You want your child to grow up to be a happy, healthy, and successful adult. A major factor that will influence their future is their education and schooling experience.
As a parent, it’s essential that you make learning a priority and foster a positive environment at home that puts importance on this matter. You don’t just have to leave it up to luck as to how they perform. Instead, there are eight ways you can support your child with their education and schooling.
1. Be Available to Assist with Homework
As your child gets older, they are going to bring home more and more homework. There may be certain tasks or assignments that are more challenging than others. It’s important to stay in the loop about what they need to complete and be available to lend a helping hand. Let your child know that you can always sit down with them and review the assigned homework if they have questions. While you don’t want to complete the homework for them, you can be there to guide and support them so they can come up with the answers themselves. Make homework a priority by making sure they get it done right away and don’t put it off after school or on the weekends.
2. Leverage Technology to Help Them Study
These days technology can be a big help when it comes to learning and education. One option is to leverage technology to help them study. For example, there are solutions out there such as AI for students which are tools designed to make studying easier and the time spent doing so more productive. It’s essentially an online tutor that can organise and highlight the most important information or create quizzes and flashcards. It will save your child time and help ensure that they can pass their tests or exams. You can help them get started and then they’ll be able to use this tool whenever they want to prepare and test themselves on their knowledge.
3. Read Books & Play Educational Games
Another way you can support your child with their education and schooling is to read children’s books and play educational games with them. Instead of turning the TV on, sit down and read a book with them. Books are fun and educational and they can also help reduce stress. You may also want to consider pulling out the educational board games and having a fun night of challenging each other this way. It will get them thinking and problem-solving and expanding their vocabulary. You may even want to consider having a weekly family game night so that you stick with it.
4. Volunteer & Get Involved at School
If you want to show your student you support them then volunteer and get involved at their school. There are likely many different activities and events that the school will need help with throughout the year. Choose volunteer opportunities that interest you and you believe will be enjoyable. Your child will love seeing you during the day and you can get to know the staff and environment better. Another idea is to join the PTO and give back in this sense. You can give your input on various matters and meet other parents and teachers.
5. Attend Parent-Teacher Conferences
Your child’s school is going to have parent-teacher meetings or conferences throughout the year. You may not realise the importance of these meetings. Remind yourself that it’s a good idea to clear your schedule and attend them if at all possible. If you can’t go then at least try to have your spouse show up. It’s a chance to meet with your child’s teacher and get a better understanding of how they’re doing academically as well as socially. The teacher might have tips and advice as to what you should be working on and focusing on with them at home. It’s valuable to keep the lines of communication open with their teacher and stay informed regarding challenges and expectations.
6. Get Them Help if They Need it
There may come a point and time when your child begins to struggle in school or in a particular subject matter. You can support your child with their education and schooling by getting them help if they need it. There are many different areas or reasons why your student may be feeling overwhelmed or not performing well. For example, it could be that they are dealing with stress and anxiety or not fitting in. Therefore, you may need to have them speak to the counselor regularly or find them a therapist to visit. On the other hand, maybe they are struggling through a subject matter such as math or science. In this case, you can find a tutor who you can hire to work with them in their free time so they can pass the class.
7. Set Up A Dedicated Study Area at Home
You want your home to be a supportive space for learning as well. Your child may find it hard to concentrate and study if they are in the kitchen or living room with the TV on. Instead, choose to set up a dedicated study area for them in the home. Ideally, you should pick a place that’s quiet and gets some natural light. Invest in a sturdy desk and comfortable chair and include a lamp or two to make the room feel cosy. It will ensure that they can focus and learn effectively and they’ll get the work done quicker when they aren’t being distracted.
8. Limit Screen Time
Although technology can be useful, it can also be distracting. You want to pay attention to how much time your child is spending on their devices and electronics. Support your child with their education and schooling by limiting screen time and having rules in place. For example, instead of allowing them to hop on their tablet right away after school, get them a snack and encourage them to get their homework done in their study room. They can also stay healthy and maintain a social life and connections by getting involved in extracurricular activities or sports in their free time.