Caring About Scholl, Feeling School Cares About You-Asset 24

Caring About School, Feeling School Cares About You

With the new school year about to begin, it’s the perfect time to talk about the importance of your child or teen feeling good about their school and their school giving them the message that they are cared for. To feel this way is an important developmental asset, one that contributes to your child feeling good about his or her self and about the community in which they live. When this asset is in place in your child’s life, good things happen-and bad things don’t. Research shows that when a student has this asset in their life, he or she is more likely to do well in school, more likely to grow up healthy, more likely to care about the community, less likely to get involves in high risk behaviors (drugs, alcohol, violence, sex), and less likely to drop out of school.

Parents, you play a big role in communicating this asset this asset to your child. You do this through your own attitudes about learning and about school in general and about your child’s school in particular.

Some of the things you can do, if you aren’t already, to ensure your child is reaping the benefits of this asset are to share your positive experiences while you were attending school and the benefits you gained from getting an education. You can get involved by getting to know your child’s teachers, showing up at conferences, volunteering to help in the classroom or for class outings, helping with school projects, and attending school activities. You can also express positive feelings about your local schools while at the same time supporting and saying good things about the teachers and their efforts to provide quality education to the children in their classrooms. You can think of ways to boost school spirit, like buying and wearing hats, t-shirts or sweatshirts bearing the school’s name or mascot’s picture.

You can also have discussions with your child about how they feel about their school and teacher. You can ask if your child feels cared for at school and then ask why or why not. You can discuss feelings about the teacher and how your child perceives him or her. It’s important in these discussions to let your child know you hear their feelings by reflecting back to them what you hear them saying and feeling. Try not to be overly reactive in a negative way if concerns are raised, but make notes to explore any concerns that arise with the teacher or the school. Think of what you are learning as feedback and feelings but not necessarily reason to be judgmental, negative or critical. Also, you can ask your young student about the things about their school that make them feel proud or happy to be there, or about things they or you could do to make school a better happier place.

If you would like more information about this asset or any of the 40 Developmental Assets, contact me at 406-442-1374 or wmichael@rmdc.net.