Did you know that simply being involved in your child's life makes them more likely to succeed in school That's right. Children of involved dads are more likely to get A's. They're also less likely to repeat a grade, be suspended, or drop out of school.
But if you want to give your child the best chance to succeed in school, you must do more than just be involved in their life. You must do certain things that:
- Give your child the structure they need to succeed.
- Show your child how important school is to their future.
Here are 10 ways to do just that!
- Don't let mom do all the work.
- When your child is young, read to them daily.
- Tell your child what you expect and then take a back seat.
- As your child ages, tell them tot ask questions that challenge you and others.
- Encourage your child to do homework in groups and with friends who succeed in subjects your child struggles with, or just needs a little help in.
- Help your child get into classes with good teachers.
- Go to school and class events.
- Get to know other children and parents.
- Ask your boss for time off.
- Join a group that helps parents to become involved.
Some dads leave everything to do with school up to mom. When you are not involved in helping your child with school, it gives your child only one parent to help. If' you're married to mom or you live together, helping with school work, meetings, and events gives mom a break. Getting involved will help your child and your relationship. It takes the pressure off of mom and shows her and your child that you respect her.
Children who learn to read well at an early age are more likely to succeed in school. read aloud to your child and let them pick the book. Read to your child at the same time during the day, such as a couple hours before bed. Keep books in lots of rooms so your child always has access to them. Set an example by reading yourself in front of your child.
Children who succeed have parents who are clear about what they expect of their children. (Don't be shy about expecting good grades.) But children who succeed also have parents who step aside. These parents let their children find their own paths to success. They don't hover over their children.
As long as they show respect, allow your child to challenge you at home. As they become more comfortable challenging you, they'll become more comfortable challenging others, such as teachers. Asking a lot of questions that challenge other with respect will become even more helpful to your child as they move into higher grades.
A lot of advice on helping your child succeed in school involves helping with homework. While this advice can help when your child is really young, it can backfire later on. One reason is parents are often too far removed from their own schooling to help. they often forget how to do certain forms of higher math, for example, and develop bad grammar and writing habits. Plus, the ways in which subjects are taught today can differ a lot from the ways in which they were taught years ago. A better approach is for your child o study in a group of peers who are exposed to the same teaching approach or with a friend who really gets the subjects in which your child needs help.
More than choosing the right courses, what matters most is who teaches those courses. If your school allows your child to select teachers, do your homework. Ask parents you know whose children have had certain teachers about the quality of those teachers. By the time children get into middle and high school, they often know who are the good and bad teachers.
Go to meetings with the teacher(s), to class parties, to school ball games and plays, and to events that involve the entire school. When dads do these things, their children get better grades and like school more.
Your child will make friends in class(es) and may or may not get along with others. Knowing the children in the class(es), and their parents, will help you talk with your child about the good and not so good things that happen at school. This will help if you need to talk with the teachers about problems between your child and other children that happen over and over again. Invite the children and the parents that you want your child to be around to your home. This may create bonds that last a long time. One of the best things you can do for your child is to help him or her avoid "hanging out" with the wrong crowd.
All of these ideas maybe great, but what if it's hard to get off work? Use benefits, like flextime, that will allow you to get involved. go in a little late and stay a little late if your child has an event in the morning. If it will help you to be more involved, bring your work home and do it after your child goes to bed. Ask the teacher or school for a calendar of events take place. this will help your boss to plan for your absence. Ask to "telecommute" so that you cane take and pick up your child from school.
Become a member of a group, like PTA, that helps parents to get involved in your child's school. This is one of the best ways to make sure that your child's teachers are doing the best they can to teach your child. start a "Dad's Club" as part of the group. the club can create projects and events that help dads to get involved in the school.