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Don’t Wait For Report Cards! Check-In Now

parent helping child with homework

Do you wait for report card season to find out how your child is doing in school? Unfortunately, this tactic can have adverse effects on a child’s school success. By the time the report card gets to you, it could be too late to solve any problems your child may be having in school.

The longer you wait, the harder it is to recover from learning loss, making it crucial to be a part of your child’s education throughout the year!

BE PROACTIVE ABOUT LEARNING

Why? Parental involvement contributes positively to school success! Parents help shape a positive mindset around school, increase motivation levels and encourage self-discipline. It also helps:

  • To release some of the pressure and stress around grades. Once used to communicate performance, grades are a constant reminder that grades matter.
  • To catch problem areas early and prevent any issues from snowballing into something detrimental to your child’s success.
  • To be an advocate for your child to ensure their education and development needs are met.

IMPLEMENT THESE STRATEGIES TODAY

  1. If your child is starting pre-school, teach them basic reading skills before they start. 
  2. Praise the efforts they make, not solely their achievements. Celebrating overall success releases some of the stress around getting perfect grades. 
  3. Co-operate with the school and get to know their teacher. Opening communication channels between home and school can keep everything progressing smoothly. 
  4. Communicate effectively with your child at home about how they feel about school and if they’re experiencing any problems. This includes discussions about long-term goals for school and life. We have a list of questions here you can use! 
  5. Before assigning blame for bad grades or missed classes, investigate. Usually, there is a deeper reason for poor academic performance. 
  6. Create activities that will help the student complete homework and study for tests.
  7. Set the expectation that school is a priority.

REPORT CARD REMINDER: DON’T MICROMANAGE

Remember, teachers love an involved parent, but there is a fine line before you’re “too involved.” Parents that micromanage their child’s education mean well but can harm autonomy development and pass along the stress to their child.  

Learn the balance between being under- and overinvolved, check-in regularly, and you will create an optimal setting for your child to achieve school success!

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