Family Involvement in Your Child's Education: Grades 1-3

What can parents do?

Raising your child

• Give your child time when he has your undivided attention;
• Encourage and praise your child;
• Encourage your child to have friendships with other children;
• Set rules for your child;
• Spend time with your child;
• Make sure your child to gets enough sleep;
• Provide your child healthy meals and snacks;
• Talk to your child about how to be safe at home and in the community; and
• Ensure you child receives health care.

Communicating with your child’s school

• Attend school functions such as open houses, parent teacher conferences and family fun nights;
• Contact your child’s teacher when you have questions;
• Visit your child’s classroom;
• Attend parent-teacher organization and other committee meetings;
• Volunteer at school;
• Ask your child’s teachers for ideas about how you can help your child at home;
• Let your child’s teacher know when he or she is struggling with schoolwork , or if you think your child is not being challenged.

Encouraging Learning At Home

• Read to your child and/or listen to your child read every day;
• Give your child time to play and use her imagination; 
• Help your child pursue her interests by reading, taking lessons, talking with others, or joining a group or after school program;
• Visit new places like parks, museums or other neighborhoods; 
• Encourage your child to do his homework on his own, but give help when your child is struggling;
• Ask your child about her homework. “What homework do you have tonight?” “How did your homework go, was it hard?” “Did you understand all of it?”; 
• Ask your child about school. “What did you learn today?” “Who did you play with today?” “What was the best part of your school day?”;
• Expect your child to do well in school. Your attitudes affect your child’s motivation to learn.

For More Information

Click on the links below for more family oriented information.

• Helping Your Child Succeed in School -- Helping Your Child Series
• Helping Your Child Become a Reader
• Reading Tips for Parents
• Put Reading First: Helping Your Child Learn To Read
• PTA: 100 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed In School
• National Association for the Education of Young Children: Parent Resources

References

Caspe, M., Lopez. M.E., Wolos, C. (2006, Spring). Family Involvement In Elementary School Children’s’ Education. Family Involvement Makes a Difference: Evidence that family involvement promotes school success for every child of every age. No. 2 in a series. http://www.gse.harvard.edu/~hfrp/projects/fine/resources/research/elementary.html

Henderson, A.T., Mapp, K.L., Johnson, V.R., and Davies, D. (2007).  Beyond the Bake Sale:  The essential guide to family-school partnerships. New York: The New Press.