Parents must get more involved with their children’s education, says NCC |11 February 2017

The National Council for Children (NCC) is making an appeal to all parents to support their children more with their education this year so that they can develop a more positive attitude towards learning.

Research shows that children are more likely to succeed in school if parents and carers get involved actively in their education, a spokesperson for the council reiterated.

As your child’s first, and most important, teacher there is a lot you can do at home that will support your child's learning through simple everyday experiences like getting your child excited about purchase of school uniforms and shoes. It’s also a good opportunity to explain why there are rules about school uniforms. For a more fun approach you can let children have a say in choosing the schoolbag and stationery.This will allow them to exercise personal taste and imagination.

Primary education might strike both children and parents as “serious work” as during the  kindergarten stage , the focus was more on ‘play’ and social activities.Now that children have to learn to manage homework and cope with tests, support from parents is absolutely critical at this stage.

It’s very important for parents right at the very start to encourage children to talk about their new experiences and what they like and don’t like about school.

Listen for any worries they might have and attend to all the concerns. It’s easy as adults for us to brush aside what seem to be small matters, but it’s helpful to learn to see things through your child’s eyes. You might even want to take a couple of days off from work to help your child settle into school and the new routine.

As your children adapt to school life, show your support in other ways, such as valuing them for who they are, and not for what they have achieved. Instead of comparing their performance with others or expressing disappointment when they are not performing up to your standard, appreciate their efforts. Focus on the learning process – not only on the marks!

Teach children basic organisation and time management skills at home and also take the chance to find out if your child might be encountering difficulties in his/her studies. Together, parents and child can set achievable goals and realistic expectations, so that everything doesn’t seem so daunting. Most importantly, reassure them of your love and care, regardless of the results.Try to give feedback rather than criticism, e.g. saying ‘that didn’t seem to work’ rather than ‘you got it wrong’. This helps them think about where they went wrong and how they can improve in future, rather than just feeling like a failure.

Supporting your child can also be through the guidance you give. Young children benefit from having a healthy routine for school and homework, including having a conducive learning environment and clear rules about TV and play time. It helps them to gradually develop self-discipline. Other caregivers, be they grandparents or a helper, should keep to the routine and rules too. Where necessary, discipline your child but do so with empathy and let him/her know what he/she has done wrong, but if you do have concerns, please speak to their teacher.

You might find contacting the school or talking to your child’s teachers difficult, or think they will not have time for you. But finding out more about their school life and what they are learning shows your child how much you care about their education. And getting to know the school and the teachers is the best way of finding out more.

Many schools now have teacher/parent support groups, with a variety of activities to help parents and students at different stages of their child’s education.

If your child has Special Educational Needs it is even more important to be involved so you can understand what support your child is receiving at school and whether he or she is on target.  If your child does need extra help, find out from the school how he or she can be supported at home. This may be something as simple as allowing them to draw more often to help with fine motor skills, etc. 

Entering primary school is a big step for young children, and one that they will hopefully look back on fondly when they’re older. With the right support from parents and schools, they will be able to adapt effectively and build a strong foundation for the rest of their education.

Parents who would like support and advice can talk to NCC counsellors and  you can also share experiences and advice with other parents by registering for the oncoming parenting workshop on Thursday February 23.  NCC can be contacted on telephone number 4 283 900.

Contributed by the NCC