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Rules of Engagement: Stability of School Age and Socialization (6–9 Years)
If only we could weave a magical tool that could significantly boost your child’s school age performance, would you be willing to go to that extent?
For years, experts have emphasized parental involvement as a crucial factor surpassing others, be it the student’s background, school type, or socio-economic status. Research has consistently highlighted the profound impact of positive relationships between schools and families.
Students whose parents actively engage in their education tend to have improved behavior and attendance, higher grades, excellent social skills, and better adaptability to the school environment. Beyond its immediate benefits, parental involvement lays a stable foundation for a lifelong love of learning, a key element in ensuring long-term success.
Let’s explore the dynamic role we as parents play in boosting our children’s self-esteem and how we can cultivate a genuine love for learning.
What Does Parental Involvement Mean?
Parental involvement refers to how we team up with our kids’ schools to help enhance their academic achievements. Studies consistently highlight our critical role in our child’s school success.
From those easy after-school chats, helping them with homework, and engaging in extracurricular activities to staying in the loop with academic progress, joining parent meetings, and showing up for school events, there are a handful of ways you can connect and collaborate with the school to paint a brighter picture for your kids.
For decades, research from around the world has shown that parents’ involvement in and engagement with their child’s education—including through parent-teacher conferences, parent-teacher organizations, school events, and at-home discussions about school—can lead to higher student achievement and better social-emotional outcomes.
Education Week
Why Is It Important To Get Parents Involved in School?
When it comes to academics, the impact of parental involvement makes a world of difference in early education outcomes. Building strong connections with other families empowers them to reinforce school learning by helping set routines and expectations at home.
Once a single parent of a beautiful and curious daughter, I recognize family diversity – they each have unique challenges. However, I also understand that, despite the potential obstacles, parents will always be eager to support their kids.
Here are a few reasons why parental involvement in academics matters:
A Win for the Student
Children thrive when their parents are actively involved in their education. Studies show that involvement helps elevate their test scores, boost grades, and propel them through high school and college.
Beyond academics, parental involvement sparks self-confidence and motivation while refining their social skills and classroom behavior. Classrooms with engaged parents are less likely to battle low self-esteem and shine brighter than everyone else, spreading the benefits to practically every student in the group.
Positively Affects Your Child’s Behavior
According to research, only good things happen when parents get involved in their kids’ education. Not only does it improve a student’s attendance, but it also works wonders for their social skills and behavior.
Researchers tracked kids’ academic and social development from first to fifth grade in one study. They noticed that when the level of parental involvement went up, student problem behaviors went down, and social skills soared.
Research also found that children with highly involved parents showed better “social functioning” and fewer behavioral hiccups. The more we hover over their academics, the brighter the path of our kids.
Inspires Kids to Pursue Higher Education
Studies consistently show the positive impact of parental involvement in education, proving that it boosts a student’s performance regardless of race, ethnicity, or family income. The same study reveals that fewer students repeat grades, increased participation in advanced courses, and reduced dropout rates when parents actively engage in their children’s education.
Brings a Host Of Benefits To Teachers
When parents jump into their children’s education, it is not just the kids who benefit – teachers get some perks, too. With parental involvement, teachers find themselves armed with more information about each student. It helps educators prepare better and makes them confident to take academic leaps, all thanks to the reassuring support from parents.
Ways To Actively Engage Your Child’s Education
The list of benefits above shows that being an active part of your child’s education is crucial. However, not all schools naturally foster high-quality parent involvement. Sometimes, it falls on parents and community members to create such an environment.
Whether collaborating with teachers in the classroom or extending support beyond school boundaries into the home, here are a few tips that may lead to significant improvements in your kid’s school academic experience.
Make Parent-Teacher Conferences A Priority
We totally get it – life can be a whirlwind of work, parenting, and everything in between. Still, if there’s a chance, carve out some time for those all-important parent-teacher conferences. They are your golden opportunities to ask questions and voice any concerns about your little one’s education.
