Fall is the "back to school" season for families. Parents can help children make a smooth transition into the classroom mode in a variety of ways. Months of loosely structured activities can make getting back to the routine difficult, but there are things every parent can do to help children of every age get ready for a successful school year.
Set a Schedule
Talk to your child about setting aside a certain amount of time to study each school day. That way it will be an expected part of the routine rather than a discussion or a struggle every time. It is a good idea to have the time earmarked for this, regardless of whether they have homework or not. If there is none for the day, they can spend the time reading for pleasure, doing extra credit or getting ahead on their classes.
Designate Space
Make sure that there is an area that is set up for studying. It helps to have children work in a place where you are available to answer questions and keep an eye out to make sure they stay on track. Using the same area each time can help get children in the habit of studying more easily. Make sure that school books, supplies and backpacks all have a designated area in the house and are put away so that getting ready goes smoothly in the morning.
Minimize Distractions
Cell phones, television and music are just some of the many distractions that can affect the time that is set aside for homework. Discuss the ground rules for study time and include turning off electronics until after work is finished. It can especially help to remind teens before they sit down to work, so that they aren't tempted if the phone should ring. Parents should remember that if the kitchen table is your child’s designated work space, they need to help minimize the traffic and noise in that area when its homework time.
Watch the Extra Activities
Keep an eye on the extra-curricular activities and sports to make sure that they aren't interfering with schoolwork. If your child seems like they may be falling behind, have a talk with the coach or person in charge and see if some sort of arrangement can be made for them to catch up. It doesn't necessarily have to mean they will have to quit the activity; they may just need to scale back for a bit.
Relax
With all of the activities and classes, sometimes it can be easy to forget that children need time to rest and relax too. Try to remember to leave a little room for "down time" for everyone. As long as the schedule is pretty consistent, there is always room for a little bit of fun here and there.
Communicate With Teachers
Almost every school has parent-teacher conferences or the equivalent. No matter how old your children are, this is a good time to find out what the homework load and class expectations are. You can then talk with your child and adjust the amount of study time accordingly. In addition, many schools now post grades online which is a terrific way to keep track of your child's progress.
Additional Guidelines & Resources
So how much homework can you expect your child to have? The National Education Association gives some general guidelines for parents of younger children, suggesting that kids in grades K-2 can handle somewhere around 10 to 20 minutes of work per day. Those in grades 3-6 can do roughly 30 to 60 minutes per day. The NEA also mentions that students in junior and senior high school will have a varying amount of work, and may need help with the organization of things such as papers or projects. For more tips on helping kids do well in school, go to NEA.org. Another place with helpful tips is the National PTA at PTA.org. The "Parent Resources" section has information on things such as how to help your child get the most out of homework, making the most out of parent-teacher conferences and helping teens who are getting ready to go off to college.
Resources for Parents
If you would like to get involved with the Kansas PTA, call 785.234.5782.
The Missouri PTA can be reached at 800.328.7330 or through their website MOPTA.org.
Visit the Kansas and Missouri National Education Associations at KS.NEA.org or MNEA.org for useful tips and information.