The #2 Key Ingredient for Parents to Help Children Succeed in School
We hear many parents say that it’s the schools job to teach children. I’m not really sure where parents are coming from when they say that. It may be said out of frustration…out of anger…out of the lack of feeling a parent has the any ability to help their children succeed…out of remembering how difficult it was for them as a child. I’m just not sure.
What I am sure of is that, from the moment a child enters this world, parents are their teachers. They are also their biggest supporters…or they should be.
We all know having children did not come with a how to manual. If we had to pass a course in order to become a parent, there would not be many children in this world … because most of us would not “pass†the test. Most of us fly by the seat of our pants when it comes to child rearing…and that is at our best.
Now it’s not our fault. We do our best just as our parents did and their parents did. However, some of us had stronger examples than others…and that is not their fault or ours. It’s just life at its best or worse.
So when it comes to parenting and providing our children with the best possible chance for a successful educational career, we really count on our educators to take care of the bulk of it. Indeed, many of us would be lost when it comes to teaching even the basics.
So what is a parent to do, you say?
Providing a healthy and supportive home environment is one of the most critical things to do for a child. That means not only giving a clean and safe home with healthy food but it means nurturing the child’s inner being. It means teaching them how to love by example, how to respect, how to care for others and how to be a gracious receiver who learns to thank others and gives back to the world.
There are lots of resources out there for those parents who get stuck on one of these basics. All parents have to do is ask for help.
My wish for you today is that you embrace parenthood positively, find ways to be a better parent, and support others you see that may need a little extra support. If we all do our part where we can, this parenting thing might not be hard after all and our children will turn out just fine.
~ Joellen