Studies show Many Benefits of Parental Involvement. How involved are you?

We get it; you are so busy with work and family life that it really is difficult to find the time to get involved with school activities too. However, research shows that the benefits of parental involvement in education are legion. According to one study (Henderson and Berla, 1994), parental involvement was the most accurate predictor of student achievement winning out over social status and income.

 

Benefits of Parental Involvement for Children:

·         Regardless of race, parent’s education level and socioeconomic status, children whose parents were involved in their education tended to achieve more.

·         Children were more consistent in handing in assignments and completing homework.

·         Children had better attendance records.

·         Students had higher test scores and better grades.

·         Students had better self-discipline and higher self-esteem.

·         Children were better motivated and had a more positive attitude towards education.

·         Students had fewer behavioral issues and required fewer disciplinary measures.

·         Students made better transitions when changing to new schools and were less likely to drop out.

·         Parents were able to recognize when students were struggling and offered help before the problems reduced confidence or caused a drop in grades.

Benefits for Teachers

·         When parents were involved and had positive relationships with teachers and helped to alleviate their workload, the staff had higher morale and improved job satisfaction.

·         When parents were involved, there was better communication between teachers and parents which led to more positive relationships and fewer conflicts.

·         When parents were involved, teachers had a greater understanding of cultural diversities and were better able to accommodate student’s needs.

Benefits for Parents

·         Involved parents had a better understanding of their children’s social, intellectual and emotional needs.

·         Parents enjoyed better communication with their children.

·         Parents gained insights into their child’s development and tended to rely more on positive encouragement rather than punishment.

·         Parents enjoyed higher levels of confidence in their decisions and parenting skills.

·         They had a better understanding of school curriculum

. This made them more likely to help when teachers asked for volunteers or when teachers asked parents to participate in homework activities.

·         Parents were more likely to support and participate in school policies and activities when they had been made part of the decision-making process.

·         Parents were better able to help with academic needs and homework.

Benefits for the School

·         When parents participated, schools were able to create an educational community that was better able to support the needs of their students.

·         School with parental support enjoyed better reputations and community involvement.

·         Parents were more likely to support school fundraising activities when they were part of the programs.