 Ten Ways for Parents to Help Your Child's Teacher By Mimi Doe Source: National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Create a
smooth takeoff each day.
Give your child a hug before she ventures out the door and you head to work. Look her
in the eye,
and
tell her how proud you are of her. Your child's self-confidence and security will help her do well
both in school
self-confidence and security will help her do well both in school and in life.  Prepare
for a happy landing at the
end of the day when you reconvene. Create a predictable ritual such as 10–20 minutes listening to your child talk about his day—before you check phone messages, read the mail, or begin dinner. That way you are fully present to listen, and your child has a touchstone he can count on between school and home.  Fill your child's
lunchbox with
healthy snacks and lunches. Have dinner at a reasonable hour and a healthy breakfast. A well-balanced diet maximizes your child's learning potential. Include calm, peaceful times in your children's afternoons and evenings. Maintain a schedule that allows them to go to school rested, and if they are sick, have a system in place so they are able to stay home.  Remember
it's your children's
homework, not yours. Create a
specific homework space that's clutter-free and quiet. Encourage
editing and double-checking work, but allow your kids to make mistakes,
as it's the only way teachers can gauge if they
understand the material. It's also how children learn responsibility for the quality of their work. ,
looking over the homework when complete is fine
responsibility for the
quality of their work. ,
looking over the homework when complete is fine. Fill your child's life with a love by showing him
your own curiosity, respecting his questions, and encouraging his
efforts. Fill your home with books to read,
books simply to look at, and books that provide answers to life's many questions. The public or school library is an excellent resource.   Be a
partner with your
child's teacher. When you need to speak to him or her in reference to a specific issue with your child, do it privately, not in front of your child. Make a point never to criticize your child's teacher in front of your child.   Set up a system where routine
items are easily located—such as backpacks, shoes, signed notices. Create a central calendar for upcoming events to avoid the unexpected.  Tuck a
"love note" in your child's
lunch bag to let her know how special she is. Knowing they are loved makes it easier for children to be kind to others.   Be sure your child gets enough
rest and rises early to be on time for school. Arriving on time
helps your child's transistion in a
positive way and promotes learning during the school day. It
teaches your child being punctual is respectful.
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