Parental Help at Home
How can I help my child at home?

Many parents ask this question in phone and e-mail conversations as well as during conferences and Back-to-School night. Here is a compiled list of practical information which may be helpful.

• Subscribe to a newspaper. Point out exciting information without forcing it on your child.
• Teach your child the proper way to answer the phone and take messages. Seems simple, but you would be surprised by how few students really know this information. Plus, taking messages is a great writing skill.
• Get a public library card. Bring your child to the library regularly even if it is just to take out a magazine or “books on CD."
• Talk with your child; spend some quiet time together. Evening hours, after homework, even as you are saying goodnight. Children often open up during these times. A long ride in the car also can also work like a charm.
• Enjoy learning about what your child is doing each day. Ask open-ended questions so your child must provide you with information and not just a yes or no answer.
• Give your child responsibility and follow through to see that the job is done. At the same time, try not to be too critical about the job he/she did.
• Be there for your child as he/she learns about to cope with changes during adolescence. Friendships go through massive changes during this time period, for both girls and boys.
• Work on interpersonal skills and friendships. Whenever possible, expand your child’s horizons by allowing him/her to take part in activities outside the local town. An art class in a nearby town could give your child a confidence boost because the usual, small town competitive nature is no longer at play.
• Help them to adjust to peer groups and peer pressures. This step means listening without being judgmental.
• Allow the child to develop his/her own personal interests and abilities. At this point in his/her development, your child begins to take his/her own path. He/she finds interests which are different from yours or what you may have wished for him/her. Allow him/her to become his/her own person. Remember that motivation leads to greater creativity. Allow your child to try a variety of activities in order to find his/her own true self.
• Let your child gain a greater sense of responsibility. Slowly, allow your child to be accountable for his/her behavior, time management, and overall decisions. Continuing to speak for your child and covering for him/her only prevents the realization of the consequences of his/her actions.
• Encourage your child to keep trying when faced with a challenge. Try not to let him/her quit. Remind your child that you and the teachers are ready to provide extra help.
• Help your child to set realistic goals; work towards those goals systematically. No matter what the goal, remind your child that the journey is as important as attaining it.
• Allow adolescents some freedom, yet stay very involved in their lives. We all learn through experience, and sometimes, failure is the best teacher.
• Praise your child for contributions to family, school, and community. This step conveys a belief in his/her accomplishments and helps to build a positive self-image.