Parentzone
What parents can do
It can be difficult for busy parents to spend a lot of time supporting their children’s learning, especially when there is more than one child in a family. Here are some things that you, or other members of your family, can do to help your child learn out of school.
Out-of-school clubs
As a parent you can help by:
- encouraging your children to take part in a range of out-of-school clubs
- going along to see what is happening at different clubs
- going to events that show what the children have been doing
- asking the school if you can help run a club or volunteer to take a workshop.
Supporting school learning at home
The best way of doing this is by taking an interest in what your child is doing at school. For ideas on helping with homework see the help with homework information.
If your school has special materials which you can borrow to use at home, make time to try them out.
For younger children this can include:
- story sacks or bookbags, which you read along with your child
- science boxes, which have tasks for you to do with your child using everyday materials, to help them learn about things like light, colour, water and insects
- curiosity kits, to encourage children to explore and find out things for themselves
- other materials and activities to help with reading, writing and maths.
For older children (early secondary school) you can:
- ask about mathematics or reading tasks that you can help with
- help with a subject area that interests you
- ask them to tell you about what they are learning at school.
Anytime learning
There are also lots of ways to make ordinary, everyday things a learning opportunity.
For young children this can include:
- making use of your store cupboard items to help with reading and counting.
- encouraging your child to help with the shopping and adding up the costs, or make comparisons between sizes and weights.
- allowing them to help with cooking.
- reading notices and signs when you are out walking.
- visits to libraries and museums.
- allowing them to use websites suitable for younger children.
- watching children’s TV with them and talking about it.
For older children this can include:
- using the internet to find out about travel and costs for the holidays or days out.
- discussing what is happening in the news.
- discussing the TV programmes they watch.
- asking about the magazines and books they are reading or the latest video they have watched.
- asking for help when decorating or renovating the house. Tasks may include measuring a room for wallpaper or new carpet.
