Involved Parent Article Archive

Talking With Your Child About School

• Have a Conversation About School - Get beyond one-word answers and find out what your child really thinks and feels about school.
• Bullying: How Parents Fight Back - Kids are often reluctant to talk about bullying. Here’s how to spot it and what to do if your child is a victim.
• If Your Child Is the Bully - What to do when the school says your child has been involved in bullying.
• 20 Questions To Ask Your Child - Finding out how things are going in your child's life sometimes takes a bit of strategizing. These tips and questions can help you get the conversation started.
• 10 Questions About Your Child and School - The more you know about how your child deals with challenges and what's expected of him, the better you'll be able to help him achieve. Start by asking these key questions.
• Back-to-School Parent Homework - A little preparation before school starts can make it an A-plus year for the whole family.
• Homework Rules for the Whole Family - Set basic homework ground rules for your children and make homework easier for the whole family.
• What If Your Child Doesn't Like a Teacher? - When children are very young, they usually adore their teachers. But as they get older, they may find there’s a particular teacher they just don’t like.
• Would You Know If Your Child Had Trouble Learning? - You don’t need to wait for a bad report card to come home to find out your child is having trouble in school.
• Dealing With Student Frustration - “I hate school!” “Math stinks!” “I’m dumb!” Statements like these are often signs of a child who’s frustrated with his schoolwork.

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Communicating With the Teacher

• 7 Things To Tell the Teacher - Sharing key information about your child can help teachers make a connection.
• Talking With Teachers About Student Progress - Don't wait for the report card to find out how your child is doing in school; a veteran principal offers tips for parents to keep in touch all year long.
• Teacher's Tips: How Parents Can Help - Practical advice for working with your child’s teacher.
• 10 Questions About Your Child and School - The more you know about how your child deals with challenges and what's expected of him, the better you'll be able to help him achieve. Start by asking these key questions.
• Find Out Now About Teacher Homework Policies - Many parents are surprised when they get a note from a teacher wondering why their son hasn’t done his homework. That’s because he keeps telling mom and dad that the teacher rarely assigns homework.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Your Child’s Teacher Questions - Parents who have good information are better equipped to help their children with the learning process.
• When Should You Write a Letter to School? - There are lots of reasons to communicate with your child’s school.
• What if Your Child Doesn’t Like Her Teacher - In the best of all worlds, every child would love every teacher. But in reality, sometimes a child and a teacher just don’t click.
• Tip: Get to Know Your Children’s Teachers Early - First impressions are crucial. The first contact you make with your child’s teachers can set the stage for the rest of the year.
• Does Your Child Show Signs Of Learning Disabilities? - Parents are often the first to notice that their child has a learning disability.

View all 'Communicating With the Teacher' articles.

Get Involved at School

• 25 Ways You Can Make a Difference - Being involved in your children’s education can be as simple as asking them about their school day or as bold as volunteering once a week for lunchroom duty.
• 5 Reasons To Get Involved - Higher grades and better behavior are just a few of the benefits of parent involvement.
• One Last Dance With My Daughter - A mom writes movingly about what it means to be involved in her child's school and education. A must-read for any parent who has ever thought about volunteering at school.
• "It’s Worth Every Minute" - Helping your children succeed in school and beyond is easy. Just get involved.
• Back-to-School Quiz - The transition from summer fun to school rules can stress out kids and parents alike. Take our quiz to see what your future holds: happy days or high blood pressure!
• 10 Tips for Middle School Parents - Ways to stay involved in your child’s education—even when she’d rather not have you around.
• 11 Tips for Kindergarten Parents - Simple ways to get involved and make a difference for your child and the school.
• MySpace and Facebook: What You Should Know - Social networking sites keep growing in popularity. Here are 10 things to get parents up to speed.
• Get Ready for Kindergarten - Ease the stress on that momentous first day of kindergarten and prepare your child for success in the year ahead.
• Moving Up to Middle School - The step from elementary to middle school can be a big one, but these tips will help ease the transition for both parents and children.

