Five Tips for Parents to Encourage School Attendance at Home

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Encouraging school attendance is one of the most important ways you can help prepare your child for academic success. Research from Johns Hopkins University found that students who exhibit regular school attendance early on often see improved grades, learning skills, and overall behavior. Moreover, parent involvement has a positive and direct impact on school attendance.

Here are a few tips to help you encourage school attendance at home.

  1. Develop a routine

When preparing for school, give you and your child enough time to get ready in the mornings and evenings. Set a bedtime routine to have your child pick out clothing and shoes to wear, as well as pack their backpack with assignments. Follow a set bedtime and wake-up time to stay on track. Don’t forget Breakfast. A study by the Food Research and Action Center found that breakfast has a direct correlation on behavior, participation and overall performance in students.

  1. Make school a priority

When you prioritize your child’s learning, they do too. Mark your child’s school schedule on the family calendar at home, placing emphasis on exciting school activities such as a field trip or recital. Be sure to plan trips and family vacations around your child’s schedule so they do not miss too much school. You might also seek out virtual or at home volunteer opportunities to show your dedication to their success.

  1. Support your child

Anytime your student exemplifies success in the classroom, reward them! Parents can encourage a child’s academic attendance and other achievements by establishing a reward system at home. Reward systems, such as a sticker chart or fun activity of their choice, offers students incentive to attend and perform well in school. These systems are simple to set-up and teach your child about working toward and achieving attendance and other school-related goals.

  1. Stay in contact with the school

Develop a relationship with your child’s teacher early in the school year. A great opportunity to do this is during parent-teacher conferences. Be sure to exchange contact information so you can be alerted if your student struggles with participation. Remember to announce excused absences well in advance to allow to prepare for any missed curriculum and assignments.

  1. Take advantage of extra-curricular activities

Many school programs offer extra-curricular activities during lunch or at the completion of the school day. These activities are a great way to keep your child engaged. After-school activities, such as joining a sports team, club or after-school program like Legacy Kids Care can excite your child to continue learning after class is dismissed.

By regularly attending school, your child is offered a learning environment to develop vital academic and social skills. As a parent, you have the opportunity to prepare your child for a lifetime of success in academics by practicing these strategies at home to encourage school attendance.

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