Get Involved as a Volunteer at Your Child’s School
Juggling your schedule to volunteer at your child’s school might seem impossible, but when the opportunity pops up, grab it! Give your kid’s teacher a heads-up about your availability, and let the enthusiasm flow. Whether you’re tagging along on that field trip to the water park, pitching in at the school fair, or keeping an eye on the lunchroom, your little one will appreciate and value such active participation.
Take Part in Parent Groups
If you’re unsure about getting involved in your child’s education or want to make a bigger impact, think about joining a parent group. From those laid-back gatherings with friends or an association linked to the Parent-Teacher Association, these groups offer parents a chance to shape local school decisions positively and create enduring community connections.
Keep an Eye on Your Child’s Schoolwork
Take a peek into your child’s backpack, and you’ll likely find it crammed with papers and projects. Chatting with your child about what’s in there is always a good idea because there might be due dates or some tricky homework they’re struggling with. Regular monitoring of their schoolwork gives you chances to celebrate their successes, offer a helping hand, and give them extra encouragement.
Work Together
For kids, tackling homework solo and knowing that their friends are out having a good time can be a real downer. I made it a point to sit down with my daughter during homework time and turn a seemingly ‘uneventful’ task into a chance to bond.
While my wife would often nag us that it makes it more difficult for my little girl to focus, we enjoy the challenge of working through problems together and making it a shared experience.
Spend Time Reading to and With Your Children
Studies have proven that reading to your little one every day in their early years can work wonders for their future reading and cognitive skills. Take turns reading bedtime stories, enjoying a tale in the car, or hanging out at the library; just find what clicks for your family.
A study categorizes parental involvement into two main types: home-based and school-based. Home-based involvement includes activities like helping kids with homework, talking about school, and providing a structured environment for learning. School-based involvement encompasses helping at schools, participating in school activities, and interacting with teachers and staff. This review also discusses the outcomes of learning, defining them broadly to include both academic achievements and attitudes
Explore Supporting Activities
Parents, take note of how your child learns best. Do they find traditional pencil-and-paper assignments more challenging? Are they more into hands-on or game-based activities? If math is a bit of a struggle, why not try turning it into something fun? Because contrary to what most kids believe (my daughter included), learning can be a blast!
Turn Everyday Activities Educational
Who says learning ends when school does? In fact, the everyday things you do with your kid can be a chance to pick up something new, minus the whole ‘classroom’ vibe. For instance, I used to challenge my daughter to build the tallest and sturdiest tower using her building blocks.
Try having your child measure ingredients while whipping up a batch of cookies or sneaking in a lesson on force and gravity while tossing a ball around. Just remember that learning never stops, and it doesn’t have to feel like schoolwork all the time.
See Yourself as Someone Your Kids Look Up to
Believe it or not, we are the biggest influencers in our children’s lives. That’s why keeping a positive vibe about school and learning is important.
Remember that if parents often share negative feelings about school, kids might start thinking that learning skills are something you’re just born with and academic success is all about being a natural whiz.
Why is Self-Esteem Important?
When kids feel good about themselves, they also gain the confidence to tackle new challenges. It pushes them to proudly showcase their skills and encourages them to keep trying even when they fail. Self-esteem makes them feel better at home, at school, and even with friends.
On the flip side, imagine if your kid’s self-esteem hits a low. This is when uncertainty slowly creeps in, and they might shy away from everyone, thinking they don’t fit in. Coping with mistakes is not their strong suit; standing up for themselves gets tricky, and they give up on their challenges easily.
As parents, our words and actions significantly affect how our kids see themselves. Your tone, body language, and every little expression – believe me, they absorb it all.
Here are several ways you can help if your little one’s self-esteem could use a pick-me-up:
Hands-On Learning
For a baby, the feeling of holding a cup or wobbling those initial steps sparks a sense of understanding and pure delight. As our kids grow, every new skill, from learning how to put on their dress to learning how to ride a bike, are opportunities for self-esteem to flourish.
