Worldwide, parents are expected to support their children to surf on the highest waves of societal change; to help them be autonomous; happy; responsible; confident, and altruistic. And yet the only training parents receive is to either replicate what they have learned from their own parents or to respond intuitively to the unpredictable challenges of everyday life, challenges that did not exist when they were children themselves.
Being a parent is perhaps the most complex job in the world. It can be a challenging yet joyful experience. Nowadays, parents are surrounded by multiple questions regarding their children’s everyday life, health, education, and future.
Should parents control their children’s use of technology?
How can parents give due time and attention to their children while life pressures increasing each day?
How can parents set clear limits for their children with empathy and respect and at the same time enhance academic achievement?
What’s the most accurate predictor of academic achievement? It’s not socioeconomic status, nor how prestigious the school is that a child attends. The best predictor of student success is the extent to which families encourage learning at home and involve themselves in their child’s education.
When parents are engaged in their children’s school lives, students have the home support and knowledge they need to not only finish their assignments, but also develop a lifelong love of learning.
Teachers who focus on parent engagement often see a profound change in their classrooms. The more parents involved in their children’s education, the better their entire class’s motivation, behavior, and grades become.
Parent Engagement and Student Success
Children with engaged parents are more likely to:
• Earn higher grades or test scores;
• Develop self-confidence and motivation in the classroom;
• Have better social skills and classroom behavior.
They are also less likely to:
• Have low self-esteem;
• Need redirection in the classroom;
• Develop behavioral issues.
Across fifty different studies on parental engagement, educational researchers found a connection between family involvement and academic achievement. And the earlier educators establish parent engagement, the more effective they are in raising student performance. Parent partnerships formed during elementary school years build a strong foundation for student success and future engagement opportunities.
Mawlana Hazar Imam said:
“I am sure that all of you here today will agree that we live in a time of rapid change – change that is often not predictable, and not always positive. The best way to manage change, whether positive or negative, is to anticipate it and prepare for it. On the basis of my experience with development as an observer and a practitioner – that now spans more than forty years – I have come to the conclusion that there is no greater form of preparation for change than education. I also think that there is no better investment that the individual, parents, and the nation can make than an investment in education of the highest possible quality.”
Mawlana Hazar Imam, Opening of the Aga Khan School, Osh, Kyrgyz Republic, October 30, 2002
Sources:
https://www.waterford.org/education/how-parent-involvment-leads-to-stude...
https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/parental-involvement-in-education/
https://the.ismaili/global/news/community-news/the-parenting-journey
