How to Be Involved in Your Childs School

Are you nervous about sending your child to school on the first day? Would you like to know more about the teacher and what your child does at school every day? You can help allay these fears and make your child feel more comfortable by becoming involved at your child's school.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. If allowed at your child's school, go inside when you drop your child off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. This may seem unimportant, but teachers and staff will get to know you more quickly if they see you every day.

2. Get to know your child's teacher. Make an effort to speak to your child's teacher when possible. This will help the teacher associate you with your child and will allow her to get to know each of you better.

3. Volunteer to help in the classroom. Most teachers love help from parents. You can volunteer to help by having children read to you, making copies for the teacher, cutting, stapling, or decorating bulletin boards.

4. Join your school's PTO or PTA. The PTO (parent teacher organization) and PTA (parent teacher association) are good ways to get to know all of the teachers in the school. They typically have meetings once a month. The meetings will help you be aware of all of the activities that are happening at your child's school and will give you more opportunities to volunteer.

5. Volunteer in the school library. Often as the children get older, teachers do not need as much help inside the classroom. If this is the case, volunteer at your school's library. Librarians always have extra books that need to be shelved.

6. Be a chaperone for field trips. This is a great way to spend time with your child and get to know the other children in the class.

7. Become the "homeroom Mom". This is typically the parent that organizes holiday parties and other group activities for the class. This position will allow you to spend more time dealing with the teacher and more time inside the classroom.

Tips & Warnings

• At the beginning of school, wait two to three weeks before volunteering at your child's school. It's very important for the teacher and children to get into the routine of going back to school before parents begin volunteering.
• Don't monopolize the teacher's time. If you need to speak to the teacher, make your comments brief and to the point. She has a whole classroom to handle.
• Don't linger with your child when dropping them off. A quick hug and goodbye is best to prevent tears.