Helping Your Child Succeed in School

Doing well in school isn’t only about how hard your child studies. Here are some ways that you can support your child’s learning.

Get involved in your child’s school.

Join the PTA and other school groups. Volunteer whenever you can. Your child will feel more connected to school when you show you care. Being an active parent also helps you get to know the administration and faculty, which can be helpful if you ever have questions or concerns.

Get to know your child’s friends.

Your child may not share much about the school day, but pals can be fountains of information. This also allows you to ask your child more personalized, thoughtful questions about his day. What did you and Jason talk about at lunch? How was hanging out with Reese and Morgan at recess? Showing you know about his friends and asking specific questions can help him open up more or jog a memory from the day.

Know her schedule and the pressures lurking.

In elementary school, most teachers send weekly emails about things coming up at school. Older kids likely have an agenda — whether hard copy or digital — to keep up with assignments,  homework and upcoming assessments. Check in with your child about anything she might be stressed about or want help with; be especially sensitive to her feelings around test time.

Consider limiting extracurriculars to one or two a week.

You know how exhausted you are running your child around. Just imagine how tired he is! One idea is to have an activity that can happen year-round like playing an instrument, dance, chess or karate and then to have seasonal activities that rotate like soccer, baseball, volleyball or basketball.

Go over her homework with her.

Some children need a little downtime before diving right into the books. Others need to jump in right away. Regardless, make sure she understands finishing her homework is a priority. You can also use the review time as a way to check in about how she’s feeling about the subject matter.

Make sure he reads every day.

Or make time to read to younger children. For older kids, ask a few questions about what they are reading to be sure they are understanding the book appropriately. Even 20 minutes a day can make a big difference in academic success.

Make sure she gets enough sleep.

Many physicians believe that kids need 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night well into their teen years. Turn off computers, cell phones, and TVs at least an hour before bedtime to allow children’s brains time to slow down. Schedule a bed time that makes sense based on when your child has to get up in the morning.

Talk to your child about drugs, alcohol, bullies, peer pressure, guns, strangers.

As hard as these conversations are, your child needs to know how to respond when confronted with danger. Have age-appropriate conversations and let your child know that he can come to you with any questions or concerns.

Keep tabs on the electronics.

Today’s kids may be technologically savvy, but many still do not understand the consequences of viewing — or sending — inappropriate material and texts or connecting with individuals they don’t personally know. Be sure electronics have the proper parental controls and that they are kept in a shared public space overnight.

Celebrate accomplishments, no matter how small or big!

Positive reinforcement is a great motivator for maintaining effort. We all feel better when we know our hard work is paying off. Hugs, extra minutes of outside or technology time, notes of encouragement, and making a favorite meal are all great ways to show how proud you are.

– Atlanta Parent Staff