Introduction
As a parent who wants the best for your children, there are undoubtedly many things that you already do every day to help your children succeed in school. The purpose of this article is to provide some practical ideas for you to try. Some of these suggestions may be new to you, many will be familiar, and some are just plain common sense but, hopefully, they will all serve as reminders of the many simple steps you can take that are too often taken for granted or forgotten about, due to the hectic pace of everyday living.
Read to your kids, whatever their ages
First of all, read to your children. We all know that this is important, but I'd like to point out that reading aloud should begin in infancy. It can contribute to your baby's developing attention span and receptive language skills. In addition, I'd like to encourage parents to read to growing children, even once they are able to read on their own. Don't stop once your kids are in elementary school for, whatever the status of their reading skills, hearing a good book read aloud is an experience apart.
Being read to allows children to focus more on the descriptive passages and the action, rather than having to struggle with understanding every single word. It also allows them to hear great children's stories that are beyond their current reading level, and it's a wonderful way for a family to share a magical experience. Choose a children's book that can also be enjoyed by you as an adult, and have a family reading session each evening or each week. A classic children's story, such as "The Wind in the Willows," or the Harry Potter books might be perfect for your family, depending on the ages and interests of your children.
Encourage independent reading and library use
Offer quality children's literature to your growing children and encourage them to read on their own - at their own level and at their own pace. Fiction and nonfiction can both open up new worlds of knowledge and experience and help prepare kids for success in school and in adult life, and don't forget that online children's stories are an exciting new resource to add to your reading repertoire.
Take your children to the local public library. Be sure that each member of the family has his or her own library card. Help your children see the public library not just as a place associated with homework and drudgery, but rather as an exciting doorway to interesting information and adventure. Encourage library book borrowing related to any special topic that interests your kids - from astronomy to adventure stories, from fact to fantasy.
Get your kids to participate in some of the special free extra activities and programs that are regularly scheduled in many public libraries, like storyhours, craft projects, films, and summer reading clubs. Take your children to museums, concerts, puppet shows and the like. Expose them to any forms of entertainment and cultural enrichment that you may be lucky enough to have access to.
Develop effective research skills and good study habits
Help your kids develop research skills that will serve them well, not only on school projects, but later in daily life as an adult. For instance, if you're planning a family trip, let the kids conduct library and Internet-based research on possible destinations, sites of interest, driving or flying routes, and how to dress appropriately for the climate of your destination spot. If you're thinking of buying a new car, let your kids take part in your consumer research, comparing different car models according to a variety of pertinent criteria.
Nurture good study habits and self-discipline. Set aside a regular, daily study time for homework in a quiet, well-lit room. Be sure that your kids have a study environment that's sound physically, as well as conducive to mental concentration. A quiet room is important, but so too is good lighting, a chair that provides good back support and access to all the materials that your children need to complete projects. Supply them with pencils, erasers, rulers, and so forth.
Encourage kids to keep their desk or other study area neat and well organized. This will prevent lots of time-wasting searches for materials and will really pay off as your children get older and their school assignments become more complex. Good organizational skills, which include the arrangement of physical objects, plus the logical structuring of the steps involved in completing any given project, can last a lifetime.
Take an interest in your kids' day-to-day school life
Take an interest in your children's school projects. Encourage them to show you reports they've written or pictures they've drawn. Make them see that you care about what they're doing and about how they're doing, but don't make them feel like they're constantly being monitored or judged. Don't add pressure, just give them plenty of support, encouragement and praise for jobs well done. Provide them with the resources they need (such as Internet access, library time, books and magazine articles) to do a good job on school assignments, but... resist the temptation to do the school projects for them.
Take the same approach with everyday homework. If your child's having trouble with a math problem, review the rules, explain the procedures, and check the results, but don't just give a child the answers. The learning process is more important than a list of correct answers to hand in to the teacher.
Go that extra mile
Among the most precious gifts that you can give to your children is your time. Put them first and make time for them. Build a happy, stable home environment, full of love and security, and you've already gone a long way towards helping your children thrive and succeed both in school and in life. Be involved in the big and the small events that make up their daily lives. Offer your support, encouragement, resources and love. Be there for them, no matter how busy your professional life is or whatever other commitments you have. Before you know it your children will be grown up and what they'll become depends largely on you. For their sake, as well as for your own, make the most of their childhood.
There are no pearls of wisdom here, just a refresher course in things that we've all heard a million times, but don't always stop to take them to heart. They're so important that they deserve our attention, to periodically remind us of what really counts in life.
Barbara Freedman-De Vito, children's librarian, teacher, professional storyteller, and artist, writes and illustrates animated children's stories which are available at http://www.babybirdproductions.com which also has free games and educational activities for children, teachers and parents. Clothing and gift items decorated with artwork from the stories are also available.
efficient cleaning crew Northbrook ..Although many parents become frustrated as they try to maintain... Read More
The last decade has seen heightened interest in and awareness... Read More
According to researchers, most children enter school with a good... Read More
Several similar terms describe the central attribute of a character... Read More
The Internet is one of the greatest inventions of all... Read More
Q. With the school year just beginning, what can we... Read More
When choosing the perfect jogging stroller, a very important question... Read More
Most day cares are non-profit organizations that must operate within... Read More
"I wipe my baby's chin with my college diploma and... Read More
When my oldest daughter was born, I walked the floor... Read More
Children are moral and make moral determinations... at least until... Read More
How in the world do you get your child to... Read More
My daughters and I went to the beach several weeks... Read More
I will never forget the day that my daughter's sixth... Read More
You're trying to catch up on some sleep on a... Read More
"Where did he come up with that?" Kids often amaze... Read More
Is there a difference between lazy and unmotivated? Why do... Read More
"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings." --Jonas SalkThe... Read More
It was no contest. Given a choice between a ball... Read More
Incest is sexual activity, ranging from fondling to intercourse, between... Read More
In the wonderment of childhood, it is easier for a... Read More
As Mother's Day approaches I would like to give a... Read More
It's that time of year when mom and dad look... Read More
During the assessment process it is of great importance for... Read More
Throughout the year, many days of celebration are tucked capriciously... Read More
cleaning lady near Wilmette ..You're trying to catch up on some sleep on a... Read More
Every children in the world whishes to have toys and... Read More
Do you struggle to get your child to bed at... Read More
What a dreamer I am when thinking about parenthood. Most... Read More
Have you ever wondered why toys for babies tend to... Read More
Perhaps I could make a lot of money by founding... Read More
Memorabilia ? Children can create enough artwork for an entire... Read More
Do you have a young child whose weight or eating... Read More
I am crying tears of joy mixed with great sadness... Read More
The formula is pretty straightforward: energy in/energy out. This is... Read More
Strollers offer a wonderful and convenient service to parents and... Read More
Many of us have grown up drinking caffeinated diet sodas... Read More
During the assessment process it is of great importance for... Read More
Cardiovascular endurance is one of the five health-related components of... Read More
"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine,... Read More
They Spur Members To Grow EmotionallyTatiana Tannenbaum grappled with a... Read More
Many families, ours included, have learned that breakfast is eaten... Read More
I know this Mom. She homeschools her 5 children, plus... Read More
There is no doubt that mothers play an all-important leading... Read More
When David was nine and Laura was twelve, the battles... Read More
Often I will hear parents say, "I just ignore Jr.... Read More
I love Google and Yahoo. With Google and Yahoo I... Read More
Valentine day has always been a special day in my... Read More
Sometime the most effective training tool in rapidly accelerating the... Read More
When my oldest boy was really young, he tickled my... Read More
Parenting |