Here are some tips for busy
parents who want to be involved with their children:
At dinner, start a sentence the
whole family must finish. For example, “The most interesting thing I learned
today was ...” or “One of the things I did well today was ...” Let everyone
take a turn finishing the sentence and discussing each person’s contribution.
Keep a small pad handy to write
a brief note of thanks to the teacher when your child shows new skills or
excitement about school.
Ask teachers for a good time to
call for 5 to 10 minutes about any specific concerns you might have.
If your child is struggling
with something, resist any urge to blame the teacher. It only strains
relationships, and often delays the constructive resolution of a problem.
Instead, join forces with the
teacher to reach the common goal of helping your child find success. Identify
an area of challenge and then plan together how to overcome it.
Don’t hesitate to ask your
child’s teacher for advice. He or she can help with behavior problems as well
as homework hassles.
Teachers can provide insights
based on their experience. But then it’s
important to make a good-faith effort to follow that advice.
Small steps can often make a
big difference.
