South Africa requires of its people highly competitive skills to survive socially, economically and intellectually. All children must be encouraged to fully utilise the academic opportunities they receive.

Academic growth requires dedication and hard work. As a parent you have to provide your children with everything they need to do their homework and to study regularly in order to gain success. The following guidelines will help you to support your children in this regard:

  • Provide a quiet place at home for studying. Have a dictionary and other reference materials available
  • Expect your child to do her or his best work on homework and school assignments. “It’s OK,” often isn’t good enough
  • Review your child’s daily schoolwork and homework assignments. Ask her or him questions and praise her or his efforts. This allows you to keep in touch with what he or she is studying and lets you know when he or she is having difficulty
  • Encourage your child to write. Help her or him write thank you notes to relatives, shopping lists, schedules of activities and stories
  • Watch TV programmes together. Help your child recognise the difference between what is “real” and what is fantasy or “pretend”
  • Play games with your child. Ask her or him to read the rules to you and to explain them in her or his own words
  • Encourage young children to play with paper, pencils, crayons, chalk, markers and paints. These activities develop coordination and creativity
  • To emphasise important math concepts, use such everyday activities as keeping a growth chart or counting knives and forks when setting the table
  • Set an example by reading at home. Your child should see you reading books, magazines and newspapers. Read aloud frequently to your young child
  • Continue to emphasise schoolwork as a priority for older children. Jobs, sports, clubs and other activities should not be allowed to interfere with learning

For other relevant topics in this series, read the articles listed below on this Website:

  • How to fulfil your basic duties as a parent
  • How to communicate effectively and cooperate with the school
  • How to develop positive attitudes and motivation for learning
  • How to assist and support your child at home and at school(introduction)
  • Parent support for children during their school years

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EWP) is available 24 hours if you want to discuss your support for your child.

Written by LifeAssist