Southside Parent Center

Summer routines help your child stay school-ready

Keeping up school success routines throughout the summer is an effective way to support your child’s academic achievement. Reading, for example, is a skill that children must practice continually or it will get rusty. Set aside 30 minutes each day for quiet reading with your child. Be sure your child's daily summer routines also include daily exercise and household responsibilities.

Daily Tips for Families Your child should still spend some time reading each day. Reading is a fundamental skill, and children must practice or their skills will get rusty. Set aside 30 minutes each day for quiet reading. Plan regular family reading activities as well.

Send your child on a number hunt

To help your young child recognize numbers and some of the ways people use them, have a number hunt. Choose a number, such as 12. Write it on a piece of paper. Now challenge your elementary schooler to find that number somewhere in your home. Your child might find it on the clock or on a can in your cupboard. Talk about what it represents in that context. Then it's your child's turn to write down a number and send you on a number hunt.

Daily Tips for Families Choose a number between 1 and 20: for example, 12. Say it out loud, and write it on a piece of paper. Now, challenge your elementary schooler to find that number somewhere in your home. Your child may find it on the clock or on a can in your pantry. Talk about what the number represents in that cont...

Sharpen skills with a creative writing game

Writers are careful observers. Here's a fun way to help your child build both observation and writing skills. Bring some pencils and paper on a family walk. Set a time limit, then challenge family members to write down words for things they see around them (building, tree, etc.). They can also include descriptive words like "tall" or "gray." When the time is up, see who can turn their word collection into the most creative sentence.

Daily Tips for Families Here’s a word game that helps kids learn to be careful observers of the world around them while it gives them practice writing. Best of all, it’s fun!

Bird watching is science in action

To help your child connect with science, suggest keeping a record of the birds in your neighborhood. Your child can draw them, write descriptions or take pictures. While your student is at it, discuss ways humans and birds are similar. You might ask, "Do you think baby birds are afraid when they learn to fly? Are there things you might be afraid to do but know you need to learn?" Help your child go online to identify and learn more about birds in your area.

Daily Tips for Families To develop your child’s interest in science, link it to the everyday world all around. One way to do this is to encourage your child to keep a record of the birds in your neighborhood. Your elementary schooler can draw them, write descriptions or take pictures.

Promote reading with an advertising lesson

To put a positive spin on screen time, pay attention to the ads when you watch a TV show with your child. Talk together about the words advertisers use to get viewers to buy things. Then, challenge your child to make a commercial for a favorite book. What points would your child make? How will your child convince people to stay tuned? Have your elementary schooler practice the ad and then "sell" the book to the entire family the next time you watch TV.

Daily Tips for Families If your family watches an hour of network TV, you'll probably see about 16 minutes of commercials. What if your child could turn one of those minutes into an ad for a favorite book?

A simple process encourages cooperation

Want to motivate your elementary schooler to do something? First, tell your child exactly what you expect. Next, link the behavior you want with something your child wants (that you're willing to deliver). "When your math is completed, we can play that game you like." Then, keep your promise when your child does what you've asked (but not before!). Also, be sure to comment positively when your child cooperates the first time you ask.

Daily Tips for Families Do you find yourself endlessly repeating commands to get your child to do something? Motivating children to do what they are supposed to is a common challenge. But nagging won't work to develop your child's inner motivation—and that's what's needed most for success with schoolwork.

Manners matter, at home and at school

With all there is to teach your child these days, manners may not be high on your list. But in a classroom, one student's rude behavior can make learning harder for everyone. To encourage respectful behavior, talk with your child about what it means to treat others the way your child would like to be treated. And when you are upset, model how to express frustration calmly.

Daily Tips for Families With everything else that children need to learn, manners may not seem like a major priority. But children who act out or display negative manners in a learning environment make it hard for everyone else to learn. The manners children practice at home are the ones they will use with the rest of the....

Celebrate progress and set new goals

As the end of the school year approaches, take some time to review the highlights with your child. What was your elementary schooler's favorite project? In what subject did your child improve most? What book did your child most enjoy reading? Celebrate all the progress your student has made this year. Then, look ahead. Brainstorm together about something your child would like to learn this summer. Plan ways to help your child achieve the goal.

Daily Tips for Families The end of the school year is approaching. Now is a good time to take stock together of the lessons your child has learned, and plan ways to make improvements next year.

Learning fractions is as easy as folding a napkin

Fractions can be fun to learn, particularly when kids can get their hands on them. To help your child see fractions in action, demonstrate how to fold paper towels or napkins into equal parts. Start with halves: How many ways can you each think of to fold the paper to create two equal halves? Move on to fourths, eighths and sixteenths. Let your child use a marker to label the fractions.

Daily Tips for Families There are lots of ways to help children have fun learning about fractions. One easy way to give your child some hands-on experience with fractions at home is with a paper towel or napkin. Show your child how to fold it into fractions. Start with halves (how many ways can you each think of to fold th...

A time log can help make choices clear

Most of us don't have a clear idea of where all our time goes. To find out, set aside one week to keep a family time log. Every half hour, record how you and your child spend your time. At the end of the week, you will have a clear picture of where your time is going. Are you spending too much time on things that aren't priorities? When you know that, you can make choices that are best for you and your family.

Daily Tips for Families Where does all our time go? Most of us don’t have a clear idea. To help your child learn the concept of time management, set aside one week to keep a family time log. Every half hour, record how you and your child spend your time. (Resist changing routines for this. If you usually spend an hour wa...