Every mom has experienced the grunt of acknowledgement when they ask their child how school was. You’d like to hear about their classes and their friends, but they aren’t interested in talking. They just want to get home, eat a snack and forget about school. The thought of reliving it isn’t on their list of priorities. You don’t have to wait for conference time to find out what’s going on with your child at school. Here are 3 simple ways you can help your child succeed at school.
Meet The Teacher
Make an appointment at the school and meet your child’s teacher or teachers if they have more than one. Keep the meeting informal and ask about how your child is doing, academically and socially. You want to make sure that your child is happy in their educational setting, that they can make friends and that there are no social issues that you aren’t aware of.
When attending a parent-teacher conference, it’s a good idea to chat to those teachers who you may have a concern with. If your child has seen a slump in grades, you want to find out why. Find out if any of the teachers at the school are studying a masters in education and see if they are willing to tutor your child. These are the individuals who will have the most forward thinking and skills at their fingertips to help your child thrive.
Read With Your Child
The best writers are those who read widely. This is a well-known fact. A love of reading doesn’t always come naturally. If you have a child who is the more outdoorsy and less academic type, it can be hard to channel the same enthusiasm for active pursuits into reading a book. Read with them, read to them and encourage them to choose their own reading materials. Even if it is a magazine or a comic or a graphic novel, this is better than nothing at all. Try to find some books about sports, superheroes, animals, or whatever it is that your child is passionate about.
Don’t Make Education The Be All And End All
It’s vital that you give your child space away from their school life. Yes, homework is important, but it shouldn’t be the only thing on the agenda when they have returned from school. Head out to the park, allow some TV time or let them do some art. By being a pushy parent and forcing them to do nothing but their homework, you increase the chances of resentment and rebellion. Allow them to express themselves and enjoy their childhood.
Remember, all children develop at different rates, both academically and within peer groups. Meet your child’s teacher, be supportive of your child’s passions and allow them the freedom to progress at their own pace, and you will see your child succeed.