How Can Parents Positively Influence Their Children’s Education
Parental involvement is a crucial success factor that transcends nearly all others, including socioeconomic status, student background, and the type of school a student attends, according to research conducted over many years.
According to research, it all depends on how much schools foster positive relationships with families and vice versa. Students who have parents who are actively involved in their education exhibit better attendance and behavior, get better grades, exhibit better social skills, and adjust to school better.
Involvement of the parents helps young students develop a lifelong love of learning, which is crucial for long-term success, according to studies.
The National PTA in America discovered a generation ago that three specific parental behaviors—which transcend family income and social standing—are the most accurate predictors of student achievement:
- creating a home environment that encourages learning;
- communicating high, yet reasonable, expectations for achievement; and
- staying involved in a child’s education at school
Research has found that the earlier educators establish family engagement, the more effective they are in raising student performance.
Parental involvement and involvement in the classroom both support student success, but they differ in key ways that matter.
The path to engagement begins with involvement. It entails taking part in school-related events or activities while receiving learning resources and grade-related information from teachers. Teachers have the primary responsibility for defining educational goals, thus they should be involved.
Teachers may be able to offer advise, but families and caregivers often have important information about their children that teachers may not be aware of. The learning experience of a learner is therefore enhanced when both parties provide their perspectives.
Engagement brings home and school together as a team. Schools empower parents and caregivers by giving them opportunities for active participation, promoting them as significant members of the school community, and removing barriers to engagement.
Numerous studies throughout the years have demonstrated that parental involvement in education enhances student attendance, social skills, and behavior. It also aids in children’s better school adjustment.
In one case, researchers studying children’s academic and social development in the first, third, and fifth grades discovered that increases in parental involvement are linked to less “problem behaviors” and improvements in social skills in the students. Children with highly involved parents also had “enhanced social functioning” and fewer behavioral issues, according to researchers.
Parent positively influence their children’s education leads to benefits teachers as well since it enhances the culture and conditions in the classroom. Knowing more about a student allows teachers to better prepare for class, and knowing that they have the support of their parents gives teachers the confidence they need to take academic risks and encourage students to do their best.