There is one thing that parents can do to profoundly benefit children of any age and that is to be involved in their education. Many studies have indeed concluded that parental involvement in a child’s education has immense positive benefits for the child. What’s more, those benefits are long-term and far-reaching in their impact. Findings and statistics show that parental involvement in a child’s education supercharges the child’s success every step of the way. That series of boosts seems to snowball from nursery and preschool, through primary, junior school, secondary education, and higher education, right into adulthood. Such are the positive effects of a parent’s involvement that the benefits even extend to better career opportunities and higher earning potential once children become adults. Let’s explore, therefore, what we mean by ‘parental involvement in a child’s education’ and look in more detail at some of the key benefits to children.
What Does ‘Parental Involvement in a Child’s Education’ Mean?
Parental involvement in a child’s education can take several forms. Note, however, that the benefits are most positive when parents engage right from the early years, beginning in children’s nursery and preschool years. The examples below show the kinds of parental involvement that will enhance children’s lives:
- Ensuring the setting chosen for a child is the best possible fit for them. That means visiting contenders, talking with staff, asking the opinion of other parents who are already attending, checking reviews, and so on — before making your final choice. For young children starting a nursery, arranging a ‘taster’ day or ‘settling in’ session is also a great way to see how well they will fit in.
- Engaging proactively with nursery and preschool staff to keep abreast of the child’s progress — and again later with teachers and tutors at the child’s schools and higher education settings. This could, for example, include discussing any challenges, achievements, areas to focus on, weaknesses, and so on. A two-way dialogue and feedback ‘loop’ gives both educational professionals and parents sight of the bigger picture. As such, this interaction is extremely powerful in its potential to help the child.
- Attending parents’ evenings and open days. These are a great opportunity to catch up on the child’s progress in a more formal way, and to understand any changes, developments and perhaps new resources and opportunities that may have been introduced to the setting.
- Agreeing with teaching staff on ways in which parents can support their child’s learning in specific areas of focus within the curriculum.
Applying that information in the form of help and support while the child is at home. Referring to the right textbooks, helping with homework, and helping the child understand any tricky topics are typical examples of areas where parents can help children at home.- Ensuring that the child’s Personal Development Folder or equivalent is read and contributed to. In this way, there is a two-way communication channel between the childcare or education setting and parents.
- Helping children attain good verbal and written grammar as well as checking the child’s spelling will help them across all areas of their schooling — and later in adult life. Showing them how to check for themselves (e.g. via a spell-checker application on a PC) and ensuring they try to learn from spelling mistakes will also be hugely beneficial. While they’re younger, this will help them understand more topics and, ultimately, make them more employable when they’re older.
- When children have formal tests coming up, parents can help them significantly by regularly testing them on knowledge of the topics under scrutiny. This will help the child understand how much information they have, or haven’t, absorbed ahead of the formal test.
- As we previously reported, reading with children is hugely beneficial to their success. Studies show that reading with children under five boosts language skills by the equivalent of 8 months. So, if you really want to supercharge your child’s education and progress, read with them regularly. Follow the bold green link for more details.
- Help children better focus on study and homework when at home by giving them their own study area. This needs to be in a quiet part of the house, well away from distractions like TVs and noise, so it encourages learning activity.
- When children do well, praising them will encourage them to keep up the good work. It’ll give them a greater sense of achievement, and some moral support, and help instil a love for learning in them.
- Don’t be over-strict, though, if they don’t get things right the first time. Children learn as much from failures as they do from successes, so even failures are a good learning opportunity (ask any successful businessman or entrepreneur — they will all agree).
- Ensuring that children understand what’s expected of them is also important as a benchmark. Such expectations need to be set high but be realistic and achievable. Otherwise, they will cause unnecessary stress and be counterproductive.
Applying that information in the form of help and support while the child is at home. Referring to the right textbooks, helping with homework, and helping the child understand any tricky topics are typical examples of areas where parents can help children at home.
When children do well, praising them will encourage them to keep up the good work. It’ll give them a greater sense of achievement, and some moral support, and help instil a love for learning in them.“The most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is not income or social status, but the extent to which that student’s family is able to: (1) Create a home environment that encourages learning; (2) Express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers; and (3) Become involved in their children’s education” — (Study by Henderson & Berla)
The Benefits of Parental Involvement in Children’s Education
Let’s now look at some of the benefits that children can expect to enjoy when parents are closely involved in their education.
Many studies show incredible benefits from parental involvement in education. The study by Henderson & Berla quoted above, for example, shows that parental involvement in education is the strongest predictor of a child’s success at school, going beyond factors like income and social status. As such, it’s an incredibly powerful tool and a great to help level the playing field. A study by Meador agreed:
“Parents who invest time and place value on their children’s education will have children who are more successful in school.” — (Study by Meador)
A 2013 study by Pinantoan also concluded that students with active parents are more likely to succeed and achieve more A grades:
“Students with … parents operating in supportive roles are 52% more likely to enjoy school and get straight As than students whose parents are disengaged with what’s going on at school. This is especially the case during the earliest years of schooling, in Kindergarten through the 5th grade, when students with active parents are almost twice as likely to succeed.”
The benefits of parental involvement in education to children are numerous, though, also including the lowering of stress levels and improved knowledge, skills, outlook and outcomes. The deep and reliable source of support, together with all the other benefits, also combine to make children feel happier, have a higher quality of life, be less likely to skip lessons, be well-behaved, and have closer bonds with both parents and childcare/education staff.
Life skills like communication, problem-solving, organisation, tenacity, self-esteem, self-confidence and social skills are all improved when parents have an active involvement in education as children grow up.
Prospects are improved because of enhanced grades and a greater range and depth of skills. Through these, children gain the ability to have a wider choice of schools, higher education settings and universities, and careers as adults. Thereby, even incomes and their standard of living can be lifted. Parental involvement in education has a truly profound impact on children’s lives and we wholeheartedly support it at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham.
Little Acorns Nursery: Your Childcare Provider in Padiham
If you are looking for a childcare service for your child in Padiham, Lancashire, do consider Little Acorns Nursery. At Little Acorns, we offer a warm, home-from-home environment where every child feels loved and valued. Our high-calibre early years professionals bring out the best in them, nurturing them in every area of their learning and development so they are set for success and ‘school-ready’ by the time they leave us.
Little Acorns Nursery supports many free childcare schemes for eligible families and may also suit those living near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End. Get in touch today to register for a nursery place, arrange a guided visit, or for answers to any questions you may have:
Today’s bird spotting activity for kids continues our series of nature-themed posts that each come with a free reference poster for families to download. Featuring 40 British birds, the activity and the poster represent a great opportunity to get children of all ages outdoors, closer to nature. As many of us know, 
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