Why Parental Support and Involvement Is Important In Children’s Education

In the face of being perceived as extremely impervious to changes, more transformation and innovation have possibly taken place in education systems in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic than in the previous decade. During this period, as educators struggle to maintain learning continuity, parental involvement in the child’s education has been seen as one of the most important factors in improving children’s academic performance. Countless studies have found that direct parental support in education is fundamental to a child’s success in school. And there are so many ways for parents to show support and become more involved in their children’s education.

Parental support and involvement are not just about the collaboration between parents and school to enhance children’s learning experience and improve academic performance. This must also include discussions after school, helping with homework assignments, involving in extracurricular activities, keeping up-to-date of academic progress, teaching parental values, taking part in parent-teacher meetings, being present in all school activities, and volunteering in the classroom.

On both the classroom and home setting, family involvement in the child’s learning can make a great difference in early learning results. When educators are able to establish strong relationships, families should reinforce what their learners are absorbing in the classroom as they establish their own routines and expectations at home.

Supporting Young Learners

Providing support to young learners can involve an array of opportunities depending on parental skills and priorities. There are parents who may want to take a working role in the classroom by volunteering or being active in their respective parent-teacher organizations. On the other hand, there are parents who would prefer to stay at home but are still in active communication with teachers through digital means and help learners develop the skills they are already learning in class from home.

Providing support to learners is a vital factor in the success of their education. When parents actively support their children’s education, they are more likely to perform well in school and enjoy the opportunity to have better social and emotional development.

Parental support and involvement develop student achievement, self-confidence, and behavior. Showing support can also help to build strong relationships between parents and the school.

Ways To Provide Support and Show Involvement

There are plenty of ways to show support and be involved in your child’s education. Among these activities include:

• Providing assistance with their homework: Parents can assist their children with homework by offering guidance, support, and reinforcement.
• Being present at school events: Attending school events is a show of support for your children’s education. School events such as, parent-teacher conferences, school programs and school plays are part of the learning experience of students. Being present at such events will assure your children that you will always be there to support them.
• Taking part in decision-making processes: Parents can have a say-so in their children’s learning experience by joining in school decision-making processes, like serving on a school board or being an active member of a parent-teacher organization.
• Collaborating with the school: Parents can stay up to date about their child’s education by collaborating and communicating with the school on a regular basis. This can be done through in-person meetings or digital communication like emails and social media platforms like Facebook among others.
• Becoming a classroom volunteer: Volunteering in the classroom is also another way to show support and become involved in your children’s education.

On the other hand, teachers and school administrators must also be aware of significant barriers as they determine how to encourage parents to support and become more involved in their children’s education. A lot of parents today are challenged by structural barriers such as having a busy work schedule or a difficulty in transportation that make in-person options arduous. Other parents may contend with societal barriers that dissuade them from working with educators, particularly if schools do not actively make sure that parents are welcome.

Throughout the school year, school administrators will also play an important role in helping and guiding teachers as they build and establish functioning relationships with parents. It is important for administrators to prove that they are a trusted leader for teachers to recognize and voice out the barriers to parental support and involvement that they may encounter. By taking these steps, parents can also make sure that their children will get the most out of their learning experience and have the best chance for success in life.