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Jagpreet
02 September, 2024
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“Being a parent can be tough, but just remember that in your child’s eye, nobody is better than you”
That’s what a random quote on the internet reads. For a child, his parents can be his role model,. When it comes to education, we often overlook the impact of parental bonds on a child’s academics. A teacher may teach him trigonometry or Shakespeare literature, however, only parents can influence their interests or support their children fully. A research paper concerning this topic suggests that many studies have also shown the importance of a positive bond between schools and homes on a child’s academic success and development. In fact, strong parental involvement provides an opportunity for schools to upgrade their programmes. This can only be done if parents have acquired a high level of education.
In this blog, let’s study the influence of parental education on a child’s academic success and the role they play.
A research report published in The International Journal of Indian Psychology shows that parents with strong educational backgrounds are more involved in their child’s performance. This ultimately leads to a child’s academic success and improved performance. Yes, it is true that parent’s involvement in a child’s academics plays a crucial role in developing interest and improving their performance. Various studies support the hypothesis that parental education influences a child’s academic success.
A study conducted in the Sivasagar district of Assam suggested that there is a significant association between parental education and a child’s overall academic success. In the section below, let’s see the influence of parental education on a child’s academic success.
Homework Assistance: Parents with a high level of education are more invested in their child’s studies. They can provide full assistance in completing their homework, projects and revisions. Their involvement in homework creates better results and strengthens the parental bond.
School Engagement: Parents who are themselves aware of the school’s academics and subjects are more engaged with the school’s curriculum. From parent-teacher meetings to attending suggestion committees, parents are actively engaged in school activities. This also helps in understanding your child’s performance, problems (if any), and interests.
Educational Expectations and Aspirations: Research shows that parents who are highly educated often have high expectations from their children. They encourage them to work hard and fulfil their aspirations. Moreover, those parents can guide throughout the path like which subjects to choose and what are the things to be focussed. Such children are more confident and have clear goals compared to others.
Home Learning Environment: Parents who themselves have a rich educational background are seen motivating their children to indulge in activities like reading, and healthy discussions and motivating the child to participate in school activities apart from the studies. They know the real meaning of overall growth and development.
Socioeconomic Status: Apart from the influence of parental education on a child’s academic success, it impacts socioeconomic status as well. With higher education of children comes good job opportunities and higher salaries. The high-income level of parents gives access to school facilities, and better learning facilities through tutoring and extracurricular activities.
Emotional Support: Such parents know the importance of mental health and can recognise the signs of stress, anxiety or whether their child is facing any difficulty at school. They can provide the necessary help at an appropriate time.
Parents play a key role in the child’s development and the academic journey. Here are a few aspects:
Parents are the role models: Having a happy and positive environment at home helps develop a child’s cognitive mind. As parents are the window for the child, they often see them as their role models or ‘superheroes’. Being a role model to your child, you can teach some very important life lessons and guide them in their career. A strong guidance from parents without any pressure can positively impact a child’s classroom performance.
Stay involved in their life: You should be involved in your child’s academic and other activities. This gives them a feeling of support and boosts their confidence. You can often indulge in activities like reading, solving puzzles, and playing games. These are the best ways to improve your child’s learning, strengthen your bond and develop problem-solving skills.
Give constructive criticism: Parents are often afraid of pointing out little things to their children. Criticism may give a feeling of distance between parents and children. So the criticism has to be tactical, making the child feel confident without giving them the feeling that they failed. But some friendly criticism may never hurt. It is better to sit down and work on the problem together instead of simply saying you are wrong.
Give them the freedom to choose: Parents want their children to achieve everything. From the beginning, they start worrying about their career and decide everything on their own. This puts pressure on the child and impacts his/her learning. Unburden your child from all your expectations at an early age and give them the freedom to choose while you continue to advise them on those matters. This does not mean completely devoiding yourself of their decision. Share your suggestions, listen to their opinion and have a healthy discussion before choosing anything.
Celebrate every success of your child’s success: In life, it’s the little things that bring big smiles. Yes, celebrate your child’s every little achievement, for scoring well in class, for making new friends, or for getting a participation certificate in a competition. It will motivate them to perform better next time and continue their hard work.
Sometimes out of concern or competition in society to make your child perfect in everything, parents take certain actions which impact the overall growth and development of their child.
Do not bribe or threaten the school employees to do what you want. This will give your child the wrong impression that even if he/she does anything inappropriate, you will get him out by hook or crook.
Avoid abusing your child physically or emotionally to make them work harder.
Let your child do whatever he/she wants. Your child needs firm and clear boundaries which can be loosened at times.
Changing schools frequently.
Pressurising them to get perfect scores or comparing them with other children.
Devoiding them of their social life to make them focus on studies. This can adversely affect their mental health.
Every parent wants the best for his child, you should try to be more involved in his school activities, and work on his homework and assignments together.
Parents are the first teachers of their child. Therefore, the influence of parental education on a child’s academic success is immense. This can be seen as a sign to create more opportunities for parental education and supporting them to work towards the future of their child.
Parents can tutor their children, help them with homework, be involved in their school activities and stay aware of the new educational programmes. This creates a learning environment at home.
A positive and healthy family background impacts highly on a child’s development and leads to better results in academics.
