Supporting your Child's Education

The first day of school has come for many children across the country! Parents will have a myriad of feelings as their children settle into another year of school: relief, excitement, nostalgia, concern. Some parents may feel anticipation as they know when the school year gears up, so do parenting responsibilities related to school. Supporting a child's education from a parent's perspective is no easy task. It takes engagement, stamina and farsightedness but it is all worth it in the end.

Decades of research shows that parents who are actively involved in their child's education (regardless of their income or background) are more likely to have a child with:

• higher grades
• higher results on standardized tests
• better attendance
• better social skills, school behavior and adaptability the school environment
• higher graduation rates and continuing education with college

when compared to children who's parents participate less in their education.

The earlier parent involvement begins, the more powerful the effects; and the more intensely parents are involved, the more beneficial the achievement effects. 1

Supporting you Child's Education

Beginning with the basics:

• Ensure your child gets to school on time.
• Ensure your child gets enough sleep. (Ages 3-6 need 10-12 hours, 7-12 years need 10-11 hours, 12-18 years need 8-9 hours)
• Be sure your child eats a healthy breakfast.
• Help them organize what supplies they will need for the school day. 

Your goal as a parent is to grow an independent learner. 

Tips for raising an independent learner:

• Show your child that education is important to you. Exude a positive attitude about learning and school. Expand upon what your child is learning in school, extending their learning on the subject beyond the classroom. 
• Read to your child and later have them read to you...and even later, read the same book and discuss it together. 
• Set high expectations for your child. Share with your child your confidence in them as a learner.
• Begin teaching independence by setting aside a time for homework in a quiet area with the required supplies and monitoring non-educational screen time. 
• Help them with their homework if you able (it can become more challenging as they progress through school). If you are unable to act as a tutor, you can still help monitor that they complete their homework and look into getting tutoring help through the school or other community resource.
• Work on giving them more responsibility over time. Be sure to provide them all the tools and instructions to be successful with new responsibilities. Do it with them at first, fading your help out over time. 

Get involved in your child's school. Show them that the school and home are connected and part of the same community. 

• Attend scheduled Parent-Teacher conferences, Back to School nights and other school functions.
• Keeps lines of communication open with your child's teachers and the school staff. 
• Ask plenty of questions about your child, the class, the materials being covered to get more information about how your child is doing. If they need additional help, you will be able to set it up earlier rather than waiting when there is a noticeably large gap in learning. 
• Volunteer at your child's school if your schedule permits. This is a great way to get to know the staff, help improve your child's school and show your child that you care about their school and value their education. 

And most importantly, stay connected to your child, meeting their five critical emotional needs.