To succeed in school, parents need to be involved in their children�s learning. It�s important to be involved early, and it�s important to stay involved. Learning the skills for success takes place at home as well as at school.

Children need time with their parents! The time spent at home helps prepare children for the world they will find outside the home.

What counts most is what we say and do at home, not how rich or poor we are or how many years of school we have finished. When children can count on getting attention at home, they have a greater sense of security and self-worth. This will help them do better not only in school, but also when they grow up.

Communicating!! This is probably the most important activity we can do in our home, and it doesn�t cost anything. Ask questions, listen for answers. These are no-cost, high-value things to do. The time we spend exchanging ideas at home with our children is vitally important in setting the tone, the attitudes, and the behaviors that make the difference in school. When our children enter and continue school with good habits of communication, they are in a position to succeed�to learn all that has to be learned, and to become confident students.

The hours and days a child is not is school is important to learning, too.

Here are some of the things that you can do with your children:

At Home

� Let children see you read, and read to them and with them. Visit the library. Keep books, magazines, and newspapers available. Use them yourself to show you value learning, too.
� Teach children to do things for themselves rather than do the work for them. Patience when children are young pays off later.
� Develop, with your child, a reasonable, consistent schedule of jobs around the house. This builds responsibility and children feel proud of their contributions to the family.
� Every home needs consistent rules children can depend on. Put a plan into action, and follow through.
� Ask questions about things your children are learning and doing, and encourage them to give you detailed answers.
� Have paper, pencils, crayons, markers, scissors and glue handy. These supplies encourage children to practice writing and creating. Writing takes a lot of practice, and it starts at home.
� Watch TV with your children and talk about what you see. Limit viewing time. � Have a special place for studying, reading, and playing board or card games that is quiet and free of distractions. Turn the TV off.
� Expect your children to succeed in school. Encourage them with praise for hard work and a job well done.

At School

� Share information with teachers so that both you and they know what is happening in school and at home.
� Tell teachers what they need to know about your child. Make special needs known immediately and talk to the teacher about any significant changes in the home that affects your child.