Tips for parents: 
35 things you can do to help your children succeed in school

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For students of all ages

At home:

• Ask about your children’s homework - what it is, when it’s due - and check to make sure they do it.

• Provide a quiet place - with a good light and away from distractions - for your children to do homework.

• Make sure your children get a good night’s sleep each night and eat a healthy, substantial breakfast each morning.

• Talk to your children about school for at least a few minutes each day to let them know you’re interested and you think school is important.

• Teach your children respect for others and responsibility for their own behavior.

• Make sure your children get regular health and dental check-ups.

• Limit children’s exposure to TV and video games.

• Be positive about school. If parents say "I wasn’t good at school" or "I really didn’t like school," this can turn children away from learning.

• Check your children’s school websites regularly to keep informed.

At school:

• Attend back-to-school nights and parent/teacher nights to meet your children’s teachers.

• If you are concerned about something, meet with your children’s teachers promptly, before a minor issue becomes a major problem.

• If possible, volunteer - regularly or even just occasionally - at your children’s schools. You will get to know the school better and show your children that you consider education very important.

For elementary school students

At home:

• Read to your children or look at a book with them for at least 5 - 15 minutes each day.

• Have books and magazines appropriate for your children’s reading level available for them.

• Use routine household events to teach about numbers and colors - shopping for food, using a recipe, sorting laundry, etc.

• Give children small rewards for success (either behavior or academic) at school.

• Praise them when they get good grades or do their homework completely and without complaint.

• Take your children to the special programs for youngsters at your local public library.

• Mark sure your child has all necessary childhood immunizations.

At school:

• Join a parent-teacher organization (PTA or other parent group) and attend meetings.

• Talk to the teachers to find out what your children will be learning each year.

• Ask the teachers for suggestions about how you can help your children at home.

• Make arrangements to visit your children’s classrooms at least once during school hours, just to observe. Talk to the teacher later about anything you didn’t understand or were concerned about.

• Ask about after-school programs or extra-help sessions if you think your children could benefit from these.

For middle and high school parents

At home:

• Continue to encourage your children to read. Don’t let TV, video games, or friends absorb all their free time.

• Talk to your children about their specific interests related to school - subjects or teachers they like, clubs or extracurricular activities, books they are reading, projects they are working on, etc.

• Discuss their choice of courses with them so that they are well prepared for different options after high school.

• Begin discussing with them what they might like to do after they graduate from high school.

• Know your children’s friends, where they live, and, if possible, their parents.

• If your children work part-time, make sure this doesn’t interfere with schoolwork or getting a good night’s sleep during the week.

• Continue to celebrate school successes with appropriate rewards. Even though they may seem embarrassed, your children will appreciate your enthusiasm for their good work.

At school:

• Get a copy of your children’s schedules each semester.

• Find out what guidance is available to your children in choosing a college, applying, and finding scholarships and loans.

• Volunteer for school activities - chaperone a school dance or field trip, help with sports events, etc.

• Serve on school committees that involve parents

For more ideas and resources for parents, visit the National PTA website at: www.pta.org.

Learning First Alliance