Start by acting as their guide, demonstrating and offering helping hands. Eventually, you have to let them take the reins, even if they stumble along the way. It’s not just a process but a critical chapter on their road to developing self-esteem.
Make sure your kids have the space to learn, try, and soak in that proud feeling. When presenting new challenges, try to find that sweet spot where it’s not too easy yet not too tough.
I remember telling my daughter to always give it her best shot, all while emphasizing the beauty of imperfection. I would constantly remind her that it’s all about the effort and the joy of going through the process.
Cheer Their Efforts at School Age
Don’t just praise the end result or the qualities (like getting an A or being smart or athletic). Instead, high-five the hustle, the progress, and their awesome attitude. Tell your child how pleased you are when you see them working hard on a school task, getting better at painting, or when you’re impressed with their dedication to learning a sport.
This type of praise boosts their confidence and nudges them to put their hearts into things, chase their dreams, and always give it all.
Lead By Example
When you tackle everyday tasks like whipping up their favorite meal or washing the dishes enthusiastically, you are not just adulting but setting a good example for your kids. Through your attitude, they pick up on your effort in doing their homework, the care you take in tidying up toys, and the energy you show in making the bed.
But it’s not just the tasks. It’s the eagerness and patience you bring to the table. No grumbles or complaints, please, just that can-do spirit. When you don’t rush through chores and actually relish a job well done, you are not just teaching responsibility but also showing them the value of dependability.
Steer Clear of Being a Critique
Words can be very powerful, especially when they land on young ears. What they hear shapes how our kids see themselves. Avoid using harsh words (like calling them lazy), as it can greatly hurt their self-esteem.
When corrections are required, make sure you bring patience to the table. Rather than dwell on what went wrong, focus on what they can do better next time. And, if a little demo is needed, show them. Positive vibes and constructive guidance are the way to go.
Highlight Their Strengths
Keep an eye on the things your kids are good at. Provide them with opportunities to fuel their passions. Shine the light on the things they do well rather than where they struggle. Celebrate their wins, big and small, and watch that positive energy do wonders.
Try this: Each night before bed, I ask my little girl to say her three favorite things that went down that day. It’s like an end-of-the-day dose of positivity that helps them see the good in people and, most importantly, themselves. Before you know it, they’ll spot all the silver linings in their world.
Encourage Supportive Friendships
Tell your kid that the best pals they’ll ever find are those who treat them right, giving them a lift with their words and actions. Tell them to keep away from those who bring others down.
Encourage your child to seek friends who let them be their selves. And why not toss in a little challenge by inspiring them to be that awesome friend for others, too?
Teach Them How to Lend a Hand
Watch their self-esteem bloom when they realize their actions make a difference for others. Whether walking the dog, working on a group school project, or helping care for a sibling, every act of kindness becomes a self-esteem booster. Helping others and acts of kindness are sure to build self-esteem and other good feelings.
Our role is to promote academic interest and self-esteem
When schools invite parents to get involved, it’s important to teach parents to back their kids in all the right ways. The support we, as parents, give, no matter how little, isn’t just a ticket to academic excellence but boosts their overall physical and mental well-being.
Keep in mind that the stronger the family ties, the more healthy habits. By working together, schools and parents become an invaluable support group for the young ones, creating a safety net that goes way beyond just textbooks and assignments.
Keep an eye out for the upcoming release of Maggie’s latest book, which offers an in-depth exploration of the art of establishing effective routines in child-rearing. This book is packed with practical advice and relatable experiences, making it an essential read for those looking to enrich their parenting skills and create a nurturing environment for their children’s development.
Moreover, there’s a unique opportunity for those eager to get an early glimpse and contribute their perspectives. You can subscribe to receive an advance copy of Maggie’s book. This is your chance to provide valuable feedback and help refine a guide that aims to be a cornerstone for parents and caregivers. Being part of this early review process will directly influence positive change in child development practices.
Don’t miss this opportunity to shape a resource that promises to impact the parenting journey profoundly. Subscribe now for an advance copy and join a community that fosters positive child development!
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