Parents’ Important Role in Their Children’s Education

Most parents will agree that being proactive in our children’s education and academic success is a critically important facet of a healthy household dynamic.

It’s more than simply making sure that our students are getting good grades, though—we want to know they are happy, fulfilled, interested, and not overwhelmed in whatever studies they’ve chosen to pursue.

For many reasons, however, parents may find themselves struggling to secure this connection to their student’s school lives. It may be due to a lack of understanding of the subjects their students are learning, a moody or quiet student who isn’t inclined to share much about their coursework, or conflicting or busy schedules that don’t allow much time for these conversations.

Or, it’s possible that parents just are unsure of what it means to be involved in their child’s education and aren’t certain of how to get started.

Whatever the reasons may be, we are here to help clear the obstacles out of your path, because it is your involvement—not your socioeconomic status, not your student’s genius levels, not the prestige of your school—that most increases the odds for student achievement.

What does it mean to be involved in your student’s education?

Some of your child’s earliest viewpoints and opinions of their education will be modeled after the viewpoints and opinions you exhibit in front of them. You should also try to show your child that you, as an adult, are open to learning something new because learning doesn’t stop when school does.

Think about all the things you do at home with your young children: reading books, exploring outside, stacking and counting blocks, etc. Being a positive and engaged learning role model from an early point is an important first step in being involved in your child’s education.

For early learning years, you need to be both a role model and an advocate. You are closely in tune with your child’s emotional responses to their schooling and can sound the alarm on their behalf if something seems awry. As your child grows older, your role evolves.

You are still observing how your child learns and what their weaknesses are, and it’s important to understand what mediums help them retain information the best.

How can parents get involved in their student’s education?

The late elementary school and middle school years are teeming with developmental opportunities. Your student’s academic interests are solidifying, and you may have a pretty good idea of whether their interests lean toward science and STEM, the arts and humanities, linguistics, or trade and shop-focused pursuits. You’re probably talking with your student about potential careers in these fields.

Encouraging curiosity and inquiry, in and out of the classroom, is just as important in 16-year-olds as it is in seven-year-olds, but with older students, there is also a need for performance tracking, time management, self-discipline, and intervention if the student struggles with focus.

Parents are faced with the often difficult task of reviewing curriculum materials, policing assignment progress, watching for signs of academic distress, and enforcing a school and social life balance. As tough as it may be, parents’ attention to their students during the middle school and high school years is shown to improve grades, reduce dropout odds, and support positive parent-educator relationships.

Try to recognize where potential problems are blooming and address them before your involvement becomes disciplinary or negative. Be responsive and attentive when a teacher reaches out to you and understand that they are coming from a similar place of concern for your student’s wellbeing.

As a parent, you can be involved by gauging your child’s stress levels. Young adults, especially, can be overeager and lack perspective when they are taking too much onto their plates. There are sports they want to try, extracurriculars they need on their school resume, and tons of social events they don’t want to miss. You may have to help them see that giving up things is hard, but beneficial in the long run.

How does parental involvement benefit students?

Parents are also tasked with making sure their students have an ideal learning environment at home for studying and completing assignments. Catering to your student’s learning style makes homework less of a chore, boosts productivity, and supports high academic performance.

One way parents can support their child’s educational journey is by recognizing when they might benefit from additional academic assistance. Tutoring can provide a crucial supplement to classroom learning, offering dedicated attention to areas where a student may be facing challenges or simply facilitating further exploration of subjects they’re interested in.

By investing in tutoring help, parents enable a tailored approach that adapts to their child’s unique learning pace and style, fostering not only improved academic outcomes but also a reinforced sense of confidence and independence in their learner. 

Skooli offers 24/7, 1:1 on-demand tutoring with professional educators. Since our tutors are required to complete a criminal reference check, parents can rest easy knowing their students are getting the help they need in a safe online environment.

Parental involvement plays a pivotal role in shaping a child’s educational journey, fostering an environment where learning thrives beyond the classroom. It bridges the gap between home and school, reinforcing the value of education and supporting individual educational pathways.

Engaging parents in this process ensures a collaborative, supportive framework that nurtures student success and resilience.