Parental Involvement
Helping Your Child Succeed
By Daniel Muniz

For decades, teachers have insisted that parents need to be involved in their child’s education. And quite a bit of research backs up this assertion. The Department of Education and a number of academic institutions have conducted studies that demonstrate that parental involvement works. Students end up doing their homework, turning in their required assignments, and preparing for tests. Additionally, the more frequently and more intensely they study produces much better test scores and far higher grades.

Ultimately, these kids end up actually enjoying going to school. Instead of dreading the education system and finding ways to avoid it, they are far more participatory in the learning environment because it becomes something that they can master. And after all, if kids do like their education experience, it makes it far easier for them to graduate.

So how do parents get involved?

Do they have to bake cookies for a field trip?
 

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Unfortunately, too many parents have the false impression that their biggest parental responsibility is to get their toddlers out of diapers and that our education system is going to take care of everything else. And if anything does go wrong such as a child failing to turn in a term paper or flunking a test, then the assumption is that it has to be the school’s fault. So in other words, a lot of people feel that parental responsibility pretty much ends as soon as their child steps out of their front door because whatever happens, it’s now the school’s problem.

Sadly, there are a number of parents who see education as being the sole realm of their child’s school. After all, educators are the experts and many state legislatures have now forced schools to take a more in depth role in parenting such as monitoring a child’s weight, their dental hygiene, physical fitness, what they are eating for lunch, and now an increasing number of other areas. And there are plenty of parents who also feel that teachers have assumed the role of babysitters in addition to providing an education.

However, no one has more of an interest to see your child succeed other than yourself. So essentially, if your child fails, then the first person to blame is yourself. For some people, that is a startling but harsh revelation.

Below are some of the basic steps for parents to keep in mind.

Enough Sleep
As an adult, how effective are you at the workplace if you are constantly groggy and tired? Do employers want employees who are sleepy and incoherent while they are on the clock?

It is not any different for a kid at school. He or she must be fully rested in order to be alert and attentive so that the learning experience can be truly absorbed. It is not going to happen if a child is sluggish and drowsy. As a result, a parent must lay down firm rules for bed time and then enforce it so that their children can the sleep they need. Although it may be difficult to be the disciplinarian, it has to be done regardless if your child is in first grade or in the twelfth grade.

Work Ethic
Again, for adults, how effective are you at the workplace if you show up with a hangover or you are still stoned from smoking too much of whatever? What will happen if you don’t want to get any work done and then you cop an attitude about doing it? And will will happen if you are shooting your mouth off at everyone (it might be fine if you are the boss but not as an ordinary co-worker)?

Once again, it is not any different for a kid at school. Just like at a job, a child must show up prepared to get the work done and that means turning in assignments and preparing for tests, and treating everyone in a decent manner.

Direction
And again, just how effective can you be at your workplace if you don’t have management giving you proper direction and guidance so that you can get your job done right the first time?

Consequently, it is not any different for a kid at school. Kids have to understand their assignments and be cognizant of when they are due. They need to know when to study, know what is expected from the curriculum, and know what the academic goals are to pass the class. And just like an employee, kids need to know where they are going and how to get there and if they are unsure, then questions need to be asked.

Does each one of these steps sound familiar?

They should because that is exactly what adults are already doing at their jobs. Being a kid at school is not really all that much different than being an adult in the real world because there is a set of responsibilities, obligations, and expectations. In fact, parents who are involved in their child’s education are not only helping them graduate high school but they are also setting the foundation for their lives as an adult.

Just about everybody has worked with someone who is irresponsible, doesn’t show up to work on time, and cannot get the job done right, etc. And there are some full grown adults who cannot ever hold on to a job for very long or who are never able to be successful at their workplace. Some of those bad habits were formed long ago in their youth.

As a parent, you have the ability to set the tone and the expectations for not only as for being successful in your child’s education but also in their future as an adult.

In summary, parental involvement can go a long way in your child’s life; much further than what a lot of people can imagine.

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