HELP! Educational Blog

Since I have been a teacher, I can’t count how many times parents have asked me what they can do to help support their child’s education. This is what I’ve come up with: 
 

 
1)      Give your child a break, but only a small one- When your child gets home, let them snack and play around for about 30 minutes. They’ve (hopefully) been working hard all day at school. You’re not the only one who needs to unwind after a long, hard day.

 

2)      Set a homework routine- Make sure that every day is the same. After they have a few minutes to relax, homework needs to happen. Children need routines, so this should happen every day if schedule permits. If the schedule often does not permit, maybe you should reconsider your schedule.

 

3)      Create a Quiet Place- Help your child set up a quiet place in the house to do work. Kids are easily distracted and it is necessary for them to learn the art of being alone with their thoughts to concentrate. No noise- and that means no T.V. or music too.

 

4)      Check over their work- Why would your child think homework is important if you don’t take the time to look it over? Homework is practice, and you are their home tutor.

 

5)      Extra Curricular Academia- Find fun, enriching activities for your child to take part in. If they aren’t struggling, find a place to take them where professionals can stretch their brains.

6)      Make learning a lifestyle- Learning is not just for the classroom or after-school tutoring center. When conversing with your child, you should constantly try to push their thinking to the next level. Ask lots of “whys” and “hows.” Car rides and dinner tables are great places to put aside the idle chatter and nonsense in exchange for some stimulating conversation. Give it a shot and critical thinking will be second nature to your child.

 

7)      Exchange T.V. for Book- While it’s best to start your child reading early, it’s never too late to start. Reading= thinking. There are innumerable benefits to reading (i.e. makes you a better writer, molds you into a critical thinker, etc.). And by the way, don’t just make your kid do this- lead by example.

 

8)      Unplug your television- During the school week it’s a good idea to keep the remote out of your kid’s hands and the screen from in front of their eyes. This keeps them from rushing through their work to get to the T.V. This is a good idea for video games and other electronic devices as well. If you feel this is too harsh, at the very least say goodbye to electronics an hour or two before bed. Their brains need time to slow down. While you are at it, try monitoring the content coming through your television.

 

9)      Turn  the lights off…and on- The less light your child sleeps with, the more rest their brain gets. And when morning time comes, research shows that the sooner you turn on the lights, the sooner you wake up. Don’t let your child get ready in low lighting. This is just asking for them to drag their way into their first class. You want your child refreshed, awake, and prepared to learn upon arriving to school.

 

10)   Cook… together and healthy- Cooking is a great way to teach children how to follow directions. It’s also a good way to teach kids measurement (volume- a difficult concept for many). The healthier the better. Fresh foods going in keep fresh ideas coming out.

 

11)   Eat as a family, at a table- Whatever happened to the good ol’ days when everyone ate together? This forced conversation and put family first. We seem to be losing this family-first mentality and it shows. Slow down, sit down. Teach your kids to enjoy the fine things in life.

 

12)   Look at their friend’s parents-  If their friend’s parents aren’t the type of people you would want your kid around, their friends probably aren’t either. Limit, if not cut off, their time with them. If they must spend time with those friends, make it over at your house where you can supervise. You can’t really control what happens at someone else’s home.
 

 

13)   Get them an alarm clock- This teaches them independence and time management. It’s also a good way to take some of the load off yourself. And by the way, this works well with younger kids too. Don’t make their teacher teach them how to tell time!

 

14)   Minimize and de-clutter your home- The more stuff they have, the more stuff they need to keep them from being bored. Period. There’s something to be said about minimalism. It requires one to develop a healthy imagination.

 

15)    Spend time with your child- Above all else, spend time with your child. Your presence and your attention is the best way in the world to ensure your child succeeds. So put down that bag of potato chips and jump off that couch. It’s family time!

 

 
How many of these tips do you practice? Would you add any tips to this list? Share your thoughts with us in the replies!