Simple ways to help your child succeed in school
- Talk to them every day. Include them in your daily conversations to build their vocabulary skills.
- Have them help prepare meals or go out into the yard to garden. This will help your child with following directions and measuring skills needed for math.
- Have them help fold towels from the laundry. This process can turn into a lesson in geometry and fractions.
- Assign them age appropriate chores around the house. This will build responsibility and self confidence.
- Monitor their television viewing. Include educational viewing such as the History Channel and Nature programs.
- Limit their video gaming time during the school week. Provide them with alternatives like board games or card games.
- Teach your child a skill that requires patience, like knitting or how to play chess.
- Take them to the Library often, with everyone in the family selecting books.
- Read a book together, especially one that is a little above their level. You are modeling good fluency and expression, and your child will be exposed to new vocabulary and hear proper pronunciation of unknown words. Plus they will learn advanced sentence structure, good introductory sentences and closing paragraphs. Talk about what you are reading to build comprehension. This doesn't have to be time consuming, 15 min., twice a week is fine.
- Take inexpensive trips that expand your child's world beyond home and the classroom. A simple trip to the supermarket or the credit union can be a lesson in economics or math. An afternoon at a local park can easily become a lesson in life science or physical science by swinging on a swing or sliding down a slide. Read road signs along the way.
- If your child seems to be struggling in an area, be understanding and reassuring. School is not the same as it was when you were 8.