A Washington Post article speaks, among other things, about how the parents or the primary caregiver of a child are of pivotal importance in a child’s education and success as a student.
A parent or primary caregiver is a child’s first teacher, their best coach and most concerned advocate, starting early according to the post.
Parents can give their child a head start in education by:
- Reading to and talking with their very young children from the beginning. This will help to develop speaking skills and vocabulary now and later will improve reading and writing proficiency.
- Guide the child early on so that by the end of Grade 3 he or she is able to read proficiently.
- Teach the child early on, to choose reading as entertainment or free time activity to choose over other less desirable activities.
- If help is required, mobilize it with the help of teachers, education specialists and even medical professionals if required.
- If required parents should develop and hone their own literacy skills and language abilities so that they can help their children succeed in school.
- After school and summer activities should be in place to ensure that the child is in the learning loop at all times.