How to help your child succeed in school

For children to be successful in school, parents need to be actively involved in their children's learning. In fact, many studies show that what the family does is more important to a child's school success than how much money the family makes or how much education the parents have.

By showing interest in their children's education, parents and families can spark enthusiasm in them and lead them to a very important understanding - that learning can be enjoyable as well as rewarding and is well worth the effort required.

If you think about it, although school is very important, it does not really take up very much of a child's time. That means the hours and days that a child is not in school are important for learning, too. Here are some things that you can do to help your child make the most of that time:

Encourage your child to read.

Helping your child become a reader is the single most important thing that you can do to help him succeed in school - and in life.

¤ Start early. When your child is still a baby, read aloud to him for a few minutes several times a day, and as he grows older, for longer periods. Encourage him to ask questions, to talk about the story, to predict what will come next. When your child begins to read, ask him to read to you from books or magazines that he enjoys.

¤ Make sure that your home has lots of reading materials that are appropriate for your child - books, magazines and newspapers. They don't have to be new or expensive. Set aside quiet time for family reading.

¤ Show that you value reading. Let your child see you reading for pleasure as well as for performing your routine activities as an adult - reading letters and recipes, directions and instructions, newspapers, computer screens and so on.

¤ Get help for your child if he has a reading problem. When a child is having reading difficulties, the reason might be simple to understand and deal with. For example, your child might have trouble seeing and need glasses or he may just need more help with reading skills. If you think that your child needs extra help, ask his teachers about special services such as after-school programmes. Make sure she gets any extra help she needs as soon as possible and always encourage her and praise her efforts.

Talk with Your Child.

Talking and listening play major roles in children's school success. It's through hearing parents and family members talk and through responding to that talk that young children begin to pick up the language skills they will need if they are to do well. Think of talking with your child as being like a tennis game with words - instead of a ball - bouncing back and forth. Find time to talk any place, for example:

¤ As you walk with your child or ride with her in a car or on a bus, talk with her about what she's doing at school. Point out and talk about things that you see as you walk - funny signs, new cars, interesting people.

¤ As you shop, talk with your child about prices, differences in brands and how to pick out good vegetables and fruit. Give your child directions about where to find certain items.

¤ As you cook dinner, ask your child to help you follow the steps in a recipe. Talk with him about what can happen if you miss a step or leave out an ingredient.

¤ As you make repairs at home, ask your child to hand you the tools that you name. Talk with him about each step you take. Tell him what you're doing and why you're doing it. Ask him for suggestions.

¤ As you watch TV together, talk with your child about theprogrammes. If you're watching one of her favorites, encourage her to tell you about the background of the characters, which ones she likes and dislikes and who the actors are. Compare the programme to a programme that you liked when you were her age.

It's also important for you to show your child that you're interested in what he has to say. Demonstrate for him how to be a good listener:

¤ When your child talks to you, stop what you're doing and pay attention. Look at him and ask questions to let him know that you've heard what he said: "So when are you going to help your grandpa work on his car?"

¤ When your child tells you about something, occasionally repeat what he says to let him know that you're listening closely: "The school bus broke down twice!"

Monitor homework.

Let your child know that you think education is important and so homework has to be done. Here are some ways to help your child with homework:

¤ Have a special place for your child to study. The homework area doesn't have to be fancy. A desk in the bedroom is nice, but for many children, the kitchen table or a corner of the living room works just fine. The area should have good lighting and it should be fairly quiet. Provide supplies and identify resources. For a start, have available pencils, pens, rubbers, writing paper and a dictionary. Other items may include paper clips, maps, a calculator, a pencil sharpener, tape, glue, paste, scissors, a ruler, a calculator, index cards, a thesaurus and an almanac. If possible, keep these items together in one place.

¤ Set a regular time for homework. This helps children to finish assignments. Give your older child the responsibility for making up a schedule independently - although you'll want to make sure that it's a workable one.

¤ Remove distractions. Turn off the TV and discourage your child from making and receiving social telephone calls during homework time. If you live in a small or noisy household, try having all family members take part in a quiet activity during homework time. You may need to take a noisy toddler outside or into another room to play.

¤ Don't expect or demand perfection. When your child asks you to look at what she's done, show interest and praise her when she's done something well. If you have criticisms or suggestions, make them in a helpful way.

Next week: TV, the library, the internet, responsibility and independence, active learning, working with teachers and schools.

Excerpted from a US Department of Education publication, Helping Your Child Succeed in School.