Get in tune with your kid: Working together to thrive in school
July 25, 2012
Upon receiving a scholarship or financial aid for moms and enrolling in school, your child may prove to be your best support system. Not only do you want to succeed in your classes, but you also want your son or daughter to do well. Since both of you are pursuing education, you can use this bond to fuel both of your pursuits.
Homework time
For single parents, it's often hard to find quiet time to study and do homework because children need a lot of attention. But if your child is in school, set up an hour or two each day when both of you can do schoolwork. Either decide to work independently and quietly in different sections of the house, or make it a communal effort where you can ask each other questions if you get stumped. Brainstorming together can help produce some great work, and doing homework alongside your child can reinforce the importance of studying.
Dinner conversations
Dinnertime shouldn't revolve around school, but you can use the time to talk about your class time. Ask your daughter about the "roses and thorns" of the day, meaning her best and worst moment. Maybe your son had a really tough math problem he couldn't figure out, but got a 10 out of 10 on the spelling test. Discuss your own experiences as well, which lets you both talk about your day in a new way and makes the tough stuff a little easier.
School tours
Just like you are interested in your child's school, teacher and classmates, your son or daughter might want to know what mom's school is like. Oftentimes, continuing education classes have a day when children are invited to come with their parents and participate in class. If not, ask your professor if it's okay, or just bring your child to the campus one day to get a feel for the place. This not only gets your kid excited for the prospect of college, but can make them look up to you as a role model.
