Ways to support your child this school year

As parents, we want to do everything we can to support our children in school. Here are some simple ways to ensure your children’s success this school year.

First, keep some margin in your child’s life. It’s easy to want this from our children all things. Sports, extra sports, church activities, scouts, musical endeavors, etc. These are all good things, but our children need downtime too. They need time for that be children. Play outside with siblings or neighbors, read a book, build a fort, play a board game, etc. Over-scheduling our children’s days can lead to anxiety and exhaustion. If they have a traditional school schedule, they spent seven hours setting the schedule and following directions. Giving them the opportunity to come home and decide how they want to spend their time is something they unknowingly value.

Another way to support your child is to go through their schoolwork with them. Sit down, take the work out of the folder and talk about what you see. Praise their achievements, show interest in what they are learning, and use this time to assess what they may need additional support for at home.

As a former classroom teacher, I was always surprised when the report cards went home and the parents weren’t sure about the grade. The work that comes home daily (or weekly) should speak for itself. So pay attention to the successes and difficulties you notice. This is also bonding time. Showing interest in your child’s academic performance is a small way to show that you care deeply about him or her.

Finally, you can probably guess my final suggestion for supporting your child in school; reading with you! No matter how old your child is, don’t stop reading with him. This is also a time for bonding and supporting their academic progress. Parents often stop reading to their child as soon as their child can read independently. I encourage you to continue reading with your child, even if they are already an experienced reader. Then you can see how they interpret the context and voice, which will help you see even more of your child’s personality.

Erin Pate is a former elementary school teacher and mother of two young children who is passionate about sharing her love of reading. Follow her on Instagram @booksandsmiles for book recommendations, reading tips and learning ideas for the little ones in your life.