eTIPS for Parents

Here's an easy formula for helping your child with math

You can help your child learn math even if you don't remember any of the math you took in school. For a start, ask questions about your student's math work, such as "How did you arrive at that answer?" or "Look at this page of problems. Do you see a pattern?" Then, make an effort to involve your child often in practical math at home, such as measuring. Making sure your child has a study routine that includes daily math practice will also add up to better math skills.

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Service projects boost connection and community

When your family volunteers in the community together, your child gets quality time with you and learns the joy of helping others. Great projects to do with kids include collecting canned goods for a food pantry, or asking neighbors and friends for gently-used children's books and donating them to a homeless shelter. You and your child might also write letters or make care packages for local people serving in the military.

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Reading gives your child words to use when writing

To be strong writers, students need large vocabularies. To help your child develop one, encourage lots of reading. More reading exposes your child to more new words. When an unfamiliar word appears, see if your child can guess its meaning from the text around it. Later, look it up together. For fun and practice when writing, see how many words your child can replace without changing the meaning.

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How to enforce limits without saying 'no' all the time

Every parent and caregiver has to set limits. But when kids hear "no," they often stop listening and start arguing. To teach your child to respect the reasons behind the rules, try giving a conditional "yes" instead of a "no." For example, if your child asks to watch TV, instead of saying "No. You have to do your reading," you might say "Yes, when you have finished your reading." That "yes" can keep your child listening to the rest of the sentence.

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Help your child feel capable of doing hard things

Feeling capable gives children the confidence to take on challenges and succeed in school. To encourage that self-confidence, teach your child how to do things without help. Notice your student's strengths and encourage them. Ask for and appreciate your child's help. And always praise your child for trying, no matter what the outcome.

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Make learning responsibility enjoyable for your child

Kids learn best when learning is fun. That applies to learning responsibility, too. So, assign your child some regular chores that are not too long or burdensome. Then, make them more fun by doing them together and singing songs or playing music while you work. You can even make chores part of a game: See who can pick up their toys the fastest, or how much you and your child can get done in a set time.

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Help your child hear what fluent reading sounds like

Skilled readers read fluently. They move quickly through sentences, understanding the words and the meaning. Hearing what fluent reading sounds like can help students gain this skill. When you read aloud to your child, try to sound as though you are speaking naturally, rather than reading. Playing audiobooks also lets your child hear what fluent reading sounds like.

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