Question

What would be your role and contribution in the education and development of your child?

Answer 1

The Role of Parents

Although a parent’s role in their children’s learning evolves as kids grow, one thing remains constant: we are our children’s learning models. Our attitudes about education can inspire theirs and show them how to take charge of their own educational journey.

Be a role model for learning. In the early years, parents are their children’s first teachers — exploring nature, reading together, cooking together, and counting together. When a young child begins formal school, the parent’s job is to show him how school can extend the learning you began together at home, and how exciting and meaningful this learning can be.

Pay attention to what your child loves. “One of the most important things a parent can do is notice her child. Is he a talker or is he shy?

Tune into how your child learns. Many children use a combination of modalities to study and learn.

Practice what your child learns at school. Many teachers encourage parents to go over what their young children are learning in a non-pressured way and to practice what they may need extra help with.

Set aside time to read together. Read aloud regularly, even to older kids. If your child is a reluctant reader, reading aloud will expose her to the structure and vocabulary of good literature and get her interested in reading more.

Connect what your child learns to everyday life. Make learning part of your child’s everyday experience, especially when it comes out of your child’s natural questions.

Connect what your child learns to the world. Find age-appropriate ways to help your older child connect his school learning to world events

Help your child take charge of his learning. “We want to keep children in charge of their learning and become responsible for it,” says Dalton Miller-Jones, Ph.D.

Don’t over-schedule your child. While you may want to supplement school with outside activities, be judicious about how much you let or urge your child to do.

Keep TV to a minimum. “Watching lots of TV does not give children the chance to develop their own interests

Learn something new yourself. Learning something new yourself is a great way to model the learning process for your child.