How to Play an Active Role in Your Child's Education Valley Stream NY

Steps

1. Believe in them, and tell them so. Tell your child that they are a smart person and have enough potential in themselves to thrive. Children really do have an amazing capacity to learn.
2. Help them with their homework. Ask them if they need some help with their homework when they are doing it. When they say yes, help them and start explaining the concepts of this problem/topic.
   • Don't do the homework for them. Instead, explain what they need to know and ask questions to lead them to the answer.
   • Teach your children to keep track of their own assignments. Give them a calendar, notebook or even a piece of paper printed with the days of the week or month, and encourage them to write down assignments as soon as they receive them.
   • Make a regular time for homework and turn off the television and computer during that time. If it is a part of the regular routine, it won't be as much of a chore.
   • Make a space for homework, too. Having a desk or table and chair at the right height and some basic supplies can help to remove excuses at homework time.
   • How much time your child spends studying depends on their age, the curriculum, and the kids themselves. Ask your children's teacher how much time to set aside for homework. Then, adjust the time spent based on the children's abilities and focus. For younger kids, especially, it might help to take breaks if study sessions get longer.
3. Take part in school activities. Attend parent teacher conferences and talk to your children's teachers, either during conferences or before or after school. Join the PTA, be a band booster, attend the games if your child plays sports. Showing your own concern and effort will set a good example for your child, and
4. Make sure your child has plenty of opportunities to read and encourage reading.
   • Read to your children, especially while they are young.
   • Have books around the house. Purchased used, children's books are very affordable. Have a variety of books, but notice what interests your child and focus on that.
   • Get your child his or her own library card and teach them to use it. Let your child choose what to read for fun. For younger children, help keep track of library return dates. For older kids, teach them to keep a calendar and remind them to keep track of their own dates.
   • Do your own reading where your child will see you doing it.
5. Talk to your kids and let them know they can trust you. You will keep up to date on their activities and show that you care. Moreover, if something is wrong at school, you can comfort them, guide them to a resolution or, if necessary, intervene on their behalf.
6. Play games. Although they look like fun rather than learning, there's a lot of learning hidden in games. Many board and card games require counting and math to keep score. Try dots and boxes or hex for geometry and visual skills. Strategy and statistics are wrapped up in many games, too. Try word games for literacy and reading skills. Younger kids can spot the letters of the alphabet in license plates or signs whenever you go somewhere. Older kids might enjoy games like scrabble.

Tips

• School isn't the only way kids learn, and there are a lot of things kids don't learn in school. Kids learn through unstructured play, guided group activities, reading by themselves, listening to adults, and many other routes. Help keep open as many routes as possible.
• Help your child to eat breakfast before school, get enough sleep, and get exercise, even if it is unstructured outdoor or playground time. While these sorts of things are not your child's education, they can certainly improve or interfere with it.

Warnings

• Good grades aren't everything. A bad grade can be a learning experience, too. A bad grade can also be a sign of some other problem. Bright children may be bored in classes that are too easy, teenagers may be embarrassed to do well in school, a child may not be compatible with a particular teacher, or a child may have too many other demands on his or her time. Rather than punish a child for bad grades, take a good look at the root cause.

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