Families Matter

Thank you to all who attended our Fall Family Nights over the last couple of weeks.  The attendance was amazing and the kids couldn’t have been more thrilled to share their pre-school experience with the most important people in their lives- YOU!  Everyone enjoyed the apple themed crafts and fall activities but the most important lessons may have been a little less obvious.  Here’s what you should know:

 

 

Family engagement in education is a well-researched and much talked about topic these days.  And the evidence is pretty clear: The more parents and families are involved with school and vice-versa, the more successful a child will be.  Not only that, but the earlier it begins, the better.  So getting involved now when your child is in pre-school is most beneficial.

 

But what exactly does family engagement mean?  Unfortunately, most people have a limited view of what family engagement might look like.  Traditionally it has meant volunteering in a child’s classroom or joining the PTA.  Though these are excellent examples, they are only a few of many different possibilities. 

 

Here is a brief list of ways you can become involved in your child’s education and increase your child chances of success:

 

Establish a daily family routine. Examples: Providing time and a quiet place to study, assigning responsibility for household chores, being firm about bedtime and having dinner together.

 

Monitor out-of-school activities. Examples: Setting limits on TV watching, checking up on children when parents are not home, arranging for after-school activities and supervised care.

 

Encourage children’s development/ progress in school. Examples: Maintaining a warm and supportive home, showing interest in children’s progress at school, helping with homework, discussing the value of a good education, staying in touch with teachers and school staff.

 

Encourage reading, writing, and discussions among family members. Examples: Reading, listening to children read and talking about what is being read.

 

Communicate regularly with school staff. Examples: Attending family events and parent-teacher conferences, discussing your child using phone call and notes, being open and willing to work together.

 

Most of all, know that you have the power to make a huge difference in your child’s life.  By actively participating in your child’s education, you are giving your child the best gift of all- A successful future.  And Kidspace is honored to be your partner in this important journey.