What counts most is what we say and do at home, not how rich or poor we are or how many years of school we have finished. When children can count on getting attention at home, they have a greater sense of security and self-worth. This will help them do better not only in school, but also when they grow up.
If you think about it, school, while very important, does not really take up very much time. In the United States, the school year averages 180 days; in other industrialized nations, the school year can extend up to 240 days, and students are often in school more hours per day. So, the hours and days a child is not in school are important for learning, too.
Communicating.
This is probably the most important activity we can do in our home, and it doesn't
cost anything. Ask questions, listen for answers. These are no-cost, high-value
things to do.
Think of conversation as being like a tennis game with talk, instead of a ball, bouncing back and forth. Communication can happen any time, any place—in the car, on a bus, at mealtime, at bedtime.
When our children enter and continue school with good habits of communication, they are in a position to succeed—to learn all that has to be learned, and to become confident students.
Starting early. Here are some things you can do when your
children are young:
Handling homework. These are the messages to get across
to your children about homework:
The time we spend exchanging ideas at home with our children is vitally important in setting the tone, the attitudes, and the behaviors that make the difference in school.
In the Community
In many parts of our nation,
the ties among neighbors have been weakened. For the sake of our children, they
need to be rebuilt, and you can help. Be sure to introduce your children to
your neighbors. You might even try a "child watch" program where adults who
are at home during the day keep an eye out for children when they walk to and
from school and stand at the bus stops.
Some schools are helping families connect with the community by, for example, becoming centers for social services as well as for education. Getting to know your child's school can help you, in a very real way, get to know a major part of your community. It can also help you build a network of wider community support for your family.
At School
Parents can become involved with the schools in several different ways,
by working with children at home, volunteering, sharing information, and helping
to make policy. We need to remember that what works in one community (or for
one family) may not necessarily work in another.
It may no longer be possible for parents to volunteer as often for school activities. However, working with children at home and sharing information with the school are two things all parents can do.
The section after activities, "Parents and the Schools," has some suggestions on how to get the most out of talking to your child's teacher. Many teachers say they rarely receive information from parents about problems at home. Many parents say they don't know what the school expects of their child. Sharing information is essential, and both teachers and parents are responsible for making it happen.
With our help, our children can become confident students, able to handle
the challenges of school. This means:
