear his true title loud and proud.

Double the Fun!

This hilarious combo is a playful way to acknowledge the inevitable (and potentially clear the air!). Think of it as a preemptive strike against olfactory assaults.