 Family Life
The Family Journey
Getting Involved in Your Children's Education
Working effectively with your children's schools can make a
big difference for your children. In addition there are many things you can do
to make learning exciting for your children.
Talking helps children learn. Even before children can
understand the words you say, talking to them is a way they learn to connect
with people. Talk with them. Imitate them. As they get older, encourage them to
talk and share ideas with you. Listen to the things they say. Ask questions.
Show an excitement for learning at home. Make your home a
learning place. Read together. Go to the library. Tell stories. Give books as
presents. If you read books and magazines and if you talk about new ideas, it
sends a message to your children: "Learning is important - and fun!"
Learn in many ways. In addition to reading, you can make visits
to interesting places. You can talk with interesting people. You can encourage
hobbies. You can provide your children with drawing materials and building
materials. Provide a combination of learning experiences: hearing, telling,
seeing, touching, doing. Share with your children the exciting things you are
learning in your own life.
Control the TV and movies that your children watch. Be actively
involved in helping them make good choices. Too much TV crowds out reading and
active learning. Draw your children into other activities. (See the unit in this
series: Parenting in a Technological Age.)
Stay in touch with your children's schools. There are a
variety of ways you can help your children do well at school. Go to parent
teacher conferences. Visit with teachers and counselors at your children's
schools when they need extra help. Attend school activities. Volunteer at your
children's schools.
There are times when almost every child has a problem at school.
Work with the schools to solve problems. It takes some patience, but, when you
work with the school, you are teaching your children how to work with other
people in the community.
Provide a good place in your home for each child to study.
Different children have different needs. Some children need a quiet place with
everything organized in one place. Another child may prefer to study at the
kitchen table. Another may plop on the sofa. Help each child find a pattern of
studying that helps him or her learn.
Learning can be a lifelong adventure both for us and for our
children.
Applications:
Talk about interesting things in the car or at dinner. For
example, you might ask, "What do you think are the most important ideas in
the world?" Don't argue with anyone's choices. Invite each person to
make his or her own contribution. Enjoy the different ideas that each person
thinks are important.
Think about the most excited learners you have known. What are
some of the things they have studied? You may want to tell your children about
the excited learners you have known. Or, if possible, you may want to take your
children to visit them.
Help your children appreciate the many subjects to learn about.
Some people love to understand how cars work. Some like to study plants. Some
like to understand history. There are so many things to learn about!
Think of learning outings that you can have with each child. One
child may love going to the library. One may want to go into the woods with a
field guide looking for certain flowers, trees, and bugs. One may want to visit
a factory. Notice what each child is interested in and help him or her explore
that interest.
Invite people who are important to your children to visit your
family and tell about the most exciting things they have learned.
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