Help your child build for success
by JULIE DEVEREAUX
Principal, Meadow Ridge Elementary
A good part of success in life is to be able to set goals and then be able to attain them. During a lifetime, goals will vary from being able to tie your shoes to creating a new medical cure that will affect millions. As a parent, you have the power to teach your child the important components necessary to set goals and reach them. As we begin another school year, it is your choice as a parent to support your child’s learning, school year, and their success.
Here are some suggestions to consider:
• Let your child know that school is a priority.
• Make attendance job number one.
• Listen carefully and let them share school happenings every day.
• Show you care and that you are interested in their learning.
• Talk about what they are going to learn and how it will be important later in their life.
• Encourage your child to treat studying as a daily routine.
• Set a time and a place for studying to happen.
• Spend a few minutes each evening looking over any paperwork that your child brings home.
• Let your child’s teacher know if you can help them out, at school or home.
• Communicate with your child’s teacher(s) on a regular basis.
• Talk about responsibility and explain what it looks like at their age in life.
As a parent, you are the most important role model for your children. Show them what that responsibility looks like in your life. By example is the strongest way to teach. Help your child think about choosing goals for home and school; write those goals down. Be sure to notice and praise when you see them working on their goals. Help and encourage your child to follow through. Talk about the things that you see them doing that will help them achieve their goals. Celebrate when goals are accomplished! Talk about how they feel when they are responsible and achieve their goals. Help them enjoy their success.