Parents' involvement in their children's education may encompass everything from volunteering on a field trip to helping their children with homework and school projects. However, schedule limitations and poorly defined school policies may discourage many parents from becoming involved. Even small steps toward involvement in your children's education, though, can result in a wide array of benefits for your whole family.
Higher Achievement
Children benefit academically from their parents' involvement in their education and their schools. Cynthia Franklin, Mary Beth Harris, Paula Allen-Meares, in "The School Services Sourcebook: A Guide for School-based Professionals," explain, "...the most accurate predictor of students' achievement is not income or social status but how much the families are able to be involved in their children's education." They point out that when parents take an interest in their children's education, they create home environments more conducive to learning and have higher expectations for the quality of their children's education.
Positive Attitudes
Parental involvement in education helps to improve children's overall attitude toward school in a number of tangible ways. Franklin, Harris and Allen-Meares observe that with involved parents, student attendance increases, student attitudes improve and instances of misbehavior decrease. Parental involvement also reduces the overall dropout rate for students and increases the probability that children will go on to attend college. They explain that when parents and children work together to achieve educational goals, there are "mutually reinforcing effects" for both the parents and the children.
Stronger Schools
Schools benefit in many ways from parental involvement in their children's education. Noleen van Wyk and Eleanor Lemmer, in "Organizing Parent Involvement in SA Schools," point out that a primary benefit is reduced workloads for teachers. They explain, "Parents can help to lessen this workload by assisting with sporting activities, during field trips, in the classroom and with disciplinary problems at school." Parents can also volunteer to help with maintenance of school grounds, such as by making minor repairs, and with fund-raising events and activities.
Healthier Families
Parental involvement in education helps to support and encourage healthier families. Jacquelyn Elias, Rosemary A. Olender and Rosemary D. Mastroleo, in "The School-Home Connection: Forging Positive Relationships With Parents," explain that a strong working relationship between parents and teachers can help to increase a child's overall sense of security. It also boosts parents' confidence in their parenting skills. Parental involvement also leads to improved communication between parents and their children. The authors further point out that increased involvement widens the family's support system in the community and connects the family with helpful resources.
References
- "The School Services Sourcebook: A Guide for School-Based Professionals"; Cynthia Franklin, Mary Beth Harris, Paula Allen-Meares; 2006
- "Organizing Parent Involvement in SA Schools"; Noleen van Wyk, Eleanor Lemmer; 2008
- "The School-Home Connection: Forging Positive Relationships With Parents"; Jacquelyn Elias, Rosemary A. Olender, Rosemary D. Mastroleo; 2010
