Why parents are their child's best advocate—and where to start
Sep 02, 2024
From guest blogger Paige Walker of Renew Education
The start of the new school year brings many emotions for children and their parents. It might be excitement, nervousness and even sadness as your family shifted from summertime into a more structured and routined environment.
School should be a place of growth, comfort and encouragement for children. They spend the majority of their time there throughout the week, and their teachers and peers influence them in a unique way. However, as parents, it is important to remember how much we pour into our children and their continuous growth. We are their first teacher, and we know our children better than anyone else. We will always have their best interests at heart! Here are a few tips for approaching conversations with your child’s school.
Trust your instincts
As a former teacher turned educational consultant, I encourage parents to listen to their gut instincts and speak freely about what their child needs at school. I want parents to know how capable and powerful they are. If a conversation doesn’t sit right with you, book a follow-up meeting with your child’s school. You have the ability to make changes to your child’s education by how you advocate for them. I believe it is important to lead conversations with kindness and ensure that you are direct with your goals for your child.
Use a collaborative approach
Many families I meet with share that their child’s strengths and needs are not understood in the way they would like. Every child is different, and what works for one child does not work for another. This is why I know from experience that it is important to communicate with your child’s school in a direct and collaborative way. There is no better way to start off a new school year than ensure your child’s teacher understands who your child is and what types of support could benefit them. When you provide information to your child’s teacher about who your child is, it helps develop a relationship with them and provides the teacher with valuable insight.
Reflect and provide feedback
I encourage you to reflect on your child’s previous school year and write down what you liked and didn't like about it. A starting point could look like...
- I wish my child was given the opportunity to…
- I liked that my child's teacher was able to…
- 3 things I would have liked the teacher to know is…
I promise that through this exercise, you will gain insight into your child and their strengths and areas of growth. I encourage you to share this list with your child's teachers this month! It will be one of the ways you can start the school year off right, and give them a unique perspective of your child's capabilities and prior school experiences.
***
Paige is an experienced educator and enjoys working with families to help their child reach their full potential. She is the founder of Renew Education and became an educational consultant to work with families who need support, advocacy, and guidance. She supports parents with in-school advocacy and selecting the best fit schools and programs for their children. Paige offers complimentary 20 minute discovery calls, you can book here to learn more.
@reneweducation on Instagram
Stay connected with news and updates!
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