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Inspiration for Parents

• A Dad Who Makes a Difference - He volunteered for his son but became a role model for the entire school.
• A New Year, A New Adventure - One mom's look at the excitement and pitfalls of back-to-school time—for parent and child alike.
• Inspirational Moms and Dads - Through big deeds or small, these five parents volunteered their talents and left a lasting impression at their children's schools.
• Jane Kaczmarek on Being a Real-Life Mom - Malcolm in the Middle mom talks about the importance of education and limiting TV time.
• One Last Dance With My Daughter - A mom writes movingly about what it means to be involved in her child's school and education. A must-read for any parent who has ever thought about volunteering at school.
• "It’s Worth Every Minute" - Helping your children succeed in school and beyond is easy. Just get involved.
• Single Dad Makes School a Priority - Despite his busy work week, this father is a known presence at school—and reaps the benefits for his children.
• My Life as a Volunteer - Spending time in her children’s classrooms brings a mom joy, insight, and unexpected rewards.
• Crafty Parent Shares Her Talents - Sharon Johnston has always loved crafts. Now she’s passing on her passion to the students at her daughter’s school.

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Choosing a School

• How To Choose a New School - Make the search process easier with a few simple guidelines, plus some dos and don’ts for parents to keep in mind.
• School Transfer Checklist - If your child will be starting at a new school, make sure you’ve gathered the documents required for the enrollment process.
• Subsidized Lunch: What the Numbers Mean
• Student-Teacher Ratio: What the Numbers Mean

View all 'Choosing a School' articles.

Dads

• A Dad Who Makes a Difference - He volunteered for his son but became a role model for the entire school.
• Parents Are Teachers, Too - Use these simple ideas to reinforce learning at home and develop your child’s academic skills.
• Single Dad Makes School a Priority - Despite his busy work week, this father is a known presence at school—and reaps the benefits for his children.
• How Dads Can Help - When fathers get involved, children do better in school. Here are some simple, effective ways that dads can make a difference.
• Both Parents Can Remain Involved in Child's School - About half the children in school today will spend some time living in a single-parent family. But often, both parents want to remain involved with their children's education.

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Building Self-Esteem

• Simple Things Can Build Your Young Child's Self-Esteem - You can do more to boost your child’s self-esteem when he is between three and six than perhaps at any other time until the teen years.
• Help Your Child Learn To Handle Problem Solving - A child who learns to solve her own problems begins to think she can do anything.
• Talk With Your Child About All The Things That Make Her Special - All adults and children have qualities that make them special, and it’s important to talk about them together.
• Build Your Child’s Self-Confidence, Teach About Trust - Throughout childhood, kids learn about trust from their parents.
• Strong Self-Esteem Helps Prepare Children To Succeed in School - One of the most important ways to prepare children for school is to help them feel good about themselves.
• Make Sure You Are Noticing the Things Your Child Does Right - It is so important that parents take time to recognize his successes, his attempts and his good behavior, too.
• Show Your Child You Love Him by Making February Special - How to make Valentine's Day special for kids.
• Giving Attention Is Another Way To Recognize Your Child’s Efforts - What children really need is acceptance. The best way to give this is to give your child your full attention.
• Celebrate Children’s Successes by Dedicating Special Dinners - When children succeed, they should feel proud of themselves.
• Take Pride in Your Child’s Achievements To Boost Self-Esteem - Your child will feel good about himself if he knows that you and other loved ones value him and what he can do.

View all 'Building Self-Esteem' articles.

Building Responsibility & Independence

• Create a Wish List, Play Games When Your Child Wants It All - Are the holidays over, but your child still has the “gimmes”?
• Even Young Children Need to Learn To Face Consequences - Punishing children isn't the best discipline.
• Take Time Daily To Teach Your Child Responsibility - Teaching your child to be responsible is not a single skill that you can demonstrate in a short period of time.
• Simple Steps Can Help Make Chores Productive - Giving children household duties is important because it prepares them for future responsibilities.
• Prepare Young Children To Be Responsible Members of the Community - Children are more successful in school if they are prepared to be responsible members of the classroom community.
• Teach Preschool Children to Ask Before Taking - Almost every preschool-age child will, at some point, take something that does not belong to him.
• Teach Good Habits During National Nutrition Month - March is National Nutritional Month.
• Boost Your Child’s Responsibility for Success in School - Encouraging your young child to become more autonomous now will pay off later.
• Use Chores to Teach Your Child Responsibility, Important Skills - Some experts say giving children responsibilities does more than just help them become self-reliant.
• Simple Chores Can Teach Even Young Children Responsibility - You probably know that helping around the house does wonderful things for a child.

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Behavior Issues

• Parents & Schools Should Work Together on Problems - Very rarely will a child go through school without ever breaking a rule.
• Sometimes . . . Behavior Can Be More Than Just a Phase - When your kids do something that drives you crazy, it’s tempting to excuse their behavior as “just a phase.”
• Attending School Will Help Your Child Avoid Trouble - Your child’s education can open a world of possibilities, but walking through the school door is the first step.

