Being a Mom : Ways you can help your children succeed at school

As a parent, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. When parents are involved in their children’s schools, the children do better and have better feelings about going to school.

In fact, many studies show that what the family does is more important to a child’s school success than how much money the family makes or how much education the parents have.

Parents can support their children’s learning at home and throughout the school year by developing partnership with their children’s teachers and school staff.

As soon as the school year starts, try to find a way to meet your child’s teacher. Let the teacher know you want to help your child learn.

Make it clear that you want the teacher to contact you if any problems develop with your child. Attend parent-teacher association meetings and keep in touch with your child’s teacher. 

Find out how your child is doing. Ask the teacher how well your child is doing in class compared to other students. If your child is not keeping up, especially when it comes to reading, ask what you or the school can do to help. It’s important to act early before your child gets too far behind.

Make sure that your child gets homework done. Let your child know that education is important and that homework needs to be done each day. You can help your child with homework by setting aside a special place to study, establishing a regular time for homework, and removing distractions such as the television and games during homework time. 

Demonstrate a positive attitude about education towards your children. What you say and do can help them to develop positive attitudes toward school and learning and help them build confidence in themselves as learners. Showing your children that you value education contributes greatly to their success in school.

In addition, by showing interest in their children’s education, parents and families can spark enthusiasm in them and lead them to a very important understanding-that learning can be enjoyable as well as rewarding and is well worth the effort required. Monitor your child’s television, video game, and internet use. 

Encourage your child to read. Helping your child become a reader is the single most important thing that you can do to help the child to succeed in school-and in life. The importance of reading simply can’t be overstated. Reading helps children in all school subjects. More important, it is the key to lifelong learning.

Encourage your child to be responsible and work independently. Taking responsibility and working independently are important qualities for school success. You can help your child to develop these qualities by establish reasonable rules that you enforce consistently, making it clear to your child that he has to take responsibility for what he does, both at home and at school.

Encourage active learning. Children need active learning as well as quiet learning such as reading and doing homework. Active learning involves asking and answering questions, solving problems and exploring interests.