Join 14 parenting experts at the FREE telesummit HeartWise Approaches to Raising Great Kids starting January 3rd, 2012. I am thrilled to be joining 13 other inspiring presenters throughout the month of January. Sign up here to join this amazing event from the comfort of your home at HeartWiseParent.com
As a parent you are your child’s first teacher and your home is her first classroom. From you, your child is given the first opportunities to experience and interact with her world. Through singing to your child, reading to your child, playing with your child and introducing her to the people, places and things around her, she experiences some of her first early learning moments.
As you your child gets older and begins her formal education, it may feel like you’ve been relieved of your teaching duties, but that simply isn’t the case. If you consider the time your child spends in the classroom, you’ll see that she still spends a good amount of time at home, with her first teacher in her first classroom.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to support your child’s education. Never give up your role. Your role may change over the years, but it never ceases to be instrumental in your child’s educational success.
As your child grows, here are 7 ways you can continue to support his education.
1. Create an appropriate homework area. Set aside a special place designated for homework. Be sure it is well lit and stocked full of age appropriate supplies. Allow your child to help create his special space by getting him involved in choosing the location and the supplies.
2. Establish a set homework time. Some children do best when they tackle their homework right after school. Others needs a break and do better when they tackle it after playtime and a hearty, healthy snack. Once you know when your child’s ideal homework time is, schedule it in to your afterschool routine.
3. Be available to help, if needed. Let your child know you are able and willing to review instructions, check work and help, if needed, but resist the urge to take over and do his homework for him. Encourage your child to keep a homework assignment notebook so he can keep track of due and completed assignments.
4. Set expectations. It’s super important that you set the stage for homework success by sending the message that homework is not optional. Include homework time in your daily schedule and communicate that homework is a priority.
5. Be involved and stay involved. Take an active interest in your child’s education. Offer positive, purposeful praise for a job well done. Attend special events at school, praise your child for his dedication to completing assignments and communicate to your child that his education is something to be valued.
6. Capitalize on natural learning moments that reinforce learning. Sorting socks, helping out in the kitchen, reading road signs and writing thank you notes, for example, are all natural learning opportunities that reinforce educational concepts. Take advantage of all the natural learning moments that you can.
7. Instill a love of reading and learning. Read to and with your child often. Let him see you read. Make a point to take weekly trips to the library. Spend time browsing the bookshelves at your local bookstore. Take time to point out books on topics that may interest your child and commit to spending time reading them together.
While your role may change over the years, you are still your child’s most valuable resource. Foster his educational success by playing an active role in his schooling, encouraging a love for learning and by communicating the value of a solid education.
How do you support your child on his educational journey? Share your tips below.
For more great parenting tips like this, join me, Lesa Day, for the FREE telesummit: HeartWise Approaches to Raising Great Kids starting January 3rd, 2012. I will be teaching my class, "Discipline is Not a Dirty Word" on Friday, January 20. I am thrilled to be joining 13 other inspiring presenters throughout the month of January. Sign up here to join this amazing event from the comfort of your home at HeartWiseParent.com to learn from 14 top parenting experts around the globe.
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