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Building Social Skills

• Ask Your Child Questions When Problems Arise - No matter how well-behaved children are, they’re bound to disagree at times.
• Group Activities Are Good for Preschooler Interaction, Learning - Play groups are wonderful because they give children— and parents—the chance to interact.
• Your Child’s Social Skills Will Change Fast in These Early Years - As babies grow into toddlers, their social skills improve dramatically.
• Make Sure You Do Not Allow Your Child to Learn Violent Behavior - Violence is one of the scariest problems in society today, especially for parents.
• Use a Kitchen Timer to Teach Your Child About Sharing - It’s not easy for young children to share.
• Talk About, Practice Politeness With Your Child - All parents want their children to be polite.
• Learning to Make Friends Can Be A Long, Hard Process for Some - As children move from just playing alone, to playing side by side, to actually playing together, there will be some conflicts.
• Don’t Dominate Your Child’s Playtime—Just Play for Fun - Children learn so much when they play with their peers.
• Give Your Child Plenty of Practice Sharing, Waiting & Taking Turns - Once in school, your child will be expected to share toys and materials, let others go first sometimes, and wait until the teacher calls on her before she gets help or attention.
• Praise & peers can help your preschooler learn social skills - Help your child improve her social skills by giving her opportunities for social interaction.

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Character Development

• Board Games Help Children Focus, Follow Rules - Most kids are ready to start playing board games from preschool age on up.
• Use Everyday Opportunities To Teach Respect - Showing people respect isn’t just a nice thing for kids to do. It’s a principle to live by.
• Encourage Your Child To Be Caring in All Actions - Caring, showing concern and kindness for others, is important to instill in your young child.
• Everyday Activities Teach How To Be Generous - Now that your child has left the selfish toddler years behind, he is ready to learn to consider another person’s feelings, wants and needs.
• Teach Your Child How To Share With Family & Friends - Show your child that it’s fun to share with friends and family.
• Teach Your Child Values With Gifts From the Heart - Teach your child to give as well as receive.
• Prepare Young Children To Be Responsible Members of the Community - Children are more successful in school if they are prepared to be responsible members of the classroom community.
• Teach Your Child the Value Of Hard Work, Perseverance - Help your child learn to work hard and persevere.
• Make Resolutions To Bring Out the Best in Your Child - Resolutions that are virtually guaranteed to evoke better behavior from your child.
• Prepare for Teen Years by Teaching Your Values Now - How can you teach your values while still allowing your child to be with others?

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Motivating Your Child

• Inspire Your Child With the Story of a Hero - The stories you tell your children can help inspire them to do their very best.
• Reward Children for Doing Homework Without Nagging - Looking for a way to motivate your child to do homework without nagging? Borrow a spinner from a children’s game and create incentives.
• Everyday Ways To Make Homework Meaningful - Every time kids sit down to do their homework, they ask the same question: “Why do I have to learn this, anyway?
• Be a Cheerleader During Homework Time - When children get frustrated with homework, parents often take a “get tough” attitude.
• Success Comes from Effort, Not Merely Ability - "Smart is not something you just are.
• Try a Morning Tape to Help Get That Slow-Starter Going - After many tears and much morning turmoil, Rolling Meadows, Illinois, single mom Bonnie Edwards invented a fun way to get her eight-year-old ready for school on time: a “portable mom” in the form of a cassette tape.
• Help Your Child Bounce Back From Self-Doubt - Even the most positive kids go through stages of self-doubt.
• Parent & Child Summer Activity Calendar - June: 1.
• Try These Tips to Help Your Child Do Better on Tests - You may still have nightmares about having to take a test in school.
• You Can Make Sure Your Child Starts the Year Right - You've bought new pencils and paper for your child. You've checked to see that her shoes still fit. You've showed her where to catch the bus. But there are other important things you can do to make sure your child gets off to a good start this year.

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Motivating Your Teen

• Make advice easier to take with three pluses and a wish - Sometimes we need to give our teens advice.
• How Parents Can (and Can’t) Help Teens Writing Term Papers - Your teen has to write a term paper.
• Mentoring Can Be a Rewarding Summer Project for Your Teen - Few things are more important than providing children with good role models.
• You Can Help Your Teen Bring a Disappointing Grade Back Up - The first grading period has come and gone.
• Setting Goals is The First Step in Reaching Them - People who have goals are more likely to meet them.
• Most Successful Teenagers Believe In Working Hard - You can make your own luck.
• Teens who focus on dreams put effort into schoolwork - Motivate your teen to work harder in school by helping her focus on her dreams.
• What Do Today’s Teens Need Most to Become Successful? - Many parents wonder what teens need most to make it in today’s world.
• Teens Who Are Bored at School Need Enrichment - Sometimes a very bright teen will lose interest in school.
• Motivate Your Teen to Succeed In the Classroom & in Real Life - Whether your teen wants to earn a place on the honor roll, skate in the Olympics or get a summer job, he may need a boost in motivation.

