Parents are their children’s first and most important teachers. When it comes to academics, parents play a crucial role in supporting their children’s success. Regardless of whether your child is in a public school program, homeschool, pod, hybrid, or individualized learning sessions, there are so many ways that you, as a parent, can be involved in and support your child’s academics at home.
Here are a few suggestions for doing just that!
1. Set A Good Example
The first way to support your child’s academic success is by setting a good example. It’s important to demonstrate discipline for both school work/homework but also for engaging in learning in general. When your child sees that you’re prioritizing education, they will naturally be curious and more inclined to engage, too.
And this doesn’t have to be rigid, either. You can set a good example by sitting with your child while he or she works, by creating a schedule or routine, or by partaking in an activity with them!
2. Establish An Organized Workspace
A well-organized workspace will help keep your child on track with their studies—so make sure you create a distraction-free area for studying. This can be as simple as clearing off a desk or table, providing basic supplies like paper, pencils and erasers, and ensuring there is plenty of natural light so that your student can focus on their work without strain.
It can also be reconfiguring their room or another room in the house to make a ‘learning center.’ While this isn’t necessary, it can be fun to have a designated, ‘special’ space for work vs. play.
3. Make Learning Fun With Additional Resources
One of the best ways to keep your child interested in learning is by making it enjoyable! This can be done with additional resources like books, magazines and games that challenge their knowledge. Not only will they gain valuable information, but they’ll also be having fun while doing so!
In addition, you can also utilize teaching resources, like YouTube videos, podcasts, and online platforms like ABCmouse to engage your student in a different, visual way.
4. Provide Encouragement & Positive Reinforcement
It’s important to provide both verbal and tangible rewards for completing tasks or achieving goals. A simple “well done” or “I’m proud of you!” can go a long way towards helping your child feel motivated to do their best work. Not only does this help build self-confidence, but it also reinforces the idea that learning can be both rewarding and fun.
However, don’t feel pressured to reward every task. While incentives are great and can help move your child forward, you don’t want to create a situation where he or she is dependent on the reward as a metric for success. Encouragement and self-efficacy are just as valuable as a toy or ‘prize.’
5. Stay In Touch With Your Child’s School/Support Team
Staying in touch with your child’s school is one of the most important ways that you can support your child’s academic success. Make sure to set up regular check-ins with your child’s teachers throughout the year to stay informed on their performance and overall progress. Additionally, attend any school events or conferences where you can meet with their teachers and staff in person.
You should also take advantage of technology like emailing and texting for easier communication between you and the school. Another idea is to volunteer at school events or activities whenever possible—this will give you even greater insight into what is happening at the school, as well as foster closer relationships between you and the faculty.
Lastly, if there are programs available such as individualized tutoring or parent/teacher organizations, make sure to sign up – these can be valuable resources that allow you to better understand how your child is doing academically, as well as provide a platform for further collaboration and engagement between yourself and the school staff.
In conclusion, there are many ways you can help your child succeed academically. By setting a good example, creating an organized workspace, utilizing additional resources, providing positive reinforcement, and connecting with his/her school program and staff, you can help your child find success.
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