But here’s what it all boils down to: If you are an involved parent, your children (and their teachers!) quickly learn that your family values education. Before you know it, your kids will have the same outlook and will view their education as a way to pursue and achieve their dreams.
No child wants to be a failure. But they quickly learn to live up – or down! – to the expectations of those around them. So it is our job as parents, to have high expectations, and then to help our children meet them.
But how do we do that exactly?
Here are some ideas for getting involved in your child’s education.
Ask Questions
Find out what your child is learning in school. Don’t wait for the parent-teacher conferences. Ask your child every day what he learned. Or ask his teacher. You have to be proactive and find out for yourself. When your daughter sits down to work on her homework, ask if she needs help. If she says “no,” then let her know that you’re available if she needs you.
But what if you don’t know the answer? Admit it up front. Then figure it out together. There is no better way to understand a subject than if you have to teach it to someone else.
Listen Carefully
Sometimes your child just needs a sympathetic ear. There’s so much going on in school, they are bound to have moments when they are frustrated, sad, or angry about a teacher, subject, or even their classmates. But listen carefully. Sometimes you’ll discover that it is more what your child hasn’t said that tells the story.
And once you've listened, find a way to support their emotional needs. Simply being there as an understanding and non-judgmental listener helps to solidify the bond you have with your child and leads to a better relationship.
Investigate Opportunities
If you discover your daughter is studying Ancient Egypt, call up your local museums and find out if they have any exhibits on the subject. Or hop on over to your local library/bookshop and load up on books exploring pyramids, mummies, and King Tut. You can also go online (look at PBS, NOVA, and other educational sites) to find videos on whatever your child is studying.
Invest in Books
Are you a bibliophile, like me, who cannot walk past a bookstore without going in and buying something? Guess what? You now have an excuse to give your spouse! Last year, the journal Research in Social Stratification and Mobility published the results of a study which showed that the number of books in the house directly correlates to the number of years of schooling that a child will complete.
And the more books in your home, the greater your child’s chances are of graduating not just from high school, but college, as well! In fact, children with as few as 25 books in their homes, completed on average two more years of schooling than those children without books.
But the incredible thing is that households with 500 books (or more!) were “as great an advantage as having university-educated rather than unschooled parents, and twice the advantage of having a professional rather than an unskilled father.”
So it’s true: The more books in your home, the greater the chances of your child’s academic achievement. You can read more about this fascinating study - and others - in this article by Laura Miller.
Teach Time Management
Let's face it: your son/daughter is a child. They aren't born knowing how to manage their time. But you can help guide them so that they can learn how to manage it effectively so that they can successfully accomplish their goals. Help them set realistic time frames for finishing homework, attending extra-curricular events, and time to just play and relax. Remember to use TV time wisely and don't let your kids be vegetables!
Volunteer
Take the time to get to know your child's teachers and friends. And there's no better way, than by volunteering in their classroom. This is easier to do with younger children (just imagine your teenager's angst when you show up for their science lab!) and their teachers who are often looking for an extra set of eyes, ears, and hands in the class.
Con mucho cariño...