The home in a child’s education

THE EDITOR: My years at Corinth Teachers’ College (1976-1978) still serves me in good stead, notwithstanding that since then there has been an explosion of social media. The basics remain the same.

My concern today is the need to remind parents of the impact of home life on the education and eventual success or otherwise of their children. I do proffer some tips.

You want your children to grow up to be healthy, happy, exceptional adults, but for that to happen they need to be properly cared for, guided, loved, disciplined, taught and encouraged along the way.

Parents have the responsibility of encouraging, modelling and reinforcing appropriate behaviour. It is important they understand their role in the development and establishment of these behaviours.

A child’s education starts from home. Parents are the first teachers and have a key role in shaping the child’s character. A balance of home and school education will mould actual learning. Parents need to be a helpful hand in the child’s educational journey and travel with them with true inspiration.

A child’s learning scale is highly related to how they are treated at home. Here are a few ways which parents can help with their children’s education:

Be role models: Children would be easily inspired by what their parents do. So it would be good to be role models in their learning phase. Show them how exciting and meaningful school life can be if they give of their best.

Read together: Children get them a sense of support and confidence by parents doing things with them. It is a good idea to visit the library together and share quality books to help children get additional knowledge.

Oversee children’s activities: It is important to have an eye on your children’s activities in school and at home. Their general habits are closely linked to how they perform in their studies. So give timely advice and correct abnormal behaviour right from childhood and inspire them to be good citizens. Balancing the time between lessons, play time and rest is important for a quality student life.

Provide a pleasant atmosphere: Parents should ensure that children are provided with a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere at home. Don’t create a mess with unnecessary quarrels. Avoid discussing family problems in your children’s presence. If you notice that a child is not performing well or giving less attention to studies, correct that situation from the start. Don’t spoil the child’s peace of mind with ill words; give only constructive criticism if you notice any downsides. Make them understand right from wrong rather than simply blaming them.

Help them with home assignments without actually doing it for them. Help them prepare for exams with good guidance and support. Reward them for good results. Maintain parent-teacher relationships. Don’t skip parent-teacher meetings. Showing interest in your children’s affairs it gives them a good feeling.

Set aside time for your children: As working parents you would be busy with your tight schedules. However, you need to set aside time for your children and don’t leave them “lonely” at home. Monitor and prioritise their learning. Avoid unnecessary trips or functions that can affect their school schedule. Don’t allow them to take unnecessary leave from school for silly matters.

Share your personal experiences: It is good to share some of your school life experiences with your children. This can include positive and negative experiences to help them understand the importance of learning. Inspire them with your success stories to teach them about the importance of hard work and how it pays you back.

Talk with your children: Spend enough time everyday to talk to your children. Learn from them about their concerns and give them moral support for the problems they are facing. Be a good friend. Give your children an opportunity to share what is on their mind and to express their true feelings.

Besides school learning, parents’ active role during their children’s study life can help them to grow up with better social skills and improved behaviour. Many studies have noted the importance of parents’ involvement in their children’s education. Students with good support at home have achieved more success at school and grew up with a greater degree of self-esteem.

CUTHBERT SANDY, Point Fortin