Do you worry about your kid's/kids' education?

Question

So many parents SAY they do, but they don't act like it. For example, they don't make sure that their kids read during the summer, or work on their academic weaknesses.

So many parents won't even discuss the prospect of college for their child. I think the goal of college has to be set in a child's head starting at a young age.

Do you have educational goals, and do you set aside time when school is not in session for educational activities for your child?

Answer 1

I have always believed that a good education is a high priority in life.   But also  along with that haveing the child realize they need to excell in many areas in life.  To be sooo book smart your dunce in social settings and street stupid is not of value in the "real world".  When  school and college ends, that is where they will be.  A balanced view has always been the highest goal I've instilled in my girls.  They are great academic acheivers, and very well adjusted, my oldest daughter completed two years 9, and 10 grades in one year...she will be completing 11 and 12 this next year, that's her goal anyways.  I think instilling the 'love of learning' in your kids is what is important.  They can get burned out just like adults if pushed too hard.  Goals are important and it takes pro active parents or a pro active parent to help guide the direction those goals go in.  Sadly, I think all to often parents allow school systems to mold and shape our children.  Therefore, there is a lack of values that are placed before our kids.  Home environment has alot to do with that.

Answer 2

it's summer and my kids have a break so it shouldn't all be about more school work. However my older son got a D in the last marking period of school in Science so over the course of the summer he has to do 4 book reports for me all related to Science of course, because a D is not acceptable considering he got B's the first 3 marking periods which shows he can do the work he just got lazy that last semester.

Answer 3

I absolutely stress the importance of education to my children, as any good parent will do!

It is absolutely sad the number of parents who look at school as nothing more than a babysitter.  I am tired of hearing parents say they can not wait for their children to go back to school and get out of their hair.  <sigh>   These are probably the same parents that never attend a parent/teacher conference, etc.

My experience is somewhat different because I homeschool my children.  My oldest is 10 years and my youngest is 10 months.  For us, homeschooling is a lifestyle.  Education is not something that is limited to a building called "school" 8-3, Monday-Friday, September-May.  It also does not start at age 5 and end at age 18.

From the time I was pregnant with my first child, they have all been read to in the womb.  We read, play educational games, do educational activities, participate in educational programs.  The television is used as a tool, not as a babysitter.  All of this is in addition to the curriculum we use.

As for college, my ten year old is an aspiring veterinarian.  We have spent a good amount of time researching the vet schools so that we can make sure she follows the right path, as it is such a competitive field.  Yes, she may change her mind and that is okay but for five years now she has said she is going to be a veterinarian and I am going to fully support her in that, or any other field.  

My son is still uncertain about what he wants to do with his future but he is only eight years old.  We discuss various options, but do not want to press him.  He knows it is important to us that he complete his education, though.

Whether a child is public, private or homeschooled, education needs to be a number one priority in the life of a child and his/her parents.  I make sure my children know it is for us.

Growing up, I was the child with parents you describe.  Thankfully, I had a natural desire for learning even though it was not important to my mother.  The fact that I have been an avid reader since I was a toddler is part of that (and was not attributed to my mother).

Answer 4

Education is important, but it should be balanced with other things. Social activities and sports, etc are crucial to a well balanced lifestyle. I'd rather teach my children useful things that facts from a book. Constantly pushing a child to meet targets is counter productive, they should do it because they want to.

Answer 5

Sadly, I don't think a lot of people really even know how to work with their children on academics.  Their parents didn't work with them, either, in a lot of cases.  My husband taught in Junior High for two years, and there were also a lot of parents who had the attitude that the schools were supposed to do EVERYTHING.

I was a speech pathologist in elementary schools before I had my children, and that was even worse, because I saw kids for two 30 minute group sessions a week, and somehow that alone was supposed to change a lifelong habit of poor speech for these kids.

That being said, I am not certain that I think college is as necessary as it used to be.  My husband is now in software design, and a degree is not nearly as important as experience, which you don't really get in college anyway.  Many professions seem to be turning toward experience based hiring, even apprentiships.  College has become the new high school, having so many general education requirements that the graduates don't really get much education on their profession.

I try to make learning an attitude for my children, a preschooler and toddler.  Everyday occurences lead to discussions of math, science and reading, and when there is curiousity about something, we explore it until satisfied, but no pushing.  I do not want learning to become something distasteful, which happened to my brother.

Answer 6

I totally know what you mean. I have 4 boys and yes I DO care about their education. My oldest are twins age 13 and are both honor roll students. My middle son is 11 and is high honors (straight A's) and I still have them do reading and writing over the summer. For the most part they like to read anyway but sometimes they get caught up in summer activities and need reminders. I also take them running daily to keep them in shape for cross country running because they are on the school team and it starts up in Sept and I swear I am the only one who keeps her kids running in the summer.

My youngest son is 8 and has a learning disability. I faught for him to be evaluated when he was in kindergarten and struggling. No one was doing anything. Finally I got them to give him a full evaluation at the beginning of first grade and sure enough he was diagnosed with a learning disability, Mainly processing issues and memory issues. My son goes to summer school for 4 weeks during the summer and on top of that I work with him daily. I have tons of books with math learning, fluency, phonics, reading comprehension to work with him. We do math flash cards and play math games. He has a white board and I will call out a word and he has to write it and then we spell it together.

It is so important for him to do this stuff so he doesn't lose what he has learned over the summer. Of course there is still plenty of time for fun. It's not as if I make do a full day of learing. We set aside an hour in the evening and we pick two or three activities to do. last night he wrote in his summer journal, did one math paper and we did flash cards for the names of each month.

I get praised by the special ed team constantly for how involved I am and how much I do for my son. They are always saying "we wish there were more mom's like you"...to me it's just natural and I would think it is what any parent who cares about their kid would do. It's surprising that so many don't. Even with all I do, I still worry about him making it through.

Answer 7

yes especially the way it raises year after year,,

and the grants and funding are getting lower and lower,,

h**l the fund has to be started as soon as you get married and even before kids are thought of now adays,,

Answer 8

"Children's"

Your children's education.

"Kids" are little baby goats.

;-)

Answer 9

ok let me start out like this im 18 and but i was 17 win i had me son but the schools that are around here are all adout football thats it. i have no pro with foodball but win teachers know about some thing that was with s*x and no one done nothing about it and the teacher are sitll here for my son i want let him go here and deal with this ****.  it dont hit you un you have a kid. ';-)

Answer 10

I care.  Not all lessons can be taught from in front of a chalk board.  

Summer lessons such as volunteering, seeing a re-inactment, touching/connecting with a dolphin or a sick eagle ray, caring for an elderly person, taking an eco trek, hanging a ceiling fan, changing oil, planting a garden, canning pickles, cooking my great grandmother's favorite cake recipe - those are lessons we learn in my home.

During the school year, I do keep engaged my my HS daughter's homework and studies.   I am interested in what she learns and what she thinks about the content she is being provided in her lessons.    

I homeschool my youngest - so that I would say is the ultimate involvement.   I chose to homeschool because I was worried she would not receive a quality and well rounded education in the public school system where I live.

Answer 11

As a teacher, I can't agree with you more. However, I'm not sure what you mean by educational activities--some kids just aren't readers, so it's not fair to make them read all summer. A book on tape would be better in situations like that. Part of "educational activities" come from going to new places and experiencing new things. Go to the renaissance fair, hit up the museums, go camping, and volunteer. Part of a thorough education is doing these other things. Not to mention, more and more kids are going to college each year, so it's getting much more difficult to get into college. Getting straight A's in high school doesn't guarantee you a slot at Harvard. You need to be well rounded and have a great connection to social activities.