How a Father Can Help Children Succeed at School
Success at school is almost an imperative in today's society. While not all children are destined to academic greatness, and many will find work in careers that require little formal education, the indicators are clear that a good basic education makes future life better.
Fathers want what is best for their children, and we all should be motivated to help them succeed at school. The process of helping them have success in their educational pursuits is a multi-faceted one; an effort which takes a lot of work but bears fruit over a long period of time.
Fathers who want their children to succeed at school should consider these approaches.
Read with and encourage your children to read. There is probably no more important gift a father can give his children than a love of reading if the children are to succeed academically. Virtually every subject at school – even P.E.- is enhanced when a child is a good reader and loves to read. Reading with your preschooler, your elementary age student and your secondary student, and helping them find good books to read, is among the very best things you can do with your child.
Listen and talk with your children. Our children develop language skills first at home as they listen to adults, parents and other family members communicate and share ideas. Involving the children in conversation from their earliest years is one way fathers can help them develop educationally. Talk during the day frequently, and look for teaching opportunities. When you are on a walk, talk about what you see and hear. At the store, you can talk about prices, value, saving and spending. You can, and should, even talk as you watch television about what you are seeing. Or hold a regular family night to have opportunities to communicate together with the whole family. Just talking and listening with focused attention will make a difference.
Control television and video game time. Children seem to be naturally drawn to electronic entertainment. The sights, sounds and colors are so different than their regular world. But allowing these entertainment choices to get out of hand will tend to limit their educational pursuits. So limit the time and circumstances for television, DVDs and video games. You might even try turning off the TV for a week just to see what happens at home. And make sure that you are aware of what they are watching, the movie, television and video game ratings, and how much time they spend at it.
Create a study center. As children enter into their school years, you will want to create a place for them to study and do homework. The study center should be free of distractions and organized so that they can work effectively, but should have room for mom or dad to join them for some of their activities.
Monitor their studies and homework. For our children, we found it helpful to sit down right after their after-school snack to talk about their day and to look through their backpack. We could see the assignments that had been handed back with grades on them. We could talk about upcoming homework assignments and projects. We could get started or make progress on longer-term projects. And most of all, we could help them stay organized, focused and get things turned in on time. Staying on top of their school work and assignments is a big help for all concerned.
Attend parent-teacher conferences. Usually 2 to 4 times a year, schools will schedule parent-teacher conferences where the student, parents and teacher can sit down together and review the student's performance. Make time to get to all of them you can, and be an active participant.
Get involved at school. Whether you take time to volunteer in the classroom, be a member of the PTA or community council, fathers should get involved with the school and its activities. You will get better acquainted with other parents, the teachers and the school administrators, which can be a real advantage to your child when he needs it most. And creating some connections with these important people in your child's school life will help you have a better feel for what is happening at school.
Find help when needed. If your child is struggling at school despite your best efforts with them, it may be time to ask for additional help. Schools will often have tutoring programs. Your local library may have a homework center where children can get specialized homework help. Or if your child appears to have a learning disability, you may want to visit with your family doctor or a school counselor or therapist. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help if needed.
The key thing to remember is to make learning a priority for your child and your family. As you set a good example and focus on your children's success at school, they will come to love learning and, as a side benefit, develop a greater relationship with their father.
"One father is more than a hundred Schoolmasters."
-----George Herbert, Outlandish Proverbs, 1640
