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By Karen and Tom Buchanan

A child鈥檚 greatest support is often found in their family. Yet finding the time and knowing how to participate in a child鈥檚 education is frequently a challenge for busy parents. Researchers in the area of family鈥搒chool engagement have found that there are attitudes and actions parents can take to have a meaningful impact on their child鈥檚 school success. The good news is that the kinds of involvement that count don鈥檛 depend on parents being available during school hours. The kinds of involvement that make a difference in children鈥檚 learning and academic success are doable for all families. Below we share some attitudes and actions that all families can embrace to enhance their child鈥檚 learning.

Attitudes

• Claim your role as your child鈥檚 first teacher. Your home has been your child鈥檚 first classroom and you have valuable knowledge about who your child is and how they learn and interact with the world.
• Claim your role as a partner in your child鈥檚 education. As children step into formal schooling, it does not change the important position the family holds in their child鈥檚 healthy development. Begin to form a relationship with your child鈥檚 teacher so that, on behalf of your child, you can be an effective part of this new team.

Actions

• Express your hopes, beliefs, and expectations to your child. It is powerful for children to hear their parents speak about their sincere belief in their child鈥檚 ability to be successful at school. Telling your child about the hopes and expectations you have for them encourages them and helps them believe in their own ability to be successful.
• Create a learning space at home. Your home is already a place where your child learns. As children enter formal schooling, create space in your home where your child can do homework and read for fun without distraction.
• Express Interest in your child鈥檚 learning at school. Your interest in the learning that happens at school gives school learning value. Ask your child specific questions like, 鈥淲hat story did you read in school today?鈥� or 鈥淲hat game did you play in math today?鈥� Your interest is extremely motivating to children.
• Communication with your child鈥檚 teacher is key. Take initiative and communicate with your child鈥檚 teacher about the following:
  • Acknowledge your appreciation for the home鈥搒chool partnership you are developing to help your child grow and thrive;
  • Freely share your hopes and dreams for your child with the teacher; Share the knowledge you鈥檝e gained about who your child is and how they learn;
  • Let your child鈥檚 teacher know that you have a strong desire to know how to support your child鈥檚 at-school learning at home.

Family support and involvement in a child鈥檚 education make a difference. Choosing to invest in these attitudes and actions holds promise to make a difference in your child鈥檚 success at school.

Dr. Karen Buchanan is the Chair of the Doctor of Educational Leadership program at George Fox University, in Newberg, Oregon. Dr. Tom Buchanan teaches in the Master鈥檚 of Arts in Teaching Program at George Fox University. Tom and Karen share a research passion around family engagement in early childhood settings.