As schools become more crowded and under-staffed, teachers and school staff do not have the resources to mentor every child. It often falls on parents to ensure that their children learn what they need to know. According to the Department of Education, parents have the power and responsibility to help their kids get a good education.
Encourage Them
Give a child confidence. Self-image plays a major role in a child's ability to learn, and children succeed when they believe they can. Consequently, failure is more likely when they do not believe in themselves. A parent's job is to encourage her child, according to the University of Delaware Extension Service. Parents need to act as cheerleaders for their children by praising their efforts, encouraging them to keep trying when classes are difficult and taking an active interest in their studies.
Create a Conducive Environment
Create a space in your home conducive to studying. Children cannot study well when surrounded by a lot of distractions, such as TV, video games or a lot of busy family interactions. According to the University of Delaware, parents should provide a quiet, well-lit space for studying. Furthermore, parents should limit children's exposure to video games and TV when not studying, and choose educational programming as much as possible.
Communicate with the School
Act in partnership with your child's teachers and school. The National Education Association says that parents need to communicate regularly with their children's teachers to remain aware of issues the student might have and which subjects might require extra help. Just as parents need to know about their children's school work and aptitude, teachers also need to know more about a child's home life and whether it is affecting a child's performance.
Make Plans
Make plans for when children should do their homework. Most children need help learning how to set aside time for a task, and homework can often fall to the last minute, leaving kids under-prepared. Kids might need extra help pacing themselves on big projects, such as the science fair or term papers. The University of Delaware recommends setting aside a period of time each day when school work should be completed, and also suggests gathering all necessary materials before beginning the work.
