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Creating a Learning Environment at
Home
Children need regularity and consistency in their lives. Try to
establish daily family routines such as the following:
Provide
quiet time, space and materials for a child’s studying, reading and
hobbies.
Assign
chores and household tasks.
Make a
chart showing when chores need to be done and homework assignments are
due.
Encourage good health habits – rest, exercise, healthy meals and
healthcare as needed.
Eat
meals together.
Be firm
about a regular bedtime.
Model the Value of Learning and Hard
Work
Students who value education and understand the connection between
success and hard work tend to do better in school. Parents can foster
these attitudes in numerous ways:
Set an
example reading, writing and engaging in other learning activities at
home.
Use
family leisure time productively. Play games that demonstrate planning
ahead and problem-solving.
Establish a family communication style that values learning by inviting
questions, discussion and explanation.
Use
reference materials at home or in the library to answer questions.
Volunteer to help at school on a regular basis.
Helping Your Child
with Homework
Parents can support their children’s learning by monitoring homework
and
bringing the lessons to life. Try the following:
Have
your children teach you what they learned in class.
Keep
your child informed on current events by watching the news, reading the
newspaper and discussing current issues as a family.
Encourage your child to look at multiple perspectives of the issue
discussed in class as well as issues in the news.
Conduct
an interview with your child in which he or she plays a historical
figure and quiz him or her about major points
of importance – great for review!
Discuss
the importance of reliable sources, and use the Internet with your child
to find reliable resources for social studies topics.
Take
your child to the library to find nonfiction or historical fiction books
concerning events that interest your child. Read along with your child!
Find
local points of interest that relate to your child’s social studies
class and visit them together.
Share
your own memories of events and historical figures with your child, and
ask relatives to do the same.
Your Child’s History Begins at Home
Parents should encourage children to view their family as being a part
of history.
History
is the story of people and events, and it is the record of times past.
The
meaning of history is contained in two questions: Where did I come from?
Was I always here?
Family
stories serve as historical evidence and help make up a child’s cultural
heritage.
A Parent’s Role
Parents play a critical role in the development of literacy in their
children. Remember and practice these steps:
Make
reading aloud to your child a habit.
Hold
the book so that the child can see the pictures and the words as well.
Reread
books often, letting the child finish familiar sentences.
Buy
books. Search out garage sales and used bookstores for bargains for your
child.
Obtain
a library card and make frequent trips to the library.
Parents Are Their Children’s First
Teachers
From
infancy to adulthood, children depend on their parents to provide what
they need to learn and grow physically, emotionally and socially.
Throughout childhood, parents set the stage at home for learning in
everyday activities.
Young
children learn through exploring, acting on their environment and
imitating what they see and hear.
During
the preschool years, parent nurturing and guidance lay the foundations
for school success.
When
children begin school, parents continue to play an important role.
Discuss, Read and Write with Family
Members
Studies show that home learning activities such as reading aloud and
frequent open family discussions are associated with improved student
achievement. Parents can:
Read
daily to children at a regular time. Listen to your children read.
Tell
stories, recall experiences and share problem-solving strategies.
Write
letters, messages, grocery lists and diaries.
Use
everyday experiences to teach.
Watch a
favorite TV program or video together and discuss it afterwards.
Encourage Overall Development and
Progress in School
Parents who provide frequent verbal support – specifically by
praising children’s efforts and telling them they are loved and cared
for – tend to have children with higher self-esteem. These children
also do better in school. Parents can:
Cultivate a warm and supporting home atmosphere.
Reward
success and apply sanctions appropriately and consistently.
Show
interest in what children are learning in school.
Express
affection and approval.
Discuss
regularly the value of a good education.
Post
children’s work on the wall or refrigerator and send children’s poems,
artwork and stories to other family members and friends.
Ask
teachers for home learning activities.
Community Resources Add Value
Children need direct and continuing access to people with whom they can
develop healthy, helping relationships. To assist, parents can:
Take
children to libraries, museums, movies and organized sports.
Enroll
children in youth enrichment programs, such as sports, art or music.
Communicate with children’s teachers and other school staff.
Use
community services for family needs.
Participate in religious services and youth groups.
Teaching Children About Money
Earning is a sure way of learning. Understanding the value of money
promotes planning, discipline and achievement. To build this
understanding, parents might:
Give
children an allowance. Having an allowance will teach them
responsibility, and it can be a reward for completing household chores.
Establish a savings account. Kids can start saving with a piggy bank.
When their bank is full, take them to a financial institution to open a
savings account. They can watch their money grow with more deposits and
interest accumulation.
Encourage them to pay their own way. Tell your children to have a plan
handy for financial emergencies. Encourage them to seek a solution on
their own without coming to you to bail them out.
Teaching Children About Money
Give
financial gifts. Instead of always giving your children toys and games
as presents, give them savings bonds or stock.
Choose a stock with which they will be familiar – like Nike or IBM.
Teach
them to budget. Children can learn to budget early. Have them record how
much they earn, and have them balance it
against how much they spend and how much they save.
Show
the value of giving. Teaching generosity is also important. Encourage
children to donate to worthy causes. By volunteering at their charity of
choice, a child can watch how the money they contribute helps the cause.
Make a Habit Out of Learning About
History
Read
newspapers and newsmagazines.
Watch
educational and historical television programs.
Read
with your children about people and events.
Have a
collection of great speeches.
Have
globes, maps and encyclopedias available.
Help
children know that the makers of history are real people like
themselves.
Plan a
historical outing with your child based on their interests and ideas.
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