The summer is over and school will be opening within the next several weeks. Most children have moved up a grade in school and may even be attending a new facility. The move to the next grade level is not just about academic changes, it's also about changes in expectations and peer relationships.
As children get older, expectations increase and adults make assumptions that older children should know better. There are also greater expectations about academic performance, independent learning and good social judgment. These skills are not developed while children are sleeping and information is acquired through a book that has been placed under his pillow by his parents. Learning is a gradual but progressive process and every year the demands become much greater. The stresses on children today are much more dramatic than at any other time historically.
So, what role should parents play?
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Parents need to guide and support their children. In order to do this, parents need to stay connected and keep informed about what the world expects from their children. Certainly, one place to start is school.
When was the last time that you actually went to your child's school?
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Make sure that you attend all of the parent/teacher meetings and most of the PTA meetings that are scheduled this year. The classroom teacher sees your child in a way that you may not. School is a very different environment and as a result, your child functions very differently in school than he does at home. As a parent, you need to be the teacher's partner. The more you are involved in your child's learning, the more successful he will be. A parent's best tool is her understanding of and her knowledge about her child.
Do not be afraid to contact the classroom teacher and set up an appointment. Always ask your child about his homework and sit with him to see if he needs any help. Make sure that you check all of his work, even if you don't understand all of it. It is important for you to let your child know that you are interested in school, his work and how well he does in school. Finally, this year is not last year; every year schoolwork gets harder and many children struggle with their schoolwork. Find out if there are supportive services in the school and if your child needs a tutor, look into it as early as possible. Education needs to be not only a family experience but also a parent/child process.
