Tip: Helping Your Child Excel in School

Reprinted from the September, 2006, newsletter of the Penn Foundation, Behavioral Health Services in Sellersville, Pennsylvania

Summer is over and school has begun. Helping to make the back-to-school transition smoother and to enable your child to excel in school begins in the home with building self-esteem and responsibility. There are many things you can do to help your child build self-esteem and become more self-confident. Here are a few strategies:

  1. Give your child daily or weekly chores-this will help him/her to develop a sense of responsibility and success in doing something well.
  2. Let your child teach you or others; kids love to teach and help.
  3. Encourage your child to become an expert in something that interests him/her; provide opportunities to accomplish this. Let his/her teachers know about his special knowledge.
  4. Play with your child…children learn best (and the most) by playing! Remember to have fun with your child.

Remember that excelling in school is not all about the academics. School is a place to learn, make friends, and participate in arts and sports as well as a place to help children grow. When you take the time to help your child, it can (and does) influence school success. Some tips to encourage success in school are:

  1. Encourage him/her to participate in clubs, sports, art and/or music-whatever fits with your child's interest. Collaborate with coaches and group leaders about your child's learning/emotional difficulties.
  2. Set a study time and stick to it. Involve your child making the schedule. Turn off the TV and radio so there are no distractions.
  3. Be available to help if your child has questions about his/her homework. If you do not know the answer, it can become a project in which you work together to solve it.
  4. Talk with your child daily and really listen to what he/she says. Ask about new ideas he/she has learned or other projects he/she is working on.
  5. Get to know your child's teachers, counselors, and principal. Let them know you are interested in your child's progress in school.

Success in school is not always measured by the grades your child receives. Success is better measured by how well you have helped and supported your child to do his/her best, by how well you have instilled an enjoyment of learning, and by setting realistic goals and celebrating achievements and successes. With each success, children gain confidence in themselves and in their abilities that will spill over into other areas of their lives.


Some helpful websites for parents from Forbes/Business Digest:

  • Kidshealth.org - a huge collection of age-appropriate articles by pediatricians
  • Familyfun.com - a web version of the Disney magazine brimming with crafts, recipes and activities
  • ACDE.org - (American Council for Drug Education) - an informative, no nonsense primer about drugs; gives tips on how to discuss drugs with your kids
  • About.com/parenting - plenty of links, chats, news and features on a wide scope of parenting topics.
  • Familyeducation.com - bring together families, educators and schools
  • Screenit.com - this mom and pop team screens films in astounding detail

Email Bet for organizational help today!