Research shows that parental involvement in learning is the most significant indicator of a child’s performance in school. In fact, it even surpasses the impact that teachers and the learning environment have on the child. So, given just how significant your involvement in your child’s education is, you may be wondering exactly how you can help your kid learn better. Here are four key ways to help your child succeed in school.
Work With Them
Showing interest in your child’s schoolwork is the first step in making your kid a stellar student. This is particularly important in their formative years, where parental approval matters a lot to them.
You can start by helping them with their schoolwork every day. To make this possible, have an evening routine and stick to it faithfully. If you are consistent and prioritize schoolwork, it won’t be long before your children start treating homework as important. Even something as simple as asking them what they learned at school every day could have a lasting impact on your child’s perception of education.
Also, if you notice that your child struggles with language and grammar, consider hiring an English tutor to help them with their studies. The extra help can go a long way in enhancing your kid’s performance in school.
Create A Homework Space
Studying at home can be difficult, especially if kids don’t have a suitable space to read. You can solve this by creating a dedicated study space for your children. All you need for this is a workspace and minimal distraction. If you don’t have a home office, you can convert your dining table into a homework station quite easily. Just ensure that the TV is off, there is no (or limited) noise, and your kids are good to go!
You can make the space more efficient for kids by providing them with school supplies. Consider also installing a bulletin board so your children can see when assignments are due, as well as their exam dates.
Incentivize Learning
Professionals around the globe agree that positive reinforcement encourages learning. Additionally, motivating your kids to learn by providing incentives can help improve their focus and engagement tremendously.
The ‘token’ tactic works particularly well as a motivation tool. With a ‘token’ tactic, you use stars and points to reward learning efforts from your children. They can then use the stars to buy a present, which could be anything from a sweet treat to an extra hour of watching television.
Encourage Positivity Around Learning
As a parent, when you cultivate a positive attitude toward learning in your children, they will feel the same. Regardless of your children’s ages, encourage them to dream big about the colleges and universities they can attend. Show them that no academic goal is beyond their reach.
One cannot underestimate the critical role that parents play in their children’s academic lives. Whether your kids succeed or fail in school depends a lot on how engaged, connected, and dedicated you are. Always emphasize the importance of education, and teach your kids the benefits they stand to gain by working hard. With time, you should see your kids performing better at school.
Featured Image Credit: Jena Backus