How Parents Can Support Children in Their School Work
Helping Your Children with Their School Work
One of the many hats that parents wear is that of an educator. Even though your children are attending a quality school, it is your responsibility as the parent of your children to help them with their school work. Though your children may fight over having to do their homework, studies have shown that children that receive homework help from their parents do far better in school than those that don't, and have a higher chance of going to college.
Helping Can be This Simple
The most important part of helping your children with their school work is simply being there for them. School is stressful for children. Going to school for children is the equivalent of you going to work and receiving a review every single day. Very few days go by that your children are not graded on something, which can be incredibly stressful. Simply sit down with your children as they do their homework. Your sheer presence will let them know that you care.
Only Help if You Know How
Only get actively involved in homework that you know how to do. It's okay if you don't remember how to do algebra, but don't try to help your children with their algebra homework if you are unsure of how to solve the equations yourself. Instead, find your children a qualified tutor that can assist them if they are struggling.
On the other hand, if there is a topic that you are familiar with, don't hesitate to get actively involved, especially if your children are struggling. Be sensitive to their feelings and explain things in a kind, caring way. Even if your children are high schoolers and are struggling with work that you feel they should have mastered in grade school, be patient with your explanations and offer assistance. Praise them when they do well. If you start to make an issue out of what your children are struggling with, you will quickly find yourself all alone at the homework table with your children nestled in their rooms, working behind closed doors.
Make School Work a Habit
Get involved with your children's school work most nights of the week, even if you are just there to offer moral support. Children, like all people, generally function off of habit and do not cope well with change. Make sure that you are making a habit of being easily accessible and involved in your children's school work when they are young so that you will be accepted to the school work table when your children are older.
Make School Work Fun and Practical
If your children are learning about fractions, invite them into the kitchen and pull out a recipe book. Recipes are full of fractions. You can choose to make a half portion or a double portion to give your children practice with multiplication or division of fractions. If your children are learning about recycling, save your tin cans and take them down to the recycling plant to see how your garbage is transformed into new products. Making homework fun is going to be the best way to spark the creativity and curious learners in your children.
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