Parent Involvement in Out-of-Home Situations-Asset 6

Parent Involvement in Out-of-Home Situations

Parents wanting to invest in this asset for their children talk about their child’s needs with caregivers and teachers, and help their children succeed outside their home.

Here are a number of ways you can go about making sure your child is experiencing the benefits of this asset:

• Develop a relationship and keep in touch with your child’s teacher or childcare director. Let them know what you think is important for children in that setting and make suggestions as to what you would like to do to improve the environment for all students there. If possible, coordinate some people to paint a room, fix broken equipments or do other tasks needed.
• Support and participate in the fund-raisers for childcare centers or schools in your community.
• Make a point to meet with your child’s teachers or childcare providers at least twice a year, more if possible. Having a relationship and established rapport and communication with these important people in your child’s life is essential to a responsible parent.
• If you are fluent in more than one language, offer to translate flyers, policy books or other material for parents who don’t speak English. Give language lessons for children and teach them simple conversational phrases.
• Help create or participate in a parent/staff advisory board that meets regularly to discuss successes, needs and challenges in the childcare center. If you child is of school age, attend PTA meetings and become active in PTA issue and concerns.
• Offer to set up or help with field trips for your child’s class. Visits to the local library, fire station, a bakery, the beef jerky company, the recycling center or a local ranch can be fun, educational and inexpensive.
• Make it your responsibility to compliment and support teachers, school administrators or childcare staff for the good things they do and for their caring and compassion for the youth they serve. Also notice and compliment them on new haircuts or their attire. This shows you care about them as people and pay attention to them.
• Ask your school aged children about their homework on a daily basis and follow through to be sure they are completing their work. Offer to help them if they are stuck on an assignment.
• Attend open houses, science fairs, art exhibits, sporting events and other school based community activities. This is a perfect opportunity for fostering your relationship with other parents, teachers and school administrators.
• Ask your employer to support children and education. Discuss the possibility of flexible work schedules so parents can volunteer at school or their childcare center for one or two hours a month if they wish.

If you have any questions or would like more information about this or any other of the developmental assets, call or email me. And remember, the more interest you take in your child’s life away from home, the better the quality of their life will be.