Engage in your child’s education through volunteering. By fully engaging in the life of your child’s school you’ll enjoy a richer school experience and help your kids to succeed as well.
There are some compelling reasons why you should maximise your engagement in your child’s school-life.
- You help your child succeed at school. The positive correlation between a parent’s school engagement and a child’s success at school has been repeatedly found in studies across the globe. Positive participation demonstrates to children that you value learning as well as their school. Kids of all ages copy their parents’ views so your positive involvement in both school and learning is catching. In short, if you want to maximise your child’s chances of success then engage as fully as possible in the life of your child’s school.
- You learn what happens at school. Let’s face it, some kids are conversational clams so it’s hard finding out about their day at school. By helping out in the class, going on an excursion or helping to maintain their school gardens you find out for yourself how modern schools operate.
- The school will value your contribution. The recent flurry of capital expenditure in school buildings may suggest that there is plenty of money around for education. Nothing could be further from the truth. Schools run on tight budgets and rely on volunteer assistance inside and outside the classroom. In many cases, if volunteers don’t do a job, it won’t be done. It’s that simple.
- You will feel more connected to your community. Social researchers have noted that children’s schools offer many people their first connection to their town or suburb. Mobility is a feature of Australian families with many parents moving vast distances from where they grew up and away from their extended family and peers. Whether you are an urban dweller, a regional city resident or live in a small country town, your child’s school offers an entry into a wide social circle.
- Volunteering is good for your mental health and well-being. Mental health professionals point to volunteering as an important way to maintain good mental health. Not only does volunteering prevent social isolation but it offers the chance to get a feeling of satisfaction from helping out that money just can’t buy.