WHAT DOES PARENT INVOLVEMENT MEANS
Parents are the people that are highly influential in a child’s life. Some may argue that children spend more time with their teachers, friends, and even the media. Despite that, parents still hold the main position as someone that can directly or indirectly influence their children. Because of this, parents should extend their involvement in their child’s life to schools. Parent involvement in schools includes participation in school activities, communication with teachers, communication with their children themselves, and other activities that have to do with education.
BENEFITS OF PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOLS
Being an involved parent might require you to do some adjustments. However, once you have familiarised yourself with the benefits of parent involvement in schools, you will surely be more motivated to take the steps to be an involved parent. Here are some of the benefits of parent involvement in schools;
- Increases child’s motivation
- Enhances academic achievement
- Improves communications between school and parents
- Reduces absenteeism
- Promotes better behaviour
TIPS TO INCREASE PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOLS
Getting parents to be more involved in schools can be a difficult task. Especially if a school is just starting in promoting parent involvement in schools. Fret not, here are 5 tips to increase parent involvement in schools;
Communicate effectively with parents
Communication between parents and schools is really important. To promote healthy and easy communication between both parties, schools should consider choosing one medium of communication. It can be an app developed by schools, social media, messenger apps, or others. Teachers can update the parents about their children’s achievements or activities through this medium. Parents can ask the teachers about their children’s updates.
Build trust with parents
When registering their children at a school, of course, the parents already trust the schools up to a certain degree. To gain parents’ trust, schools can take the initiative of being more collaborative with the parents. Respect the parents’ opinions and suggestions. Take it into consideration in decision-making. After all, the parents are once students too.
Share accountability between parents and schools
Contrary to popular belief, children do not learn and adapt only from schools. The home environment can also affect them. It is important for both schools and parents to not point at the other party when something is not right with the children. Both should understand that children are highly impressionable. It is hard to pinpoint which or who is liable, so parents and schools need to sit down and discuss the issue together.
Organise volunteer activities
Volunteer activities are one of the easiest ways to get parents to be more involved in schools. Schools can organise fun volunteer activities, like a visit to the zoo, an Independence Day celebration, or even beach cleaning. Advertise these volunteer activities to the parents and ask them to spend time joining these activities. Not only does it promote parents’ participation, but it can also help the schools to build and strengthen relationships with them.
Share positive news
Lousy attitudes from students should be reported to parents for them to correct them. Having said that, positive news should not be disregarded. Schools and teachers should share with parents when their children are doing great. It can be as small as helping teachers, high participation in class, and even better academic scores. Parents will be grateful for these updates and may even be more motivated to be more involved in their children’s schools.
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