Is Parental Involvement Overrated?

by ParentCo. July 26, 2016

Most of what we do for our kids at school doesn’t matter. As it turns out, the list of what generally works is short: expecting your child to go to college, discussing activities children engage in at school (despite the complications we mentioned above), and requesting a particular teacher for your child.

Do our findings suggest that parents are not important for children’s academic success? Our answer is no. We believe that parents are critical for how well children perform in school, just not in the conventional ways that our society has been promoting. The essential ingredient is for parents to communicate the value of schooling, a message that parents should be sending early in their children’s lives and that needs to be reinforced over time. But this message does not need to be communicated through conventional behavior, like attending PTA meetings or checking in with teachers...

Source: Parental Involvement Is Overrated - The New York Times


ParentCo.

Author



Also in Conversations

Potty Training from Birth Transformed My Parenting Journey
Potty Training from Birth Transformed My Parenting Journey

by Heather Medlin

It is clear to me now, two kids and two different experiences later: our babies are born ready. All they need is for us to be ready to listen, and respond.

Continue Reading

Your Village Doesn’t Have to Live Nearby
Your Village Doesn’t Have to Live Nearby

by Danielle Owen

I had no idea how infuriating the question “how can I help?” would be when there was a sink full of bottles and an empty fridge. Mom friends to the rescue.

Continue Reading

boy having a tantrum
How to Handle a Tantrum in Public Without Losing Your Cool

by Tere Medina

Beyond knowing how to handle a tantrum to avoid public embarrassment, we can begin to view them as a valuable opportunity to teach our children life skills.

Continue Reading