Academic Excellence: 9 Ways To Support Your child

Research has shown that the effect of parents and what they do at home to support learning can account for 80% of a child’s academic success. This compares to schooling being directly responsible for around 20% of factors leading to academic achievement and excellence.

1.Encourage Healthy Habits

This simply means you should take care of the basics as the parent. Inculcate early sleeping and waking up habits, and light physical activities. Make sure your child gets enough sleep, nutritious food, good hygiene and regular medical care.

For example, children who eat a healthy breakfast before school are reported to experience enhanced academic performance, concentration and cognitive functioning.

2. Build A Healthy Self-Esteem

This singular factor will play a major role in how your child will be able to transform f the educational resources available to him to academic excellence. For a child to do well at school, he needs to believe in himself, to have confidence that no matter what his report card says, he is valuable, loved and gifted by God.

Be wary of reprimanding him/her harshly, encourage them to learn from their mistakes instead, otherwise, low-self esteem will be a distraction from your common goal of academic excellence.

3. Know And Understand Your Child’s School Curriculum

Raising academically successful children goes beyond enrolling them in expensive schools. You should take care to l books and flip through their textbooks, while gently probing them about what they’ve been discussing at the school. This can help you understand if the school’s approach is suited for your child’s academic goals or if you must withdraw your kids to a more suitable school through referrals and investigations.

4. Don’t Just Look For A’s

You can groom your child for academic excellence by not focusing solely on how many A’s they get or do not get. The most successful students become so by learning to be responsible, resilient and organized from previous errors. Work with your child to find ways to help him develop his strengths in subjects that do not come easy for him.

5. Teach Organisation And Time Management At Home

Organizing activities and time management is a universal ingredient for success of all kinds, whether academic or otherwise. Do not encourage last minute preparations. Go through your child’s school schedule with them and help them organize their papers on a weekly basis. In a few weeks, this should become a habit for you and your child.

6. Practice Discipline And Respect

A consistent problem in classrooms according to the view of many teachers is disrespect. A lot of parents look to the school to instill discipline in their kids but that’s a value that foremost should be taught at home. If a child has made a habit of being disrespectful, it will tell on his ability to be disciplined and have the right attitude towards his teachers and education.

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7. Know The School Head And Your Child’s Teacher(s)

You need to know the character and values that the persons you entrust your child’s education with hold dear. If their values align with your aspirations for your child’s character and learning success, you can work more effectively with them to achieve academic excellence.

8. Give Positive Reinforcements

Be your child’s biggest supporter and cheer him on. Never underestimate the role of your presence and positive energy in your child’s quest for academic excellence.

9. Attend P.T.A Meetings

Some parents think P.T.A meetings are tiring but it’s definitely worth the trouble. By actively participating, you stay abreast with developments in the schools operation and get to know your child’s school more personally and can raise questions where you have doubts.

It is also a great avenue for networking with other experienced parents and you can exchange ideas on what works when giving your child quality education.