13 Best Ways To Help Your Child Succeed In School

Finding the best parenting strategies to promote learning in the current high-pressure, high-stakes school environment can be challenging. Meanwhile, recent statistics show that approximately 194,000 UK school children have some learning disorders affecting their ability to learn, memorise information, and develop their sense of competence. Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom if you have a child struggling in school. Here are some of the best ways to support your child’s academic endeavours and success.

1. Prioritise goals over grades

Setting individual and family goals is an effective way to invest in your child’s success in school. You can do this before the start of every month, an academic semester, or year. Yet the important thing is to keep things light and low pressure and focus on supporting your family’s learning rather than focusing on making better grades. You can consider setting short-term, realistic goals to complete tasks and improve individually or as a family. You can’t expect your kids to grow emotionally and academically if you are not doing so yourself. Be sure the goals set are challenging to get everyone out of their comfort zones. 

2. Attend child-parent-teacher conferences

Kids have shown to do better academically when their parents are involved in their school life. Attending your kids’ school programs at the beginning of the academic year is an excellent way to familiarise yourself with their tutors and expectations. Such programs are good platforms for school administrators to discuss policies and programs concerning school life. As a parent, attending parent-teacher events can help you stay informed on new policies about your child’s education. These conferences are usually held once or twice each year, so you can’t afford to miss them. During such programs, you can learn new ways to assist your child in studying and improving academically. Active participation in such programs means your kids will know their actions and behaviours in school will be known. 

3. Volunteer or join parent-teacher groups 

Teachers are excited when their parents volunteer to help out at the kids’ school. You can help in various ways, for example, assist in the school’s library or some classroom activities. You can volunteer to help organise school events. Likewise, some parent groups regularly meet to talk about school-related issues. Groups such as PTA OR PTO offer a good chance for parents to work together to improve the school. If you have some ideas to help other kids or their parents, why not volunteer to assist others, especially the busy parents? 

4. Have a long-term perspective 

Education is a long-term commitment that you can’t expect improvements overnight or regularly. It is best to think about where your child will be in a year or two, or probably more when it comes to their growth and competence, rather than focusing on their daily tests or homework. When something doesn’t work as intended, talk to them about why they should keep their head up and focus on doing better the next time. Be an example. 

For instance, when you have a problem with your work project, you can explain why you enjoy what you do and look forward to making better progress in the future. Your kids can learn something from this and keep going when things get tough in school. 

5. Assists kids create effective routines

Help your kids create a decent routine to do their school work. Creating a set time and good workspace for your kids is crucial, especially when studying in a designated area free from distractions. This can help improve their homework completion to get enough rest and sleep. How much work is assigned to your kid will depend on their learning style, school, and grade. Younger kids may have little or no homework; however, the school may adjust this every year. 

6. Get extra academic support 

Education is one of the best legacies to leave your kids. However, it is not just the education but the quality that matters. If your child is struggling or needs more to succeed, it would be best to consider ways to fill any gaps in their education or learning. Home or private tuition has shown excellent intervention for reinforcing child learning. For instance, if your kids’ struggle in arithmetic and science subjects, you can find online Maths and Physics Tutors to teach them at home. 

7. Regularly visit the school and check their website

Having a good knowledge of the grounds and physical layout of your kids’ school building can assist you in connecting with your kid when talking about the school day. It is vital to know the location of the school’s main office, cafeteria, and other facilities such as gym, swimming pool, auditorium, and so on. Additionally, the school’s website should help with the school’s calendar, any upcoming programs, exams date, and staff contact details. Some teachers also have websites to detail their assignments, class trips and assignments, and other useful resources that can be valuable for parents and kids. 

8. Foster good sleeping habits 

There is no doubt about the importance of getting a good night’s sleep. Good sleep enhances your attention span and improves your physical and mental health to boost your child’s learning abilities ahead of each day. Research shows that kids who sleep well or have a good night’s sleep perform better than those who don’t. But how much sleep is enough? Experts recommend 10 to 13 hours of sleep for kids aged between 3 and 5 years and 9 to 12 hours for those aged between 6-12. If you have kids between 13 and 18, it will be best to ensure they get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. 

9. Provide healthy breakfast before school

A healthy, nutritious meal energises and prepares your kids for the day ahead. Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast are energetic and perform better in school. Meanwhile, kids who eat breakfast are less likely to be absent from school and visit the school nurse or clinic with stomach issues due to hunger. Ensuring your kids’ breakfast contains whole grains, protein, and fibre is vital to enhancing their concentration, memory, and attention span. Since you may have to skip some morning breakfast when running late, make sure to provide fresh fruits, yoghurts, or nuts for your kids. Some schools provide wholesome breakfast alternatives before the first bell. 

10. Make room for mistakes 

Making mistakes is part of the learning curve. While you may fear allowing your kids to learn from the consequences of their actions, it is usually one of the best ways to learn. Make room for mistakes instead of allowing fear to control your situations. Learn when to take a step back, allow your child to take the initiative, and focus on understanding why and how they make decisions. This way, you can properly reach out and help get organised, learning to break down tasks and avoid procrastination. Likewise, it is okay to keep your expectations high. 

11. Be informed and advocate for your child

It is essential to ask questions when something concerns you about your child’s learning or behaviours. Your questions could be about specific problems your kids may be having, let’s say reading. Or how you could assist them through school problems such as bullying or require any extra assistance. Learn your rights as a parent and let your school know about your concerns. You can only be a good advocate for your kids if you know your rights and the best way to tackle any concerns you may have. 

12. Regularly engage your child

While it is essential to regularly talk with your kids, it is best to give them a hearing. It is common to see parents and family members doing all the talking, but how you respond to your kids’ thoughts can foster their language skills and help them do better in school. Make time to talk about your kids about school, what is happening in class and what new material they are reading. Experts say that kids who are not encouraged to talk usually have reading problems, affecting their academic performance. Additionally, kids who aren’t thought to listen carefully can have attention problems in class or have difficulty following instructions. Show your kids you are interested in what they have to say. Ensuring healthy conversations with your kids can help stimulate their language development. 

13. Be solution-driven 

It would be best to focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on your child’s wrong. For instance, if your child misses a deadline or forgets something in school, it is best to communicate with them in a solution-driven way. Likewise, it is best to appreciate that you can’t solve all their problems since your child may require more time to mature and overcome some problems. Give yourself time to work with your child to figure out their challenges and find a solution that works best for them. 

Many parents are figuring out how to help their children succeed in school. It would be best to find the right balance since your child can easily feel overwhelmed and frustrated if you are not doing enough or doing too much. This article can help support your child’s academic efforts.