Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Four Important Steps to Take When It Comes to Your Child's Education

By Byron Jonas

All parents want what's best for their children - the best values, the best experiences, the best belongings. What is at the top of that list of "best" wishes is education.

What is highly important in ensuring these elements is education.

As parents, we are highly aware that a solid education is of the utmost importance in rendering our children happy and successful adults. What kids learn in school is vital regardless of age or level.

And though a good education is important, it is not necessarily a guarantee. This is where parents come in. We must play an active role in ensuring that our children receive the necessary formation they need. Not sure how? Take some cues here:

1. Ask for References Requesting references is a practice to be employed at the very beginning, before sending kids to day care or preschool. You must make sure that the institution to which you'll be sending your child to is upstanding in its curriculum and approach. You must also make sure that it is safe. You may ask friends and acquaintances for opinions and thoughts about schools in your area. You may also want to ask the institution itself for a list of references. These people should be able to answer any questions and calm any concerns you may have.

2. Encourage Involvement School is not just about what goes on in the classroom. In fact, many of the most important experiences children get in school comes from extracurricular activities. Encourage your child to get involved in at least one activity - a sport, a club, a student government entity, whatever interests them. There's no need to be too forceful, but let them know how important such activities are. Not only are they great ways to make social connections and learn new things, but they also look great on resumes.

3. Know What's Going On Know what's going on in your child's personal and academic life. There's no need to be a snoop or to make a visit to the principal's office, a simple ongoing conversation will do. Know what classes your kids are taking and ask them how things are going. Offer to help them with homework or hire a tutor if they're struggling - you don't want a little bit of confusion to lead to a failing grade. Find out when parent-teacher conferences are and go to them, and keep lines of communication open at all times.

4. Learn About Your Child You may be surprised to find out how complex of a creature your child really is. Talk to him or her about future plans and dreams, about interests and hobbies and likes and dislikes. Ask your child about what he or she sees in the future. There probably won't be many definitive answers, but he or she is sure to have something in mind. What's important is getting a general conversation going about the future.

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