Learning Together: Your Impact on Your Child’s Education

By Gina Lewis

From the moment a child is born, he or she is constantly taking in information about the world – learning. Education does not start the moment a child begins school or enters a classroom or sits down for a “lesson.” It begins at birth. Who, then, is the child’s first and most important teacher? It is the parent. There is nothing wrong with seeking out trained and knowledgeable people to assist you in the task of teaching your child. But you, as a parent, should ultimately assume responsibility for your child’s education – and you should hold accountable those whom you choose to include in your team of educators and caregivers.

Actively engaging your child

Who is teaching your child when he or she is at home? Is it you? Or is it Baby Einstein, the computer, Nickelodeon, or Dr. Seuss? There is nothing inherently wrong with technology, entertainment, literacy, or interactive media. All of these things, used appropriately, can be extremely beneficial and even a vital part of your child’s education. But on their own, they are not enough. Your child needs you.

Are you intentional in the way that you use various forms of media as a part of your children’s education? Do you know the lessons they are learning from those media? Do you participate with them as they take part in various types of activities? Do you talk to your children about information they have taken in from various forms of media, in order to help them learn to process, interpret, and evaluate that information effectively? If not, start now.

Do you expect your children to entertain themselves, or do you engage in play together? By simply playing with your child and providing a wide variety of exploratory experiences, you can teach your child numerous concepts and self-help skills, while also promoting physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and language development. Talk with your children every day from the day of birth. When they are old enough to respond, ask questions. Children learn so much simply by hearing language and responding to it.

Look for teachable moments in your child’s day. When you notice your child demonstrating curiosity or unusual interest in something, encourage exploration by providing for a variety of opportunities to experience it and by talking with your child about it. Find safe and appropriate ways to encourage your child to explore the world using all five senses. Allow your child to play in a variety of safe environments. Sing to your child, make music, and encourage your child to help you with various household chores. Even very young children can help sort the laundry or pick up toys. Such tasks provide extremely valuable learning opportunities.

Educating and equipping yourself

There is a wealth of information available about child development, education, and parenting. Many hospitals, childcare centers, places of worship, and schools will be happy to provide you with resources free of charge. Check the local library – and don’t limit yourself to browsing the books. Many libraries subscribe to professional periodicals, which can provide you with some of the most current and well documented information available. You might want to consider a subscription of your own, or you can look into joining a professional organization committed to the care and education of children. Many of these organizations, such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Association for Childhood Education International, and the Council for Exceptional Children, will provide you with various educational materials as a membership benefit. Membership in a professional organization also provides you with the additional benefit of having a voice in the field of education – something that you, as an educator of your own children, should seek.

The more that you educate yourself about child development and positive interactions with children, the better you will begin to understand the things you observe and experience on a daily basis. This will reduce frustration between you and your child and will also help you to make good choices for your family and respond to your children in ways that will help them to feel understood and respected.

Moving outside the home

If parents are ultimately responsible for the education of their own children, what happens when parents make a decision to find people outside the home to help provide education? Remember that when you pass the duty along to someone else, the responsibility does not entirely transfer. You are responsible for making careful choices about whom you entrust with your child. Having worked in numerous childcare and educational settings, I have been amazed at the lack of information that some parents have gathered about a center or school prior to registering their children there. Do your research, and choose wisely. Ask a lot of questions. Many books and articles have been written about how to choose a center or school. Check them out and ask the questions suggested. Additionally, I offer some lesser thought of questions that I wish parents would ask more often (see sidebar).

Ongoing accountability

Even after you have thoroughly researched and investigated your choices for your team of educators and caregivers, your task of holding them accountable should be ongoing. Be aware of what is going on at school. Make a habit of exchanging conversation with staff members who work with your child. Ask questions about what you can be doing to follow up at home on the things your child has been learning. Converse with your child about the day and listen for opportunities to extend, explore further, or clarify ideas your child has been learning from others.

Consider the questions listed in the sidebar. Chances are good that even when you do your research and choose the best option available for your child, some of the recommended practices listed will not yet be in place. Talk to the administration about the possibility of implementing some changes. Let administrators know that you want to see staff development taking place. If the center or school seems weak in a particular area, ask if the administration has considered hiring an additional staff person to specialize in that area. If you notice outstanding teachers, make a point to let administrators know and ask that they find ways to reward those teachers for a job well done. Encourage administrators to work hard to keep their best teachers on staff for a very long time.

You are a client of the people you choose to allow to help educate your children, and you should expect the same exceptional service you want from any other type of business. Set high standards for the people you entrust with your children, and establish an expectation of consistent quality that only continues to improve. When you notice improvements taking place, make a point to express appreciation for them. By holding those who teach your children accountable, you can take some responsibility for what your children are learning even when you aren’t there.

Making the commitment

You can’t control everything that happens in regards to your child’s development and education. But you can take responsibility, educate and equip yourself, and hold others accountable in their roles of assisting you and your child. Remember that education is an ongoing process, and you can and should enjoy the learning process alongside your child for a lifetime. Make a commitment to be your child’s number one partner in education. You’ll not only improve the quality of your child’s education, but you’ll also open doors to share wonderful experiences with your precious child – and create memories to last a lifetime.