Parents play a crucial role in their children’s success at school
By staying informed and giving our teenagers the support and attention they need, and even though they are often at this stage of their lives seeking independence, we can help them to shine in their studies.
Involvement in our children’s school life obviously requires a commitment of time. Attending organized events and rubbing shoulders with other parents and teachers at educational assemblies keeps us informed about what’s expected of our students. This makes it easier for us to discuss them with our children, and to keep informed of all the latest developments in the school’s curriculum and operations.
Offering a quiet, dedicated place to work, with fixed daily times for homework and revision, free from distractions (no phones, TV or noise), helps children to concentrate better and complete the required work on time. Be sure to check regularly that he/she is making good progress, and that he/she is not having difficulty with particular exercises, etc. Don’t hesitate to call in qualified tutors if you lack the time and knowledge.
Staying connected with our children’s school also means sharing digital information. School newsletters and websites are often packed with essential information about upcoming events, changes to school programs, activities and more.
A child’s emotional, health and social environment has a direct impact on his or her ability to learn and succeed at school. So make sure your teenager lives in as healthy an environment as possible, goes to bed at a regular and convenient time every night, without screens (it has been scientifically proven that blue light from screens greatly affects sleep quality), gets at least 8 hours of sleep a day, has a balanced diet and eats a nutritious breakfast in the morning. Regular exercise is also essential to clear the mind.
Whether it’s household chores or schoolwork, it’s important to teach your child to get organized, from an early age. Tidying their own room every morning, following a precise preparation schedule, making to-do lists for homework and revision, writing down what needs to be done in a diary… all this within a set timeframe (using the pomodoro method, for example) greatly helps them to see things more clearly and finish, or even go beyond, what is required by teachers.
Although it’s sometimes difficult to get your teenager to talk about what’s going on at school, whether it’s with teachers or classmates, it’s important to find a way of communicating about these subjects on a regular basis, so that you can identify problems, anxieties or just little worries, and then support your child in the best possible way. If the teenager feels that his/her parent is present and interested in his/her success (without pressure), he/she will be more likely to give his/her best and confide in him/her about the problems encountered, so that together we can find the best way forward.
Helping your children to organize themselves and work by being present, even at middle school/high school level, will have a considerable impact on their motivation, and their grades. If you have the time and knowledge, you can offer your teenagers daily tutoring. If not, don’t hesitate to use the services of qualified tutoring centers to give your teenagers the help they need to excel in their studies.