Help Your Child Succeed in School

Research shows that children do better in school when families are actively invol-ved in their children’s lives and when fami-lies and schools work together to help the child succeed. Ideally, preparation for a successful school experience should begin in the child’s early years, but it is never too late to become your child’s best supporter.

Don’t wait for the report card to find out how your child is doing in school. Establish contact early with your child’s teachers. At the beginning of the school year teachers routinely provide contact information such as a telephone number or an e-mail address. Many will invite you to call during their planning periods so that they will have adequate time to address your concerns. You may find it helpful to get to know the principal and counselors at your child’s school.

Reading to and with your child is beneficial in many ways. Encourage your young child to ask questions about reading material. It is not necessary to spend large sums
of money for books. Instead, consider establishing a book exchange with your friends and neighbors, and make it a weekly habit to visit your local library with your child to pick out books that will be shared together.

Once your child reaches school age it is important to find a way to become connected with the school where your child spends many hours each day. Attend parent teacher conferences and PTA meetings. Volunteer in the classroom whenever possible. This involvement will help you stay connected with what your child is learning. Set aside time each day to talk about school. Ask your child open-ended questions about the day. Encourage him to share what he learned. Be sure to find something to praise. Complimenting a child for a great effort is an effective way to encourage working hard on the next assignment. Children sometimes forget to share important information. Be sure to check with your child each day to find out if information has been sent from school.

When your children reach early ado-lescence they may appear not to want their families to be involved in their school activities. This can be a challenging time for families, yet it is important to stay involved. Continue to listen and provide support. Experiment with approaches and techniques that allow your child to feel comfortable. Take the time and effort to maintain contact with school personnel concerning your child’s progress and needs.

At all grade levels make it clear that homework is a priority in your house. Schedule a regular time each day to do homework. Establish a place in your home that is adequately illuminated and is free of distractions where your child can work on homework. Your child should have an adequate supply of school supplies such as paper, pencils and binders. Consult with your child’s teacher about available community resources to help obtain school supplies.

Children of all ages do better in school when they have eaten a nutritious break-fast. An empty stomach may cause your child to feel hungry and irritable. This makes it hard to concentrate. If breakfast is a hassle for your household look into the breakfast program provided at your school.

Encourage your child to talk about problems he may be having with a parti-cular subject. Even if you don’t under-stand the subject, make sure your child completes the assignment to the best of his ability. Remember, it is not your responsibility to do your child’s homework, but it is your job to monitor and support your child.