By Barbara FeltonInstructional Technology SpecialistWellfleet Elementary SchoolWellfleet, MA

Success in School Begins at Home

• Make sure your children get enough sleep according to their needs.

• Make sure your child arrives on time for school. Missing a few minutes of work each day adds up very fast.

Have your child come to school alert and ready to learn.

A Child’s Success Begins at Home

• There should be a regular time to do homework.

• Children should do their homework in a central area such as the dining room.

• If your child asks for help, work with him/her to arrive at the answer.

Helping Your Child to Do His/Her Homework

A Child’s Success Begins at Home

• Prevent your child from experiencing “overload” from too many activities.

• Help your child prioritize what outside activities he/she would like to do.

• Make it clear that participating in too many activities may cause “burnout.”

Giving Your Children Time to Be Themselves

A Child’s Success Begins at Home

• Call your child frequently.• Have the phone where you

are posted so your child can easily see it.

• If possible, have someone stop in to check on your child.

• Make it clear to your child not to let anyone in that you have not told him/her is coming.

• If possible, have an activity out for your child to do.

If You Can’t Be There When Your Child Gets Home

A Child’s Success Begins at Home

• If possible, get to know the parents of a potential playmate.

• Observe their play.• Monitor their dialogue. Is

there swearing or bullying behavior?

• If there is a questionable playmate situation, invite the child to your house to play.

• If your child still insists on this playmate, try to arrive at a solution together.

• If this does not work, help your child choose more suitable playmates.

Help Your Children Choose Their Playmates

A Child’s Success Begins at Home

• Intervene if the play becomes to rough or dangerous.

• You might wish to prohibit play that simulates violence, i.e. playing with toy guns, sticks, or laser pointers.

• The children should be where you can see them at all times.

Restrict the Type of Play

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X X

A Child’s Success Begins at Home

• Keep the television in an open area.

• Set up a time for watching TV early in the evening.

• If you are able, program your TV to block shows that are undesirable for children to watch.

• If not, make sure child does not watch adult oriented shows with violence or killings.

• Restrict trips to the movies or rentals to G or PG movies.

• Unfortunately, you probably cannot control what your child watches at a friend’s house.

Preventing Your Child from Exposure to Violence

A Child’s Success Begins at Home

• Set a definite time for use of the computer.• Restrict how long the child is using the

computer.• The computer should be located in a highly

traveled, central location.• The child should not have a computer in

his/her room.• If you have blocking software, be sure it is

active.• Observe what your child is doing on the

computer.• Caution your child to never give out either

his first or last name nor where he lives.• Your child should never send his/her

picture.• Your child should never give out to anybody

his/her Internet password.• Assure you child that he/she can come to

you if there is something on the computer screen that makes the child anxious.

Keep Your Child Internet Safe

Your Children’s Success in the Future

Life has its twists and turns. With you help, your children will bebetter able to deal with them and move forward in a positive way.