Parent Involvement in Children Education

Parent Involvement in Children Education

Abstract

Many research finding indicates that the success in children education depends on a combination of efforts from parents and teachers. Studies also show that children assisted by parents often earn better grades. Many educational institutions emphasizes on the need for parents involvement in children education. Children with special needs require parents support more than the other ordinary children. This research paper investigates various methods used by parents to support education of children. The research study emphasizes on the parent involvement in education of children with special needs.

Parent involvement in children education helps improve the academic performance of children especially with special needs.  Studies indicate that getting parents involved in children education lead to the improved performance of children (Avvisati et al, 2010). The main challenge facing education experts involves identification of appropriate strategies and ways that ensures parent involvement in children education. According to education experts, there are several methods of parent involvement in children education. However, the main challenge facing education scholars involves the identification of effective parent involvement method applicable to special educational institutions (Cheung & Pomerantz, 2011).

The effective parent involvement in education refers to the active and regular participation of parents in the education of children. Parents use various methods to get involved in education of children. Among the methods that parents use in children education includes assisting children in home work, reading together with children, discussing various school issues, attending school meetings and providing supportive environment to the children among others (Bacon, 1990). This essay researches on two effective methods that can ensure parents involvement in children education. The two effective methods of parent involvement in children education discussed in the essay include establishment of a daily family routine and expression of high realistic expectations for achievement.

Establishing Daily Family Routine

Family routine refers to the regular pattern characterizing daily activities and existence of families. Routine includes activities such as provision of adequate time of study, provision of favorable environment for study, assigning of responsibility to family members, being strict about bedtime and dining together.  All families look for techniques that can help children succeed in education and life. Research indicates that children develop better behaviors, good health and enhanced performance in schools if their families maintain an effective daily routine (Bacon, 1990).  In modern society, families face difficulties in making decisions between balancing of work and child care.

Effective parenting requires families to establish routines for their children to help children cope up with daily challenges.  Educational experts often advise parents on the importance of maintaining daily routines at homes (Avvisati et al, 2010).  Routines promote the development of children, especially young children. The routines practiced by families change as the child grow. For example, the routine considered appropriate for toddlers may not be effective for children in schools.

Provision of adequate time of study supports children education. Giving children adequate time of study facilitates completion of assignments (Avvisati et al, 2010). Children capable of completing assignment on time prosper in education as opposed to children having unlimited time for studies.  Giving children inadequate time of study leads to lower scores, late submission of assignments or submission of incomplete assignments.

Assigning responsibilities for household chores contributes to improved performance of children.  Giving children responsibilities helps develop positive attitude towards work and other educational tasks (Olmstead, 2013). Assigning responsibilities to children also facilitates learning of responsible behaviors in the society. This enhances academic performance by making children responsible to academic obligations. Household chores also make children to become engaged and busy hence have limited time to engage in unproductive activities that may influence children attitude negatively.

Parent can also enhance the performance of children in school by being firm about bed time and also dinning together with children. When parent maintains strictness about bedtime, children become disciplined and ensure punctuality (Patrikakou, 2008). Maintaining strict time for sleeping improves children organizational behavior. Bedtime should be planned in away that enable children to have adequate rest. This enables children to be alert and fresh during the day and participate actively in classes. On the other hand, children prone of sleeping earlier than required may develop laziness hence affects the performance in schools.  Dining together with children ensures close relationship between parents and children.  This facilitates effective communication between the children and parents hence enables parents to identify challenges affecting children. As a result parents can identify problems faced by children and come up with appropriate solutions.

Expression of High and Realistic Expectations for Achievement

Parents also contribute towards children academic welfare through expression of high and realistic expectation to be achieved. This role requires parents to develop strategies and set realistic goals for children (Hill, 2010). Setting realistic goals develops children ability to accomplish various tasks. This enables children to work hard and achieve specified goals and objectives. Hard work among children results to achievement of better grades in schools.  Children showing hard work towards achievement of specified goals have high chances of performing better.

Motivation also contributes to the improved performance of children. Motivated children work harder in schools. Parent can motivate children through recognition and encouragement based on the children contributions and talents (Hill, 2010). This can be achieved through provision of rewards to children capable of achieving specified goals and objectives. Children can also be encouraged to work harder. Criticizing children for poor performance can cause embarrassment to children and this can make children feel guilty and neglected. This can demoralize the children hence affect academic performance.

Parents can also be involved in children education through informing friends and families about the performance of children. Informing families about the achievement of children makes children proud and develop positive attitude. This ensures hard work by children in schools resulting to better grades. Informing families about the achievement of children also make family members to offer support to children. This helps motivate children for better performance in schools.

References

Avvisati, F., Besbas, B., & Guyon, N. (2010). Parental involvement in school: A literature

review. Revue d’Économie Politique, , 759-778

Bacon, K. H. (1990). Education: Many educators view involved parents as key to children’s

success in school. Wall Street Journal

Cheung, C., & Pomerantz, E. M. (2011). Parents’ Involvement in Children’s Learning in the

United States and China: Implications for Children’s Academic and Emotional Adjustment. Child Development, 82(3), 932-950

Hill, N. (2010). Parent Involvement, education.com, retrieved from

http://www.education.com/reference/article/parent-involvement on November 5, 2013

Olmstead, C. (2013). Using Technology to Increase Parent Involvement in Schools, Techtrends:

Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning, 57(6), 28-37

Patrikakou, E.N. (2008). The Power of Parent Involvement: Evidence, Ideas, and Tools For

Student Success, Center of Innovation and Improvement, DePaul University, United States.

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