Parents send their children off to school and expect the teachers and the school to take care of their child’s educational needs. However, parents themselves can play a vital role in ensuring that their children’s education is holistic and effective. Parent participation and involvement at home, and to a certain extent in school, has a major impact on the child’s focus and performance.
Parent can be Effective at Home by:
* Reading to the child – reading aloud is considered the most effective way to develop a child’s aptitude to read, write, think and be creative.
* Discussing about the characters in the books and stories the child likes the most.
* Helping the child in organizing his daily schedule.
* Limiting the quality and quantity of television viewing, especially on school nights.
* Talking to the child about the daily happenings in his school.
* Making sure that the child completes his homework before going to bed.
Parents can be Involved in the School by:
* Meeting with a teacher at PTA and maintaining communication with the school staff members to determine the extent of the parent involvement needed. It is essential that parents do volunteer some time for the school activities. They could do so by:
* Becoming a student helper and help in organising classroom activities.
* Tutoring or reading out to or with the other children.
* Assisting and helping the coaches at sporting events.
* Helping out the school in holding arts and crafts workshops.
* Assisting with a school club or a drama group.
* Speaking to the students about professional subjects.
* Helping the class in writing small news articles.
* Working as a library assistant for a few hours, every month.
* Assisting children with special needs.
* Helping out in preparation of computer and science projects.
* Planning out and helping in raising money for various school clubs.
* Accompanying or helping to arrange various field trips for the children.
Children of Involved Parents:
* Are less frequently absent and don’t skip school.
* Are better behaved and are socially more active.
* Perform better academically.
* Develop better levels of self-confidence.
* Have lesser stress-related or anxiety issues.