By GalTime Parenting Pro Michele Borba, Ed.D.
Academic success impacts our children for the rest of their lives: it influences their self-esteem, college selections, job attainment, financial success, and even their choice of spouses. It's no wonder we go great lengths to give our kids an academic edge. But the good news is that parents can give their kids the edge they need without the help of elite preschools, expensive tutors, or pricey evaluations.
Here are seven surprisingly simple solutions that every parent should have in their toolbox that are proven to boost children's school success (and we often overlook).
1. Make sure your kids are getting enough ZZZ's. A lack of sleep can have a serious impact on children's abilities to learn and perform at school. Here's proof. So set a bedtime routine and keep to it every single night. Flashing images affect REM, so be sure to turn off the computer and television at least thirty minutes prior to bedtime. Take away the cell phones during nighttime hours-62% of kids admit they use it after the lights go out and their parents are clueless. Watch out for caffeinated sleep stealers like cold medications, chocolate, or energy-drinks.Related: Top 10 Signs YOU Are Ruining Your Kids' Social Lives
2. Applaud their efforts the right way. Columbia University researchers found that how we praise our kids' schoolwork can actually enhance or impede their achievement. So instead of encouraging your child to bring home straight A's, put the emphasis on how hard she is working. This will encourage her to persist and it will help to sustain her motivation. The findings are that kids who are praised for their persistence are more likely to blame any failure they have on not trying hard enough, rather than on a lack of ability (a belief which can discourage kids very easily). Above all, keep in mind that the grade is not what motivates top students to succeed- it's their drive for learning.Related: Perfect Ways to Help 'Perfectionist' Kids
3. Respect their learning style. If your son insists on plugging into his iPod when he studies, or if your daughter swears that flash cards are the only way she can learn her spelling words- listen up! While you may prefer a quiet room with no distractions when it comes to getting work done, that doesn't mean it's the best way for your kids to concentrate and get down to business. Harvard researcher, Howard Gardner's work shows there are eight kinds of intelligences-or ways kids learn best-which include: musical, spatial, logical-mathematical, linguistic, bodily, intrapersonal, interpersonal and naturalist. The trick is to pay attention to your kids so you can identify which type they are and tap into that to help them be more successful.
4. Pay attention to their peers. The truth of the matter is that peer pressure can have both positive and negative consequences on a child's education. If your child chooses friends who believe that education is important, chances are she will adopt those attitudes and put more emphasis into hitting the books harder and focusing more in class. On the flip side, if your child is best buddies with a kid who stays distracted during class, doesn't turn in homework assignments, and rarely studies before a big test, chances are she will fall in line with their bad habits. Need proof? An Ohio State University study found that kids are more likely to have friends with future college plans if they have a warm, positive relationship with their parents. So cultivate that kind of parenting style and you'll help your child make the right friendship decisions!"
Related: What To Do If You 'Lose It' In Front of the Kids
5. Make family meals a must. A recent study by Columbia University showed that kids whose families eat regular, relaxed meals together are not only less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol and develop eating disorders-they are also more likely to achieve higher grades. Family dinners do not have to consist of gourmet, five-course meals. Serve simple, healthy meals, turn off the television and unplug the phone, and enjoy each other's company. And if everyone in your family is on a different schedule and can't make it to dinner- don't worry! Consider instating an evening family snack time where everyone can review their day with each other before bedtime. The trick is to find what works best for you family and turn it into a routine.
Related: Stress Check: Is Your Home Causing Your Kids' Anxiety?
6. Squelch the stress…at home. Research shows that the conflict kids face at home spills over into their school life and impedes their learning. In fact, family-induced stress can affect kids' learning and behavior for up to two days following an incident. Take a vow of 'yellibacy.' Make your home a stress-free zone. Find ways to de-stress with your kids. Take longs walks, read together, do yoga, or have a family movie night. Be a model to them on how to disagree without it ending in a screaming match- and never engage with a screamer. Teach your kids that it's okay for them to walk away from an argument until they are calm enough to return. Once you learn how to tune into your child's stress signs, you'll be able to recognize when he's on overload so that you can intervene and help him to decompress before something comes to blows.
7. Tailor expectations to your child's abilities. All parents want the very best for their kids. It's only natural! As a parent, you should consider your learning aspirations for your child like a rubber band: gently stretch but don't snap. Every child is different, and while it's okay to encourage them to try hard and achieve their best, it's also important to remember that 'the best' is different for every child. Just because your kid isn't composing his own symphonies or writing his memoirs by age 10, it doesn't mean that he won't still do great things with his life. Always remember this one commandment: 'Tailor thy parenting only to thy child'. You and your children will be happier and healthier for it.
Related: 7 Ways To Reduce Parental StressIf you want to boost your kid's academic performance and see lasting results, it will take a few things from you: consistency, dedication, and patience. Those things are always better parenting tools than anything money can buy. And remember that no two kids are the same, even if they come from the same household. If you pay attention to the individual needs of each child and do what's right for your child and for you, you'll see the payoff in their attitudes and their report cards in no time.
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