Practical Parenting – Stay Involved
Do you feel like you have no idea what’s going on with your kids at school? Involve! Even with a busy schedule, there are many ways to get involved in your child’s education. Extending education from the classroom to the living room is a great way to expand your learning experience.
The first step in becoming involved in your child’s education is knowing what they will be learning this year at school. Stay up-to-date with topics covered in class and homework assignments, and think of creative ways to bring learning into their lives outside of school. For example, if your child is learning about American history, plan a weekend trip to a museum to learn more, and have him keep a journal of all the interesting things he saw to share with the class on Monday. If they are working on creative writing in class, ask them to write you a short story or skit that they can read to you before bed or perform in the living room. Be on the lookout for different activities you can do at home that connect to what they are learning in class.
Set up a “homework center” for your kids where they can do some serious work. Make sure they are equipped with all the supplies they need and are not taking too many or too few breaks. It’s easy for kids to get distracted and lose track of what they’re doing, but at the same time it’s important for them to take breaks to recharge. You may even consider setting a timer to let them know when it’s time to take a break. Set up your homework center somewhere with little distraction and have your kids do their homework in the same place every night. The routine will make it easier for them to do their job.
It is also important that you become involved in your children’s education at your school. If you are unhappy or concerned about the way something is being done at school, speak up. If neither parent said anything about a problem at school, the problem would never be solved. Go to a PTA meeting to voice your concerns or write a letter to the principal explaining the problem and maybe even suggesting a solution. Talk to other parents about their concerns and listen to theirs to ensure that all of your children receive the best education possible.
If you have the time, volunteering at a school function is a great way to stay involved. Whether it’s helping the lunch supervisors a few times a week, helping your second grader’s class with their special scarecrow project, or volunteering to get tickets for the school play, your children they will appreciate your participation and will be more excited about the activity that you are helping with.
Above all, stay in constant communication with your child’s teachers. This will help let you and the teachers know something is wrong at the first sign and may prevent your child from falling behind. It will also motivate your children to work harder if they know mom and dad keep in touch with the teacher. Today, many schools even have websites where you can view your child’s progress or email the teacher. Take advantage of these resources and stay involved in your child’s education.