| It's probably not surprising to learn that children | | | | contributing to the school sale, which isn't a strong |
| who have parents that are actively involved with | | | | interest for your child, perhaps you can organise a |
| their hobbies, school or other activities tend to | | | | bake sale to raise funds for uniforms and |
| excel at their extra-curricular and day to day | | | | equipment. In this way you are using something |
| educational pursuits. Parental involvement can | | | | you like to do, alongside one of his interests. |
| positively impact their cognitive development, | | | | Your skills are also a very important part of this |
| strengthen the parent-child relationships, keep | | | | picture, so don't feel compelled to do something |
| children motivated and overall increase their | | | | you loathe or feel uncomfortable with in the name |
| achievement. And, the benefits are not only for | | | | of taking an active interest. Your child wants you |
| children. Active parent involvement can help | | | | to be happy supporting and getting involved, not |
| parents gain a positive outlook on their parenting, | | | | acting out a drama / sacrifice for them. So, |
| increase self esteem and is likely to increase | | | | consider what talents you bring to the table and |
| overall satisfaction with their child's experience at | | | | find or create opportunities to support and get |
| school. | | | | involved with the activities, hobbies or groups that |
| But where and how do you get involved? Juggling | | | | are most important to her. For example, |
| busy schedules of parents and children is a | | | | fundraising might be the usual call for parent |
| modern day challenge and between the calendar | | | | involvement, but perhaps your skills are in sewing |
| for work, home and school it feels that the | | | | and designing - maybe you can offer to get |
| modern family has very little opportunity for | | | | involved with the school play instead. Remember, |
| quality time. However, there are a surprising array | | | | the idea here is that your involvement in your |
| of different ways to fit any parent's availability. | | | | child's activities should be a positive experience for |
| You can create a positive experience for both | | | | you both and your level of happiness at being |
| parent and child, with a little careful planning and | | | | involved will be noticed by your child. If you are |
| commitment. | | | | not happy being there, very quickly, neither will |
| A good place to start is to find out what your | | | | they. |
| child is most passionate about. It will do no good | | | | The bottom line is that there are enormous |
| for your relationship with your child for you to | | | | benefits for children and parents when parents |
| take an active interest in a hobby or activity that | | | | get involved and stay involved with activities that |
| does not genuinely interest your child and which | | | | engage and inspire their children. Children who |
| they may be doing 'because you (the parent) like | | | | have parents involved with and supporting their |
| it'. Similarly, choosing a supportive activity that | | | | hobbies are less likely to play up, have emotional |
| suits your skills is important, but not if it doesn't | | | | problems, get into mischief or have problems at |
| fit with the activity she cares most about. For | | | | school. And, of course the parent-child bonding |
| example, perhaps you thought about volunteering | | | | brings significant benefit for your ongoing |
| for the school bake sale, but he is more actively | | | | relationship with your child. It's a win-win situation |
| interested in his local little league team. Instead of | | | | and you can't ask for better than that! |