Are you a parent of a kid who is currently in school? Do you pray for the success of your child every day? Do you wish you had a handbook that would tell you how you can make your kid’s school life better?
Well, we have all the answers for you. Believe it or not, the key to success for your kid in school is not just a top-tier school, highly qualified faculty, or your socioeconomic status; it is parental involvement. Research over the years shows that active parental involvement in a student’s life not only improves their grades significantly but also helps them demonstrate better social skills and adapt better to school life. Most importantly, it also inculcates in them a lifelong love for learning.
As a parent, you would do anything in your power to improve your child’s quality of life. The best gift that you can give them is to get involved with their academics and school. Whether it is reading with your child at home or talking to them about extracurriculars at school, all of these activities count as parental involvement. At the end of the day, it all comes down to your child noticing that you are not only interested but also excited about their school lives, making them eager to share more with you. Once they start opening up, you can give them advice that will take them a long way in life.
It is no surprise that parents play an essential role in shaping their children’s education. To achieve this, you need to take a few steps that lead to parental involvement. To begin with, you need to understand the importance of parental involvement. Once you know the major role it plays, only then will you be motivated enough to not only get involved but also engage.
Parental involvement can:
- Increase motivation
- Improve social skills
- Develop life skills
- Enhance academic performance
- Foster a positive school culture
- Reduce absences
- Increase communication between parents and teachers
As a parent, your duty does not end at just enrolling your child in a good school. In fact, that is where your roles and responsibilities begin. Keeping in mind the busy lives of parents in today’s hustle culture, we have curated a list of activities that you can follow to ensure sufficient parent involvement:
- Encourage Reading: At home, fix a time to read with your kid. You can even increase the reading duration every week to enhance the learning of your child. At this time, make sure that you are reading too. This will help them observe and develop reading skills. Once you finish a book, discuss it with them.
- Take Homework Seriously: Just verbally telling your kid to finish their homework is never enough. Create a dedicated space with furniture and stationery where they can sit and do their homework every day. If possible, fix a time for doing homework. Ask them about their daily assignments and monitor their work. Show them you are paying attention by praising and appreciating wherever required.
- Promote Active Learning: Instead of only limiting your kid to the textbook, start taking out time to discuss topics in their curriculum. Once they share, be prepared to ask questions and challenge them.
- Notice and Advise: Do you think your kid is falling behind? Do you often see them procrastinating when it is time to do homework? Instead of scolding them, try to get to the root of the issue. Communicate, understand what is bothering them, and then accordingly decide the next steps.
- Attend Parent-Teacher Meetings: You have no idea how much you can get to know about your kid from their teachers. After all, they spend the most time with them after you. Also, feel free to arrange meetings with teachers whenever you feel the need.
- Prioritise Education: For example, if you have travel plans clashing with your child’s sports day at school, try postponing your travel plans. Only when your kid will see you prioritizing their education over vacation will they learn and follow in your footsteps.
While it is a great idea to follow all these recommendations, also ensure that you do not overdo it. When parents’ involvement starts doing more harm than good, it is known as ‘helicopter parenting.’ Even though your intentions may be to only help your kid out, overinvolvement in their education can lead to your kid having anxiety and self-esteem issues. Whenever you feel like you are hovering, being overprotective, and overinvolved, take a step back. Overinvolvement can also hinder their problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Simply put, a child’s general growth and academic achievement depend heavily upon how much their parents are involved in their school life. Active parents make for an even more active kid, ensuring his/her success in the future!
