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"D" Is for Dad
14 Ways Fathers Can Help Their Kids Excel in School By Donna Smith
Perhaps because women are busier than ever before, men are venturing into what used to be "mom" territory. They're getting more involved in those aspects of their children's school days that don't involve goalposts or baseball diamonds.
"If you're a father, there are big benefits to becoming deeply entrenched in your children's academic lives," says Stephan Poulter, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of Father Your Son: How to Become the Father You've Always Wanted to Be (McGraw-Hill, 2004). "First, it shows them that you care. Your involvement in such a major part of their lives builds their self-esteem and thus their success in school and, ultimately, adulthood. Second, it shows them that education matters to you. And when it matters to Dad, it usually matters to kids, too."
Poulter is not implying that a father's involvement is more important than a mother's. Indeed, he emphasizes the importance of both parents making an effort, especially in an era when school is more demanding than ever. He offers the following 14 suggestions:
1. Help your child get off to a good start. Whatever form your involvement may take, start doing it at the beginning of the school year. The first four weeks are the most critical because they set the tempo for the rest of the year.
"The first day of school and the first parent-teacher conference are important for Dad to be at, as this will set the tone for the school teacher and administrators of the level of involvement the child receives from his/her parents," says John Nixon, a father of three from Katy, Texas, and iParenting.com's 2003 Dad of the Year.
2. Share your expectations for the school year. Discuss upcoming big events with your child. He will not feel as overwhelmed if you discuss these events in advance.
