AFTERSCHOOL STARTS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH AT ALL SCHOOLS!
YOUR ROLE AS A PARENT
Although a parent’s role in their children’s learning evolves as kids grow, one thing remains constant: we must model how our children learn. 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 their journey in 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. As preschoolers grow into school age kids, parents become their children’s learning coaches. Through guidance and reminders, parents help their kids organize their time and support their desires to learn new things in and out of school.
Tune into how your child learns. Many children use a combination of ways to study and learn. Some learn visually through making and seeing pictures, others through tactile experiences, like building block towers and working with clay. Still others are auditory learners who pay most attention to what they hear. By paying attention to how your child learns, you may be able to tap his interest and explain tough topics by drawing pictures together, creating charts, building models, singing songs and even making up rhymes.
Most importantly, be involved in your child's technology use. Although your child doesn't NEED your help with using technology, it's extremely important to be involved with their use. Children are reactive individuals without the innate ability to think through their choices. They often share information online that they wouldn't share in a face-to-face encounter. Would your child open the door to your home, their bedroom and allow complete strangers to wander around? Absolutely NOT! But children will open their posts, pics, and locations to the public without hesitation. As parents, you need to oversee their postings, make sure they aren't accessible to strangers, and make sure they know how to act appropriately online. Technology is a tool, not a babysitter. Make sure this tool is used wisely and carefully, especially when your child is involved.
PARTIAL SOURCE: PBSPARENTS
