
Writer’s Name: Charlotte Marshall Templeman
Title: Back to School, for Parent and Child
As the summer comes to a close and festivities end, children are gearing up for their first day back to school. The barbecues are over, family reunions have ended and summer visits to the beach are now a memory. For millions of children across this country September is the month where the shorts and sandals are packed away and the school uniforms are taken out. It is also the month where another year of wonderful possibilities awaits them in the classroom. Science labs are geared up for the next formula to be solved while English classes shelve unread masterpieces for their minds to explore. In math class numbers big and small wait to be added or multiplied while in social studies the constitution and the freedoms under it are discussed. School is back in session!
During the summer, children have the autonomy to do a little more than usual. Bed times are extended along with outside time and play time. Children are completely in fun mode and for most learning is the last thing on their mind. Less than often books are read and rarely any educational tools are implemented in their daily activity. For the child, this is the life but unfortunately when school begins we find many of our children are behind in the basic fundamentals such as reading. It is imperative that children never stop learning and engaging their minds. The brain needs to be fed to work just like any other organ in the body. Without food for the mind the brain starves. When this happens we see a number of children returning to school trying to catch up. Although this may be the case for some, there is still hope for a child to progress and become re-familiar with learning. This is where the role of the parents becomes crucial to their child’s education.
Upon a child returning to school the parent has to be actively involved. It is critical for a parent to know as much as possible about their child’s school, teacher and what is expected from all parties involved. Parents should be familiar with their child’s lesson, homework assignments, when test are administered and when outside projects are due. At times it may feel as if the parent is in school but this is the role of a concerned parent who wants the best for their child.
Being actively involved in your child’s education shows them how loved and valued they are. When a child sees their parent attend back to school night, report conferences and school meetings it gives them the extra zeal to do well. Parents have to understand the importance of making sure their child put away the electronic gadgets and pick up a book. Watching television should be reserved for the weekend as studying should take precedence during the week. The education of our children should always be our priority. The job of the teacher and parent are intertwined and they should always be a united team. It is the teacher’s job to equip our children with the essential tools to learn while it is the responsibility of the parent to enforce it at home. The home environment should always be an extension of school. Learning never ends.
Being a parent is the most rewarding job a person can ever have. We are our children’s first teacher. It is from us that they learn how to interact with others, how to speak and how to act, so it is imperative we lead by example. Showing them that we care about them speaks volumes. It can be the beginning of a child exhibiting positive self – esteem or lack thereof. When a parent stresses the importance of education in the life of their child from a young age, more than likely the child will have a love for learning. In conjunction to that a parent has to have a love for seeing their child excel. If a child does well in school the child along with their parent and teacher are winners. The relationship between parent and teacher is paramount and the skies are the limit for a child. So welcome back to school children and do well!