Helping your child stay the course

As a parent, you can have a big impact on your child’s determination at school. Showing support and interest will help boost their motivation and their desire to succeed. Here are five ways to play a more active role in your child’s education:

• Chaperone field trips
• Attend parent-teacher meetings and parents committee meetings
• Communicate regularly with your child’s teacher
• Check your child’s agenda
• Use the school’s parent portal to stay in touch
• Etc.

If you paint school in a positive light, your child is likely to see it the same way. For example:

• Talk about all the things you loved about school
• Ask your child about their day and find out what they learned
• Explain that school and education are very important to you

Focusing on your child’s strengths and their ability to overcome hurdles can have tremendous benefits. Point out their successes without comparing them to others. Thanks to your positive feedback, they’ll feel more confident and determined.

To encourage your child to stay the course, show them that you believe in them and their abilities. For instance, you can give them certain responsibilities, or try the following:

• Explain that everyone makes mistakes sometimes and that failure is an important part of learning
• Enrol your child in an extracurricular activity so they learn to push their limits
• Encourage your child to finish what they start
• Lead by example and approach obstacles with motivation, determination, and positivity
• Explain the importance of school
• Divide a long or difficult assignment into smaller, easier steps
• Let your child learn at their own pace