A Parent’s Vision and High Expectations are Powerful

Your vision and high expectations of your child’s future are powerful – and research shows that they impact your child’s school achievement. From the time your child begins school until he or she graduates from high school, your expectations and your belief in the importance of education can motivate your child to fulfill his or her dreams. Parents who expect their children to finish high school and attend university or a vocational program communicate that belief in many ways. Studies show that parents who do this give their children an advantage at school. This particular form of parent involvement influences your child to believe in the power of education. The vision and expectations you have for your child’s schooling can be expressed in many ways.

You are providing high expectations and helping your child succeed when you:

1. Communicate Hopes and Expectations

It’s important to discuss your hopes and dreams for your child’s education early and regularly with him or her, and even Kindergarten isn’t too early to start! These conversations let your child know that education is important to your family. You give your child a goal to aim for when you:

• Ask about and listen to your child’s thoughts on the future;
• Share your hopes for education after high school;
• State your belief in your child’s ability to achieve career or vocational training.

Your hopes and expectations are the foundation for achieving goals and the most powerful influence on your child’s school performance. Expect your child to:

• Give the school their best effort and attendance;
• Follow through on their responsibilities, like completing homework, handing in a task on time, and studying for tests;
• Pursue education beyond high school.

2. Connect School to Life

Knowing what your child is studying in school helps focus your conversation of future goals. It keeps your child looking forward. You help build the bridge of “from here to there” when you:

• Connect school subjects to current events, personal interests, or career goals through conversation with your child;
• Connect school subjects to your child’s activities, hobbies, and places your child attends;
• Share your own personal successes and challenges with school.

3. Build Study Skills and Strategies

Children in middle school begin to take ownership of the goals, beliefs, and motivations they’ve been taught at home. Help them reinforce the skills they need to make academic progress in school and beyond. You do this when you:

• Make homework and studying a priority at home;
• Help your child learn to break down long or difficult assignments into easier and more manageable pieces;
• Keep reading time high and screen time low outside of school (screen time includes video games, computer games, social media, TV, and even mobile phone games!);
• Help your child learn how to manage time for studies, outside activities, and household/job responsibilities;
• Say “You can do it!” Tell your child you believe they are capable of doing the school work and then praise any progress;
• Help your child learn how to find school help.

4. Help Your Child Plan for the Future

The academic choices children make starting in high school can impact their transition to university and vocational training. That’s why your guidance and help with planning are key to your child’s future success. You can help your child plan for the future when you:

• Know the classes your child needs to earn a High School Certificate and make sure he or she takes them;
• Learn about high school classes that your child must take to be eligible for post-secondary programs and encourage them to take them;
• Understand the admission process for entering a post-secondary program, such as university or vocational training.