by Cheryl Abney

Created on: March 29, 2009   Last Updated: August 09, 2009

We pack lunch boxes and backpacks for our child's day at school. How do we prepare their hearts for school? Food and supplies are very important, but attitude will be the deciding factor in their academic success. Sending them off with love and a healthy breakfast is admirable, but receiving them home with nurturing support is a major determinant of their success the next day and ensuing year.

As a teacher, a guidance counselor, and a grandparent, I've a few thoughts on things observed, and practices I did or wish I'd done. Efforts to ensure your child's school success might include the following:

1. Review School Work Daily.

Immediately review their school work with them when they get home. Accent the positive and review the areas they need help mastering. A sticker chart system could be used to reward completed work, passing grades in a subject, etc.

2. Schedule Homework.

Like ourselves after an 8 to 4 o'clock day, they need a break; but have a set time to return to school work, perhaps right before or after dinner. Surveys have proven that the family that sits down to an evening meal together has greater communication and less family problems. Replacing the dinner plate with studies while you're near at hand in the kitchen may prove an ideal time for tackling homework.

3. Plan Multiple Brief Sessions.

Studies show that we retain more of what is covered at the beginning and ending of study times. It makes sense then, to break study periods into shorter segments, like fifteen minute intervals, so that the student has more beginning and ending portions. This would be of particular benefit for the attention deficit or hyperactive child.

4. Prepare the Night Before.

Place the child's backpack at the door each evening, papers reviewed and necessary forms signed, lunch money in the pocket, so that there won't be any last minute scrambles and accompanying irritation to find their things in the morning.

5. Support Child's School.

Be visible. Attend PTO, open houses. Send notes or call the teacher when appropriate. Volunteer to help at the school and/or chaperone. Be proactive; not just reactive to a teacher's request for a meeting.

6. Praise and Encouragement.

Be alert to every opportunity to recognize your child's successes, posting their work and sharing it with the other parent or grandparent. Praise their efforts to others within their hearing range.

Sometimes we need a checklist to prompt our best intentions. How are you doing? Are your efforts providing your child a hands-up at school? Perhaps you could duplicate this list to be posted on your refrigerator or message board for a daily check. Your efforts today will impact your child's future, as well as nurturing a positive, supportive parent-child relationship.

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