Simple Things That Will Help Your Child Be Successful in School

1. Make a schedule. Adjust the schedule as needed, but have a schedule.

a. Children need at least 9 hours of sleep every night.

b. Sketch out their time from when they arrive home until bedtime. Example:

3:20-4:30 Free time/snack

4:30-5:00 Homework or free voluntary reading

5:00-5:30 Free time but no TV or electronic entertainment

5:30-6:00 Chores/responsibilities

6:00-6:30 Homework (if needed)

6:30-7:00 Dinner (no phone calls or TV during dinner; TALK with each other.)

7:00-7:30 Chores (if not finished earlier)

7:30-8:00 Get everything ready for tomorrow (clothes, backpack, etc.)

8:00-8:30 Free time/snack

8:30-8:45 Brush teeth, shower, go to bed

8:45-9:15 In bed (may read until falling asleep)

c. Keep large family calendars as needed; they help to show the big picture.

2. Prevent problems.

a. Talk with your children every evening about their school. Ask open-ended questions.

What did you do? What are you learning? What kind of work did you do in class?

b. Schedule family events around school events. Make school the family priority—including homework.

c. Look at and discuss your child’s homework and graded work. Call the teacher if you are not receiving your child’s homework or graded work.

d. Schedule school activities and due dates on the family calendar.

e. Integrate both difficult and easy work into your child’s schedule. Build tolerance gradually for more difficult homework assignments.

f. Allow snacks or treats when needed to get through difficult homework or reading.

g. Record long-term assignments on the family calendar. Guide your child in pacing them.

3. Respond to problems.

a. Get information first. Ask, “What happened?”

b. Be sympathetic. “What a bummer . . .”

c. Ask your child what he/she would do differently next time to prevent the problem.

d. Ask your child if he/she would like some ideas on how to prevent or solve the problem.

e. Talk with your child’s teacher if more information is needed. Don’t just “let it go. . . ”

f. Focus on solutions versus blame.03 – Tip

s for Parents

4. Limit TV and video games.

a. Monitor them.

b. Limit them. Two hours per day is ENOUGH.

5. Build reading skills.

a. Buy or borrow books your children enjoy.

b. Fun, easy reading is great; make sure you have lots of reading material in the home.

c. Visit the library every week.

d. Keep free reading fun (joke books, magazines, whatever!)

e. Read aloud to your child 5-10 minutes every night through 6th grade.

6. Build responsibility.

a. Make privileges dependent upon responsibilities. Every school-age child needs chores.

Chores must be completed to earn privileges, such as TV or video games.

b. Insist that your child use his/her words and brain to solve problems (versus violence)

c. Insist that your child demonstrate respect and use manners in interacting with others.