Parents can help their children perform well in school and generally develop a lasting love of learning, just by showing an interest and becoming more involved in their education. If you show your child that you care and emphasise how proud you are when they accomplish something at school, the more likely they are to try hard to perform well and impress you. There are lots of ways to get involved, as explored below by a private school in Somerset.
Start by forming relationships with your child’s teachers so that you can communicate with them regularly on your child’s progress; once a year at Parents’ Evening isn’t enough to be able to accurately measure their performance and establish any problem areas. You should also keep your eye on you’re the school’s social media channels and read the weekly/monthly newsletters if they have one so that you are up-to-date with everything that’s going on or upcoming. Perhaps invest in a decent calendar if you don’t already have one so that you can jot down any events that are coming up, like the school play or sports’ day. These are all ways to show your child how much you care!
Where possible, try and offer to help your child with their homework so that you can get a sense of how they’re getting on in that particular subject. If they struggle, you could invest in some revision guides or other educational tools to help. Ask your child’s teacher for recommendations if you’re unsure. When helping with homework, avoid taking over and doing it for them, as the teacher won’t be able to determine which topics to go over again in lessons. Instead, ask your child questions and give them prompts until they reach the answer on their own.
When it comes to grades, don’t set your expectations too high as this will only pile on the pressure. Allow your child to develop and learn at their own pace and don’t be harsh if they don’t get the results you were hoping for. The most important thing is how hard they have tried, so be sure to praise them if you see them studying. Ask them questions about their school day, but not always about the lessons or the grades. Mix it up from time to time and ask them how they spent their lunch break or how their friends are doing. In doing so, you will show your child that you have a keen interest in their life as a whole, not just whether they get good grades.
Try and find ways to subtly turn your family time into educational experiences for your child as a way of supporting their development. When you’re driving somewhere, ask them if they know what makes the car move. If you’re walking in the park, talk about the plants and trees you spot and what happens to them as the seasons change. There are learning opportunities all around us if we only choose to see them!