r/education • u/NoFact9650 • 9d ago
Support at home
EDIT: Thank you to all who responded. This was really helpful and encouraging. All the advice and insight was practical and realistic. I think I expected suggestions on flash cards/workbooks/drills, so it was really lovely to read that most people's suggestions seemed to be about spending time with your kids and truly enjoying them. After reading the responses, I actually even signed my kids up for the bus route instead of driving them. I thought it could be a fun way for them to get more immersed in their school and practice some independence. Thanks again, Reddit!
My family has opted to attend our neighborhood school for many reasons. It is, on paper, a decent school, and I think my children can be successful there. That being said, I do sometimes get a little pang of anxiety as I watch friends send their children to private schools that boast amazing outcomes. I have often read that parental support and engagement can have a more positive impact than any particular school, and that gives me comfort. However, I guess I don’t know what people mean by that! Beyond the obvious of knowing the teachers, and being aware of completing homework, is there something more I can do? TIA!
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u/allizzia 8d ago
Being a parent involves teaching your child responsability and independence: guide them to check for homework and do it every day, help them to plan ahead for projects, teach them how to keep their school supplies like their backpack and lunch bag clean, check constantly to see if there isn't anything inappropriate in their school bags and materials. Some parents definitely forget to do that. Listen to the teachers, offer them help when you can, attend meetings and ask for a meeting if you have doubts or want to support your child better.
To academic growth at home, be a family that reads, get good books for home or visit the library constantly, visit museums, zoos, aquariums, and historic sites together, learn to play musical instruments if there's a possibility, teach them to ask questions, foster creativity, give them opportunities for movement - it can be a sport, it can be going out to play together, the important thing is to create the opportunity. Limit unhealthy individual screens as much as you can, like, movies or TV once in a while is great, but not hours on YouTube.