The Role of Parents
The importance of parental involvement during the early years of a child’s life has long been recognized, and the benefits have been well documented. When parents take the initiative to bridge the distance between home and school, these are some of the benefits:
Children become excited about learning. When a child becomes excited about learning, there is simply no end to what he or she can accomplish. A child’s ability to take in and retain new information peaks during these early years, and the knowledge base they acquire will help them for the rest of their lives.
Students tend to perform better in school. Once children develop a love of learning, they benefit from it throughout their school years and into the rest of their lives. This translates into better grades, a more receptive attitude, and more success throughout life.
Kids learn social skills from good role models. By spending a lot of quality time with their parents, children learn from the beginning which types of behavior are acceptable and which are not. The period of time where parents have more influence over their children than other kids do is short, but parents who are involved in their child’s early education will leave a valuable lasting impression.
Parents can address difficult situations. Even young children can gain a sense of maturity from learning about hardships, including those of social, mental, and physical origins. Gentle exposure to the imperfections of life through both books and interaction with real people facing these difficulties will open children up to greater acceptance of others throughout their lives.
Children are more involved with school activities. Children who love school are more likely to become involved with school clubs, extracurricular activities, and athletic programs. These children are statistically less likely to get in trouble in or out of school.
Parents are more likely to remain involved. Parents who are active during early education tend to stay involved through the more difficult years ahead.
The Need for Change
Education is sadly on a downward spiral in many school systems. Even the best teachers struggle to keep up with overburdened classrooms without the support and funding that they need. The student-teacher ratio is moving rapidly in the wrong direction, with one teacher responsible for 30 or more children in far too many classrooms.
The results are disturbing. No single teacher can reach every student in a crowded room, and many students lag behind and fail when they can’t keep up with the pace. Without strong parental involvement, there is no one there to catch these children before they fall. Without a love of learning, many of these lost students don’t care enough to try to keep up academically.
The Early Advantages
How can parents give their children an early advantage? Perhaps the single most important thing you can do for your child is to read to him. Within the pages of a book, children are transported to fantastic, faraway places where new worlds abound. Whether you venture into the realms of science, hear about heritage and history, or just snuggle together with a good story book, the time you spend learning together will reward you both in ways you simply cannot imagine.
Here at Usbornebooks4yourfamily.com we provide hundreds of books for parents and children to explore and learn together. Our selection includes material for infants all the way through middle school, including educational materials, skill builders, and story books for all ages. Whether you’ve long understood the importance of being involved with your child’s early education or need a little help in getting started, you’ll find what you need with Usbornebooks4yourfamily.com.
There’s no limit to the adventures found within the pages of a book, and we are proud to offer everything you need to begin that journey with your child right here. Share in our long tradition of excellence and build a new one for yourself with Usbornebooks4yourfamily.com