Hard to believe the our children have been in school for four or five months. Regardless of how they are doing, it's never too late to make the most of the academic year and help kids excel. Experts
offer lots of good advice, from how to decipher your child’s learning style to
how to help him become a generous friend.
Many of these ideas are helpful, but they
also can put a busy parent into sensory overdrive. What should
I focus on? How can I best help my children succeed? How can
I find time to help?
How To Succeed
All families have their own issues and all
children learn in their own way, but there are some universal behaviors that
seem to offer the most benefit to the most students. Here are five standouts:
One: Encourage reading. This is the best thing you can do
to insure your kids do well in school. Every academic subject involves reading
and being proficient—or, better, excelling—at it makes learning easier
and more fluent.
Reading is also pleasurable and the best
tool for life-long
learning. Read to your kids, make sure they read on their own, and read
yourself. Talk about what you learn and what your kids learn. Fill the
house with books and magazines, or download them, if that’s your
family’s preference.
Two:
Get to know your children’s teachers. Don’t monopolize their time when you stop by the classroom for a mundane reason, but let them know you are interested
in your child’s progress and want to help in any way you can. Most teachers
communicate via email, which makes it easy to keep in touch.
Save general concerns and questions for the teacher-parent conferences, but don’t
hesitate to contact a teacher about a specific issue or problem. And, if
possible, volunteer at the school, which is another good way to show your
children that you, too, are part of the institution that plays such a major role in
their lives.
Three: Show your kids that you value education. An obvious way to do this is
to ask questions about their studies and take an interest in their progress.
It’s also helpful if you and your kids talk about the purpose of education in
general, and what you got out of it. Encourage learning outside school. As a
family, visit museums, discuss local events, pursue hobbies and interests, look
things up, challenge each other.
Four: Make sure your kids do their homework. As mundane as it may seem,
teachers give homework for a reason. It’s a way to review and reinforce what
their students are learning. It also teaches kids responsibility.
Set
rules
about homework (no internet or TV until it’s done, for example) and make
sure
your children have a calm and organized place to complete their assignments.
This might
be the kitchen table or it might be a desk in their bedroom, but
wherever it
is, they should have good light, the right supplies, and minimal
distractions. Help them when they ask, check homework if you think it is
important, but don't do it for them! This helps no one.
Five: Look for signs of stress. Like everyone, kids have bad days but if
your child shows signs of ongoing stress, take action. Symptoms include
irritability, headaches and stomachaches, disruptive sleep, impulsive behavior,
loss of appetite, and lethargy. Your child could be the victim of a bully or
his stress might be caused by something as simple as not being good at sports
or being unable to answer classroom questions without feeling nervous.
Talking
to your child and his teacher and providing ongoing support addresses
most
issues; others might need the services of a professional. It also helps
to create
a peaceful home environment. Make sure your youngster gets nutritious
meals,
goes to bed on time, and has opportunities for silly fun and time to
chill. While your child should know you believe him capable of his
schoolwork, he should not feel that your expectations are out of reach.
End the Year on a High Note!
Clearly, there are other things parents and
students can do to insure success this year. Reinforce these five. Let your kids know how proud of them you are, how you value what they
learn, and how much fun it is to conquer new subjects and activities.
The final months of the school year will be better than ever!