Story Starters

Story Starters

October 2011

The Free Gift You Can Give Your Child

Everything your child needs to succeed at school, so it seems, can be purchased over the counter or through a catalog. And according to the newspaper and magazine ads, the more you spend, the higher your child's achievement will be.

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The best gift you can give to your child won't cost you a cent. That gift is your own genuine excitement and positive attitude about school and learning.

The research that verifies this fact is overwhelming.  For example, the U.S. Department of Education published a report that begins with these words: “Parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers.  What parents do to help their children learn is more important to academic success than how wealthy the family is.”

A Smile Is More Effective Than a Frown

The attitude at home should be that learning is both important and fun.  According to the researchers, parents can model and communicate this attitude by reading to their children; playing games; sharing hobbies; discussing news, TV programs and special events; and by maintaining an interest in what happens at school.

When your child brings home work he or she has done at school, recognize whatever was done well or shows improvement. Try not to indicate that you’re upset or angry about work that isn’t as good as you would like it to be. Studies show that a negative approach often leads to poorer work.

One researcher put it bluntly:  “Kids need to be encouraged. If our research has told us anything, it’s that you don’t get heightened achievement from tightening the screws.”

Every child learns at a different rate, and mistakes on a paper merely represent ideas that have yet to be mastered. The best learning boost you can give your child is to maintain a positive attitude, praise work done well and encourage continued effort.