There are many simple but amazingly productive techniques that influence your child's performance and behavior at school and home. How many of the following statements are reflective of your involvement with your child's academic experience?

I know how much homework my child has each night.
I review homework and check papers daily.
I attend PTA and school board meetings.
I spend one-on-one time with my child.
I provide maps, globes, dictionaries, and other reference material at home.
I attend extra-curricular activities.
I meet with my child's teacher regularly.
I make sure my child has a nutritious breakfast each day.
I make sure my child gets enough sleep and daily exercise.
I frequently praise my child for effort as well as achievement.
If you answered yes to the majority of the statements above, congratulations! You are helping to give your child the A+ advantage. If you answered no to more than half, reconsider those areas and try to make improvements for your child's benefit.

Implications of Parental Involvement

The positive impact of parent involvement is well documented. Research indicates children benefit from parental involvement in the following ways:

Better grades and test scores.
Better attendance.
Greater completion rate of homework.
Higher graduation rates.
More involvement in extra-curricular activities.
Improved attitude and better all-round behavior (Popkin, 1995).
Joan E. Garrett, Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences, Clermont County

Excerpted with permission from Ohio State University Extension Service