Sandra Larson

While our education system and authorities are quite concerned about the quality of the knowledge school students get, the aspect of their personal mental and emotional state is often overlooked. But if you take a closer look at the issue, you can see that a lot of children’s future success stories and achievements are based on the flexibility of their mind, the ability to adapt to and overcome stress, and to carefully determine their psychological state. You can read more here, however, it is quite clear that even big companies and HR specialists pay a lot of attention not only to the traditional level of IQ of the applicant but also to his or her level of emotional intelligence. To adequately meet this demand and improve personal qualities of the future professionals’ school system must adapt and include into their education mental health programs. Here is why it is important to do so:

- Research shows that approximately 1 in 5 people deal with some sort of mental health disorder. Considering the lack of awareness and proper education on the topic, most people do not turn for professional help until their adulthood, or even worse – until it is already too late. Considering this, it is crucial to implement appropriate measures to help children (and adults) distinguish the problem early and have a clear understanding of the algorithm of actions during an emotional crisis.

Not only future academic success but also a future success per se is highly dependent upon our mental health. According to the statistics, almost 60 percent of school attendees with mental health disorders do not graduate. No calculus will help if a student’s psychological state is out of control. It is important to teach kids to seek help, to take care of themselves and to express their emotions, fears, and anxiety acceptably and effectively, in the way that will benefit them, not harm the fragile child’s psyche.

- Knowledge is power. Kids at schools are taught all kinds of things, including facts about their health and physical wellness. Teachers provide information about nutrition and the benefits of physical activity. Why there is no information on the mental health hygiene? It is hard to answer this question in a few words. We know painfully little about the inner workings of our brains and psychology is a quite young scientific discipline. However, at this point, we already know that our whole well-being depends on our mental state. So it is important to give practical knowledge to students on the ways to keep or psyche happy and satisfied.

- We live in a high-paced world with ever-increasing pressures and lots of sources for anxiety. With the rise of the Internet and technologies in recent years, our society has drastically changed. The hectic social media environment and highly competitive society have put new pressures on the young generation. It is important to help children adjust to these changes by teaching them about emotional intelligence.

These are just some of the reasons why our schools should definitely have some kind of mental health educational programs. There has been a notion that a school is a place of knowledge, but it is also a place where children grow as people and become young adults. If the goal is to help them launch into a vast, unpredictable and complex adult life, there certainly must be a place for mental health awareness at all levels of school education.

Once the school year begins, make time to meet your kid’s teacher. Explain to the teacher that you want to assist your child in learning, and arrange that the teacher contacts you in case of any problems with your kid. This way, you will understand the state of your kids at school, and you can keep tabs with the progress. Moreover, you can talk with the teacher to learn a few tips on how to help your child.

Finally, you can also start attending parent-teacher conferences and school meetings. With this, you can form a partnership with both the teacher and the staff in your child’s school, and demonstrate to your child that you are interested in their school work.

2. Demonstrate a positive attitude about education

As parents, what we do and say in our daily routines can assist our children in developing a positive attitude towards learning and school and also build their confidence as learners. Demonstrating to our children that we value education and utilize it in our lives is a powerful model for our kids, and it contributes significantly to their school success.

Moreover, when we show interest in our children’s education, we effectively spark enthusiasm within them and help them understand that learning is both enjoyable, rewarding, and worth the effort.

3. Create a conducive learning environment at home

One of the best ways of supporting children and helping them succeed at school is by creating an appropriate environment within our homes that supports learning. You can do this by setting aside a particular study space. What’s more, besides this, you can also establish a regular timesheet indicating study time, as well as remove any distractions like the television and phones during study time.

Similarly, you can also assist your child in getting organized, by supplying the necessary materials, in addition to assessing your child’s schoolwork and monitoring to ensure they actually complete their tasks. Ideally, this will demonstrate your interest in their studies, and help them establish a routine and consistent study plan.

4. Apply for special homework/school projects assistance services if necessary:

Homework and school assignments play a critical part in the overall development of your child, as well as their final grades. Therefore, you must communicate with your child about the importance of completing assignments and doing their homework.

However, if you identify that your child is struggling with their homework, or with general learning, you can always make an effort to assist them in getting better.

Alternatively, if you find it difficult to assist your child with school projects or homework, you can always find someone else to help. Luckily, these days, help is available everywhere including online where all you need is to browse the internet, and you will be surprised at how many options pop up, asking you to ‘ try this website’ or ‘check out our services’.

Finding homework or school work help for your child can help them identify their problem, and effectively work on getting better in their studies, with the assistance of a professional.

5. Help your kids prepare for tests.

As you already know, tests play a vital role in determining the overall grades of all kids at school. In most schools across the globe, students will have occasional standardized tests purposed to assess their progress and decide on their final grade.

Unfortunately, no matter how good a child is, failing to prepare appropriately can significantly affect how they ultimately perform. As such, exam preparation is a MUST for success in school, and while many assume that this is the role of the child’s teacher, he/she may be caught up in preparing the test and not have ample time to do so.

As a parent, there are several ways that you can use for supporting children both before and after they take their tests. Besides doing revisions together, you can also teach them how to get organized, setting goals, and even rewarding them when they perform well in the tests.

CONCLUSION:

School plays a vital role in shaping the future of our children, and parental involvement in their learning and education has a positive impact on the overall academic performance of our children. Statistics show that children whose parents are actively involved in their education tend to achieve better grades, have better attendance records, and boast a higher school completion rate. Therefore, parental involvement is critical, and with these few tips, you should be ready to go.

Good luck!