by Gbolagun

Created on: June 18, 2010   Last Updated: July 02, 2010

The economic situation in our world has made it very difficult for parents to spend ample time with their children. Many parents have to work extra hours in order to make ends meet. This makes it difficult for them to be involved in both curricular and co-curricular activities of their children.

A non-empirical survey has shown that all things being equal; about 90% of children whose parents are involved in their academic activities perform very well in school. To further confirm the lack of involvement of parents in their children’s school activities, I conducted a short self assessment quiz for some parents. I asked the following questions:

*What is your child’s teacher’s name?

*What is the teacher’s phone number?

*Where does he/she live?

*How many pupils are in your child’s class?

*Which days of the week are for Physical Eduaction?

*What is the present topic in mathematics?

*What is the next special program coming up in the school?

*What is Headteacher’s phone number?

*Who is the new Parent-Teacher Congress Chairman?

 *Did you make the last Teacher-Parent Conference for which you got invitation?

These questions are very critical for a parent that wants to be involved in his/her child’s school activities. It will interest you to know that only 80% of the parents got up to 7 out of the 10 questions correct.

Parents need to note the following as the importance of their involvement in their children’s education:

*Improvement in academic perfomance

When parents make extra effort to be involved in the academic activities of their children, all loopholes will be blocked. Concerns of the teachers will be well addressed. Homework assignments and projects will be completed in due time. Parents will also be able to lower the fears of their children, when they go through the difficult concepts in school with them.

*Better manners and behaviour

If a child is aware of the fact that his parent and teacher are always in touch, he will not have any hiding place. He will do his best to behave himself. The moment a gap is noticed, there will be room for lies and many heinous activities.

*Sustained willingness to attend school

A child will not play truancy or fake illness to avoid school, if the parent knows what is going on in the school and encourages the child to participate actively. Children will always feel bad when there is a special event in school where most parents are around to grace the occasion, but their parents are nowhere to be found.

*More homework will be done

When parents make out time to involved with their children, they will be able to finish homework on time and it will be properly done. Grades for homework contribute significantly to the overall performance at the end of the session.

Children will do very well academically and will always be enthusiastic to go to school when parents show that they are interested in their children’s education. No matter how busy parents are, they must find out time to be abreast of how their children are doing in school.

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