Parenting in schools may appear to be a strange concept, given that parents do not accompany their children during school days.
Getting involved in the child’s education does not mean staying with them together in the classroom but instead supporting them and participating in their learning progress from one stage to another.
From being on the PTA to organizing various school activities, parents have played significant roles in making the schools a lot more favorable to the kids, teachers, and the entire school community.
This post looks into how schooling gets in the way of parenting and why parental involvement improves student’s and schools’ performance.
Parental involvement
Parental involvement in schools has proved to be significantly beneficial to children of all ages, races, and economic classes since learning includes diverse groups.
Involved parents assume a partnership role with the school instead of seeing the school solely responsible for educating children.
Every child and their families are unique in one way or another. And while we may not have a universal method for propelling students towards academic excellence, there are several ways parents can get involved in their children’s education and support them effectively.
Generally, parents who have success in supporting their children in school do so by:
- Creating an environment at home that supports and encourages learning.
- Showing rational expectations for the children’s learning and behaviors at school.
- Communicating with teachers and school staff and participating in school activities.
Parental expectations
Another factor that has a significant impact on a child’s academic success is parental expectations. When you show your children that you value education, they will learn to appreciate it as well.
Having a positive attitude that supports and encourages a growth mindset affects the children’s minds more than a punitive, negative approach. Encouraging children to do well in school and related activities makes them enjoy learning and are likely to work hard and succeed.
Learning is the process of acquiring skills and knowledge, and it takes determination to move from not understanding a unit to studying and answering questions and finally mastering the course.
Parents need to avoid concentrating on negative results and punishments. Instead of telling your children “never, ever skip classes,” try praising good attendance and active participation at school.
When children are constantly told what not to do and get punished for not obeying, they are more likely to develop a negative attitude towards education and school.
How parental involvement improves children’s performance
- Positive early begins.
Commonly, parents are the first teacher a child will know. This offers them a special chance to positively influence their learning attitude before starting to go to school.
By addressing the early learning issue directly, parents are effectively prepared to start getting involved in their schooling once they can begin attending public schools. Parents know their children’s strengths and weaknesses from an early age and understand how to tackle each as the children develop.
There is always a clear difference between children who started participating in educational activities at an early age compared to those interacting with these activities at an advanced stage.
These advantages can be extended if parents remain in contact with teachers and school staff throughout the entire child’s schooling.
- Improved behavior and social skills.
When teachers and parents work together, it is easier to notice and address behavior and social issues at an early stage before they escalate and become obstacles in the child’s education.
Parents should know what is happening inside the classroom, and teachers, too, need help to learn the strategies that work well with individual students.
However small, parents offering various support, like attending meetings and conferences, get more conversant with potential conflicts earlier and can lend a hand when it is mostly applicable.
- Higher attendance rates.
When parents are directly involved with the school, their children’s attendance is more likely to improve. Parents who are attached to school impart the importance of school to their children.
Doing this helps them stay in the classroom, particularly during high school life, where consistent attendance is vital to their academic success.
- Sharing of opinions and ideas.
When parents get involved in their children’s school matters, they develop a relationship with their children’s teachers also. And in most cases, this interrelation extends to the administration and gives a clear way of sharing ideas and opinions about matters affecting their school.
Though parents may not be well-informed about matters of education, they are well-versed with their children’s behavior, and they can contribute to the development of systems that directly resonate with the students.
- Better homework habits.
Technology has made it even easier for parents to track the progress of their children. The examination softwares makes it possible for parents to check the results of random tests and assignments, and therefore set realistic expectations. Parents should go through their children’s homework every night, confirming if the assignments are correct and complete.
And when there is a problem, parents get to inform the teachers as soon as possible to check what might be the cause and offer an appropriate solution that can help maintain student’s grades.
- Happier and more productive teachers.
Lastly, when parents handle some of the duties of the school, teachers feel appreciated and supported, making them more content in their jobs hence high productivity. Happier and more productive teachers result in a high performance among students.
Conclusion.
Parental involvement in the student’s and school affairs is a vital element to the children’s success and the school in general. Whether they get involved as committee members or regular meetings with teachers, their impact can be positively felt.
As a parent, involving yourself in your child’s education helps them develop a good attitude towards learning and schooling, improves their behaviors and social skills, increases attendance, and boosts the habit of doing homework.
Additionally, parental involvement relieves teachers of some responsibilities, making them more productive and happy, which translates to a better performance by students. It also opens a way for sharing opinions and ideas that can be used to better the welfare of the school.
