How Can Parents Help Their Children Succeed at School?

Most parents believe that their role in their child’s education ends once they find the right school or tutor. However, the best results are produced when parents play an active role in their child’s education, attend parent-teacher meetings, and create an environment at home that is conducive to learning.

Let’s start with a few ways to get your child interested in school and improve his or her chances of securing a place in a top school.

1) Get to Know Your Child’s Teacher and School Staff

Try scheduling a one-to-one meeting with your child’s school staff once the new school year starts. Make it clear to the teacher that you are playing an active role in your child’s educational development. Let them know you are available for contact if there are problems. Most schools have parent teacher conferences at least twice a year. It is in your child’s best interests if you take out time to visit these conferences.

2) Help Your Child with Their Homework

A critical component of homework is to assert the importance of finishing activities within their stipulated timeframe. Let your children know that homework needs to be done each day, and you can help them with their studies. Homework reinforces what your child has already learnt in class and helps him or her practice important skills that require repetition, such as drawing certain shapes and writing number patterns.

Sit with your children at regular intervals to guide them through their homework, but you need to resist the urge to hold their hand through the assignment. Additionally, you will want to create a room that is well lit, sound-proof, and free from all distractions to motivate your child to succeed.

3) Become a Good Role Model

Children are naturally conditioned to emulate the behaviour and values of the people who constantly surround them. So parents who are getting a little concerned that their child isn’t paying much attention to their books should assess their own reading habits.
If the child is spending too much time glued to the TV screen or on the iPad (or any other device), first start cutting down your own usage before reinforcing this on your children.

4) Take Your Child’s Attendance Seriously

Your child should look forward to an exciting day at school instead of dreading what comes next. If your child has fears of attending school, it could be a symptom of a more serious problem that requires attention. Try to schedule an appointment with the teacher, school counsellor, or school psychologist to get to the bottom of the problem.

The only excuse for staying away from school is if the child is facing illnesses. If your child is feeling tardy, try reinforcing a consistent sleep pattern to avoid sleeping late at night.