One of the key ingredients to a successful student is support from their parents, no matter how oldthey are. Children who feel as though someone close to them, whom they respect, is genuinely interested in their performance at school are far more likely to try harder to succeed. This goes beyond helping them with a few homework questions every once in a while, as explored below by an independent school in Hertfordshire.
Your attitude towards your child’s education and learning in generally will be a strong influencing factor in their performance. If they hear you saying things like “I hated maths at school” then they will see that subject in a negative light. Instead, try and be positive and look for learning
opportunities all around you. Talk about some of the interesting things you’ve read about in the news or discussed with a colleague that day to show your child that knowledge is something to be appreciated.
Try and find some time each evening to have a one-to-one chat with your child in which you ask open questions to find out about their time at school. Ask them which of their lessons they enjoyed the most or if there were any that they found particularly difficult. Find out if there are any upcoming events at the school that they might be interested in taking part in.
Essentially, the idea is to show your child that you are sincerely interested in that side of their life, not just the grades they receive at the end of it. Following on from that, you should also make sure you attend things like
sports day and school plays to show them that you really care about their achievements, both personal and academic. If they know you care, they will feel more inclined to succeed.
Extra-curricular activities are a great way to support your child’s overall development because it’s a chance for them to develop a variety of key transferrable skills. For example, if they learn an instrument, they will develop time management and organisation skills when fitting in their music practise into their already busy schedule. Through sport they will learn how to be a team player and follow instructions from the coach. In drama they will be expected to speak coherently in front of an
orders, helping them with their communication skills. The confidence they develop through these extra-curricular classes will help them understand what they are capable of and allow them to feel more comfortable taking risks and getting involved.
Of course, it’s very difficult to completely guarantee your child’s success in school but getting involved where possible and demonstrating a positive attitude towards learning will certainly help guide them in the right direction.