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School & Student Safety

• Teach Your Child To Be Safe, Responsible on School Bus - That ride on the school bus takes your child on a ride toward independence as well as to the school building.
• Parents Can Help Teachers, Children Keep Schools Safe - Parents are scared when they read about school violence.
• A School Bus Safety Lesson Could Save Your Child’s Life - Each day, school buses take millions of children safely from home to school and back again.
• Keep Your Child Safe on the Way to, Home From School - Regardless of whether your child walks or bikes all the way to school or just to a bus stop, you want her to stay safe.
• Parents Can Help Make Schools Safe By Talking, Acting - Media coverage of violence in schools makes parents anxious about their children’s safety in class every day.
• Be Aware of Possible Bullying Behavior - Experts say many parents and teachers seem unaware of bullying behavior. Yet 10 percent to 15 percent of school-age children are regular victims of a peer’s teasing, swearing and hitting.
• Help End Bullying at School - Parents often think bullying is just a part of life. But it should be taken seriously. Bullied children become anxious. Some end up not wanting to go to school.
• Stay Informed, Keep Your Teen Out of Gangs - If gangs do not exist in your community, consider yourself lucky.
• Offer Your Services to Promote A Safe School for All Students - It’s a fact. Schools are still among the safest places teens can be. But school safety doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when parents, staff and students work together.
• Don’t Let Prom Night Be the Last Night for Your Teenager - For too many teens, the prom means more than a formal dress and a corsage.

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Setting Expectations

• Do Weekend Homework Early - Many teachers assign homework over the weekend.
• Why Do Some Children Always Forget Homework? - There are some kids who always seem to forget to bring home their homework.
• Combat Sloppy Homework Habits - Once children develop the fine motor skills to write neatly, there’s no excuse for sloppy homework.
• Establish a Daily Homework Philosophy - Teachers assign children homework as early as kindergarten.
• Daily Homework Rituals Reduce Hassles - Homework rituals help children regroup and prepare for their study sessions.
• Help Your Child Establish a Homework Habit - If your child hasn’t kept regular homework routines in the past, now is the time to start.
• Ideas To Help Your Child With Homework - Homework can help children master new skills. It can also give them a chance to go beyond what they learned in class.
• Find Out Now About Teacher Homework Policies - Many parents are surprised when they get a note from a teacher wondering why their son hasn’t done his homework. That’s because he keeps telling mom and dad that the teacher rarely assigns homework.
• Make Homework Time More Productive - The beginning of a new school year is the perfect time to create positive homework habits.
• Help With Homework Without Doing It - “Mom, what’s the capital of South Dakota?” your child yells from his desk. Without even thinking, you answer: “Pierre.”

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Emotional Issues

• STAR Method Helps Children Deal With Disappointment - Four steps that can give your child a way to feel in control, even during a hard time.
• Dealing With Student Frustration - “I hate school!” “Math stinks!” “I’m dumb!” Statements like these are often signs of a child who’s frustrated with his schoolwork.
• Treat Morning ‘School-itis’ With Firmness, Understanding - When your child starts off the morning saying, “I don’t want to go to school,” and you know he really isn’t sick, he might have “school-itis."
• Parents Can Help Children Deal With ‘School Phobia’ - Your child is supposed to be leaving to catch the school bus. Instead, he’s sitting on the living room floor like a rock. He refuses to go to school.
• Is it a Good Idea to Let Your Child Skip a Grade? - A child who learns quickly can face as many problems in school as a child who struggles.
• Angry Reactions Can Be Controlled - Everyone feels angry sometimes, but not everyone expresses anger the same way.
• Recognize & Help Your Child Get Through a Crisis Situation - One of the sure things in life is that every child will go through some crisis.
• Five Steps Help in Raising an Emotionally Smart Teenager - Children who recognize and control their emotions perform better in school.
• Watch Out for the Summertime—or Anytime—Blues - There are many signs of depression: sadness, pessimism, eating and sleeping problems, irritability, inability to concentrate.
• Take action if your child refuses to attend school - When you woke your child up for school this morning, her stomach hurt.

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