Did you know being present in your child’s education journey can improve their learning experience and academic performance? Research says children with involved parents in their school life have higher levels of success in academics than those with less involved parents.
Now, you’re probably curious about how you can be supportive of your child’s studies. The purpose of this guide is to provide simple steps you can implement to ensure your child’s educational success.
Continue reading for more!
Choose High-Quality Childcare Wisely
A study by the American Psychological Association reveals quality child care contributes to academic success, especially in math and science, through high school to college. That being said, finding the right childcare for your child is a top priority even as you plan to invest in the best high school and college around you.
Here are a few considerations when looking for childcare or early childhood learning centers:
1. Quality Learning Resources
Look for a learning environment that provides your child with opportunities to learn, grow, and live to their full potential. So, it makes sense that the school you choose has quality books, competent teachers, and safe spaces for play and creative activities that foster emotional, cognitive, and social development.
2. Curriculum
Does the school follow a curriculum that balances academic learning and play-based activities? Because a balanced educational program lays the foundation for academic success. See if potential schools offer age-appropriate developmental activities, group learning, and structured exercises.
For example, Ladybug & Friends Daycare and Preschool provide infants with age-appropriate activities to support emotional development. Their preschool program for kids aged three to six years focuses on group learning and games to promote critical thinking and stimulate logical communication.
3. Healthy Meals
Children need to eat healthy meals at home and in school to promote cognitive or brain development. The best school keeps children well-nourished to ensure they stay active both outdoors and in the classroom. Besides that, schools are recommended to serve foods that introduce new colors, textures, and tastes to students’ palates.
Foster a Learning Culture at Home
One thing to know about learning is that it doesn’t start or end in school. The family home is where continuous learning takes place. Therefore, aim to make your home a suitable environment for your child to learn.
Ways to do this include:
1. Instill a Love of Learning
Your child copies what you do or say. When we show our children we value education, they are motivated to do the same. With that in mind, say positive things about education at home. Talk about the wonderful opportunities and fun memories to be made in school.
Parents can encourage a passion for learning by showing genuine interest in what their kids learn in school every day. Never fail to check their homework and help them find solutions to navigate tough questions.
2. Designate a Space for Learning
Imagine having a study space that’s serene. For different ages, this means different things. Older students might need a comfortable desk, chair, and study supplies (pencils, notebooks, learning guides, or workbooks).
Toddlers or preschoolers might do better with a cozy reading corner. That could be a plush chair or a bean bag with pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets. Reading, coloring, and learning new things have never been so comfy!
3. Encourage Active Learning
Active learning revolves around direct interactions that spark a child’s interest and participation in learning. It allows children to explore interests and develop critical thinking skills. The beauty of it is that it can be done at home.
For example, encourage your kid to ask questions or share opinions when reading books together. You could also engage in role-play exercises. For instance, your child could play teacher, teaching about the digital world or how to solve multiplication questions. This trick helps a child to better understand concepts that seemed difficult at first.
Collaborate With Your Child’s Educators
The primary benefit of parent-teacher collaboration is personalized learning for the learner. Your child’s teacher will help you identify areas of study your child is struggling with. Then create an individualized study plan that can be implemented at home to enhance academic performance.
Simple ways you can form a collaboration with teachers include:
1. Maintaining Open Communication
During the start of a school year, make an effort to meet the class teacher of your child. Discuss your child’s unique learning needs and assure the teacher you want to help your child perform well. You can even give them your email address and phone number, so they can reach you quickly to talk about your child’s grades and classroom behavior.
2. Voice Your Child’s Academic Concerns
Do you have a concern about your child’s progress in school? Don’t assume the teacher knows.
Request for a parent-teacher meeting to discuss issues that may be a concern to you. Doing so lays the path for constructive feedback between you and teachers, which helps build an effective educational support plan for your child.
Try this during big family transitions or updates — if your little one is about to become an older sibling for the first time or if family members are sick, it could affect your growing student. Reach out to your child’s school to give them a heads up as this might create new behavioral changes.
Conclusion: Educational Success for Children
Ensuring a child’s educational success isn’t about paying school fees or buying the required learning materials. Your involvement in their studies matters and there are ways to do it right. Start by choosing the right learning environment, especially childcare centers.
Next, design a safe learning space at home. Equally important, collaborate with teachers to develop an effective learning plan that supports the learner’s (your child’s) academic success.
Sandra Chiu works as Director at LadyBug & Friends Daycare and Preschool.
