Love
FOR THE
OF LEARNING:
FOUR WAYS TO TEACH YOUR CHILD
TO ENJOY SCHOOL
By Christina Katz
R
aising engaged students is not only the
responsibility of the teachers and the
administrators at your school, it’s a job that starts
at home with every parent. You may have anxiety, fears,
or merely first-day jitters about your child going to
school. But if you can muster up your courage and take
a one-good-day-at-a-time approach, you will find that
raising a child who loves school is easier than you might
have imagined.
Just follow these four simple guidelines, keep your
interactions with your school’s employees constructive
and upbeat, and watch the magic that occurs when
your child loves learning.
10 | S T. J O H N S parent M A G A Z I N E
1
1. SHARE TO PREPARE. Tell your child what you
enjoyed about school. If your spouse or partner enjoyed
school, encourage them to share stories, too. But if you
had a difficult time in school, share those stories with
someone who is not your child. Talk to another adult
about the ways you struggled and how those struggles
might color your expectations of what school will be
like for your child. Get your fears and biases about
school off your chest and let them go so you won’t
unwittingly pass them on. Remember, your child is not
you. That was then; this is now. By confronting and
releasing any back-to-school skeletons in your closet,
you open the doors to a positive school experience for
your child today.
Erika Patall et al, "Parent Involvement in Homework: A Research Synthesis," Review of Educational Research.