This article is part of the following topics:   Back to School Building Responsibility & Independence

Good Habits for a Good School Year

Here are things your child can do to get off to a great start this year:

• Set goals. Students who do best in school have both short- and long-term goals. Whether it’s earning an “A” in math or preparing to become a doctor, your child needs goals to keep him on the right track.

• Talk about school every day. When your child knows that you think school is important, she will take it more seriously. To get the conversation flowing, you might ask, “What was the biggest challenge you faced today?”

• Accept the importance of hard work. Many children (and too many of their parents) believe there are some subjects, like math, that can be mastered by only a few bright children. Help your child learn that hard work can lead to mastery of even the most difficult material.

• Take responsibility for some household tasks. Even the youngest child can set the table. Older kids can help prepare meals. Children who learn responsibility at home are good citizens at school.

• Set aside time for homework each day. As a general rule, you should expect ten minutes of homework per day for each year your child has spent in school—so a third grader would spend about 30 minutes on homework. If there are no assignments, your child can read for fun during homework time.

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