Parents, home play crucial role in kids’ studies

A FAMILY counselor says the home and the family are important for children to excel in school.

Maribel Sison-Dionisio last Thursday offered ways to help young students perform well in school based on a study she conducted in 2005 in eight Marikina and nine Bulacan schools.

Out of 2,000 parents who answered a 100-item questionnaire, 80 percent said their children excel without professional tutors.

Dionisio said the parents acted as tutors in the first 12 years of their children’s life.

Dionisio said many teenagers who don’t know the rules of the house may end up watching the television.
She encouraged parents to come up with a list of things they want their children to do in a day.

This will develop good study habits among the children, she said.

Dionisio said that it is important for children and teenagers to build self-esteem and to feel that they have a place at home.

In order to do this, the study says that parents should be supportive of their children even when they get low grades.

Congratulate

Parents should also congratulate their children for their successes, affirm their positive qualities, and acknowledge their contributions at home.

The study also shows that more than 80 percent of the parents say they encourage their children to read.

Dionisio said communication lines must be kept open and parents should respect their children.

The parents should also enhance their relationship by spending time together at least once a week.

They should balance work and family, and preserve affection, presence and spirituality at home. (NRC)