HELP CHILDREN LEARN

Below are things parents know, do, or expect that help their child learn and become successful in school:

A. Parent/Child Relationship

  1. Daily conversation about everyday events
    Spend a few minutes daily with each child, talking and listening with patience and love. Take time to understand your children’s world — their friends, activities, music, etc.
  2. Showing affection
    Show love to your child in many ways, from hugs to praise to special time together.
  3. Family discussion of books, newspapers, magazines, and TV programs
    Talk with your child about what he/she is reading and what you are reading.
  4. Family visits to libraries, museums, zoos, etc.
    Go with your children to places where learning is a family activity. Ask school personnel or other parents for ideas of free or low-cost places your family could visit together.
  5. Encouragement to try new words
    Make a family game out of looking up new words—who can find the most new words in the newspaper, or who can guess the correct meaning of a new word heard on TV before you look it up in a dictionary?

B. Routine of Family Life

  1. Formal study time at home
    Make daily study time a “family value,” something each child does with or without homework assignments from school.
  2. A daily routine that includes time to eat, sleep, play, work, study, and read
    Establish a family routine with regular mealtimes, bedtimes, homework time, and outdoor play/exercise time. Make sure your child eats healthy, nutritious foods and visits a doctor and dentist regularly.

Part 2: News for Parents

Research studies have shown that every parent can help their child do well in school. You don’t have to understand trigonometry or buy anything special.

Your parenting practices and the relationship you build with your child’s school will help your child succeed.