Parental Involvement is as important factor for successful education. It is not just the matter of fulfilling your parental obligations but walking the academic journey with them, I do understand and can relate to the overwhelming and unpredictable schedules and all responsibilities while juggling school, sports, work, family, studying and other responsibilities. Truth is parental involvement begins at home; the question is how?
Who's a parent? Legally, a parent is the person or guardian entitled to custody of the learner, she/he undertakes and fulfil the obligations. Have you ever witnessed your child graduate? Graduation is such a moment any parent looks forward to, just to hear your child's name being called and seeing them ascend the podium in their graduation regalia is so heartwarming, it's just like the pride one goes through knowing their child occupies a certain position somewhere. Have we ever thought of what is it that we ought to do as parents to contribute to this besides just taking them to school, paying fees and collecting reports?
- Know your child's school-this is the fundamental in trying to be present in your child's education. It entails knowing the curriculum (weather you did ''Bantu'' education, you are old school or any form of education you need to be familiar with what your child is doing because there is way too much, know the pass requirements, timetables, assessment plans, subject teachers as well as any school policies.
- Talk about the importance of school.
- Collaboratively set rules and ensure they are visible to be read or seen daily.
- Be consistent in following the rules.
- Promote dependency and self-study, they must try on their own.
- Random monitoring.Provide models.
- Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement.
- Promote reading.
- Have a set study roaster and time frames.
- Help your child identify their preferred mode of study/interest.
- Ensure there is a conducive learning space without any destructions.
- Show up for meetings at schools it being initiated by you or organized by schools.
Furthermore, children will be in various new grades, new schools, new teachers and many other more. As a parent you need to be there to help adjust in whatever a situation is applicable to your child, we can't afford to have children parented and modelled by technology and caregivers (it being helpers or teachers).- Take the school tour together with your child
- Reassure them you are in this together, allow both of you to experience the stress and overwhelming. Do all your best to juggle around it and navigate the way out through trial and error, take into cognizance that we want to promote dependency. Allow your child to experience trial and error while you are carefully monitoring to offer any support that might be needed.
- Minimize some slack: In as much as we want to ensure they are developed in all spheres of life and help with some house chores, this is the time to cut unnecessary work especially during the first weeks of the new transition, take away gadgets and no screens. It is better to introduce them to outside activities.
- Talk to teachers about any uncertainties, however there are things you have to initiate on your own from home lest your child feels like ''for everything teacher should be consulted...'' at the end you still have to occupy your parental seat.
- Form parental teacher associations with people in the same situation as you. Having people who understand exactly what you are going through can help alleviate and lessen the pressure.
- Be patient: it is very sad that children stand the chance to be compared to others, compare their performance to the previous grade or school. Reassure them you are there for them and with hard work and dedication they will be fine.
- Try collaborative events: read together, worship together if you are the family that worship, encourage their hobbies- support them, show up for extracurricular activities show up unannounced for sports event. Plan a play date, keep open communication, let them have a platform to openly communicate and be there in the true sense.
- Prioritize sleep: many are times parents keep learners up until work is done and forget the importance of a good night sleep.
As the academic year commence, I pray we make time as parents right from the onset and actively partake in the academic journey of our children. This will not only positively affect their performance but will help improve discipline and harmonious relationships between schools, teachers, parents and learners.
One favorite writer says, "There is danger that both parents and teachers will command and dictate too much, while they fail to come sufficiently into social relation with their children or scholars,'' -CG 265:1.
Wishing every parent and guardian together with teachers and learners a fruitful exceptional academic year - Rethabile Jankie
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