Back-to-school season is upon us! Parents have done so much to get children ready for the new year, so what’s next? In my early years as a parent, I felt that I had done a great job in preparing my kids for school; they were in bed on time, had a healthy breakfast, finished their homework, and I was involved at the school. There is always the fine balance between preparing our children and being the notorious “helicopter parent”. During my oldest daughter’s second grade parent-teacher conference, Mrs. Johnson gave me a bit of a course correction and reminded me to “pay more attention”. She nicely reminded me that school systems are big with many challenges to meet the needs of different kinds of students. In Podcast Episode #30 – Parent Advocate, I share my story and encourage you with ways to prepare your children but to always pay close attention! As parents, it is our job to make certain that our children are getting their needs met, especially those visual learners who may not fit the mold of the left-brain learner.

Let Go and Stay Involved with Your Child’s Education: Podcast 30

Resources mentioned in the Podcast:

• Ten Tips to a Successful School Year – Click here for your free copy!
• Do you have a visual learner? Take this quiz!
• Being Visual is available now – Click here for your copy!

Notes from the Podcast:

Great teachers are all different, but some qualities remain the same:

• They make everything richer
• They have a commitment to children
• They have experience with children

You did a great job as parents preparing them for school, but now what?

1. Stay attentive and stay involved
2. Don’t just “trust” school
   1. You’re the parent, and you know your child best
3. Visual learners will need more attention and more advocacy

How do you stay involved without being a helicopter parent?

1. Never be adversarial
2. Work together and build a partnership
3. Read the newsletters
4. Know what’s happening in the classroom
5. Look at what’s being brought home
6. Take action on notes and suggestions from your teacher
7. Go to the events
8. Schedule conferences
9. Check in on homework

You are your child’s advocate, they will always get new teachers and friends but you will always be their parent.