No kid wants to hear this, but school isn't that far around the corner.
And if you're a parent, the role you play in your child's educational development is critical. Teachers can't do it all; they need your help and support.
Here are three fundamental tips that will help your son or daughter get the most from their learning journey:
1. Stay involved. Sound simple? It isn't. Attend parent-teacher conferences, volunteer when possible and practical, get involved with home assignments when needed, and talk to your child about what their day was like. Make sure that what goes on in school isn't a mystery to you.
2. Establish healthy routines. Coming home from class and engaging an Xbox for 4 straight hours, texting until 2am, or watching endless trash on television isn't exactly conducive to healthy academic performance. Set expectations for your children and hold them to a high standard.
3. Know your child's friends. You don't have to intrude, but be aware of the people that hang out with your children. A mother came to me once who was appalled when she discovered that her daughter was dating someone who had recently been expelled from her high school for using drugs.
Make this school year a happy, healthy, and productive one for you and your children. In addition to your love, it will be one of the greatest gifts that you can give to them.