Success in school from an early age will help your child achieve goals later in life. Good grades will play a major role in getting into a good college. A solid college education will help your child immensely when he is looking for a satisfying career. Teachers play a role in helping your child succeed, but children spend more time at home than they spend in school. There are several things you can do to help your child do well in school.
Step 1
Make homework a priority in your home. Ensure that homework is completed and checked by a parent before your child is allowed to go out on the weekends. Create a quiet, out-of-the-way place for homework time, with minimum distractions. Organize the homework area so that supplies like pencils, pens, glue and paper are easy to find. Sit with young children while they work on homework, and let older children know that you are available if they need help.
Step 2
Involve yourself with your child's school, to show your child that you care and to be aware of what is going on in your child's life. Get to know the teachers and principal. Join organizations like the Parent Teacher Association, if you have the time, as these groups focus on improving the school. Volunteer in the classroom as often as you can.
Step 3
Visit your public library often to show that learning and reading can be fun. Bring your young child or baby to story times at the library, and take your teenager to teen reading groups. Get to know the librarian in the children's section, as she will be a positive example to your child and will help find interesting books. Help your older child check out informative books when she is writing research papers.
Step 4
Take your child on learning adventures that are fun for the whole family. Go on a day trip to your local children's museum, science museum or zoo, so your children can get excited about school subjects like science. Talk about what you saw and learned with your child.
Step 5
Talk to your child about school in a calm and interested manner. Ask about her day and show an interest in her problems, worries and achievements. Let her know that you care and would like to help in any way you can.
Step 6
Practice positive and negative reinforcement. Make a reward chart for younger children, and have a prize or goal picked out for good performance in school, like a small toy. Let older children and teenagers know that they will be rewarded for good grades, perhaps with an amount of money that you feel comfortable with. Do not let your child go to his friend's house or participate in other activities if his grades are low.
