By Trish Svoboda

When it comes to helping their children achieve academic success, Kansas State University child development specialist Bradford Wiles suggests a more fundamental approach for parents to support their children’s growth.

According to Wiles, parents need to be present and engaged with their children. While parents are their children’s first teachers, once formal schooling starts, the primary teaching role should shift to the classroom. However, family support and creating alignment between home and school are crucial for success. Wiles highlights that parental involvement involves understanding what is happening in their children’s lives.

Parents should consider volunteering for school activities and boards, like the PTO, if possible. They should also regularly communicate with the child’s homeroom teacher, as well as other school staff, including administrators, coaches, librarians, and non-homeroom teachers.

Wiles emphasizes that the foundational skills learned from pre-kindergarten through sixth or seventh grade are essential for future development. Recognizing this as part of the developmental process is important, as all future learning builds on this foundation.