Parental involvement in the education of children has been described by Hornby (2011) as the participation of parents in the educational process and experience of their children. It can be noted, however, that parental involvement is not limited to parents alone, but it may also refer to individuals who exercise parental roles in children. Literature studies provide that the earlier the parents get involved in their children’s education, the better its positive effects to the child. The role of parents in moulding their children’s values begin during their child’s early development. Children spend the majority of their childhood with their parents, which make the role of parents vital in helping the child develop their learning experience. Onwughalu (2011) emphasizes that education is not only limited to schooling, but it also involves the learning experience of the child in both the inside and outside school setting that influences the development of the child that makes him contribute for the improvement of the society. Stated as such, it can be gleaned that parental involvement in a child’s education is not only limited in the child’s school activities, but may also involve values and personality development. A child’s education related activities in this perspective involves both activities inside and outside of the school.
When parents are involved in the learning and educational experience of a child, it fosters an environment that helps the child to become more inclined to learn in a supportive and encouraging surrounding. Children need proper guidance during their tender years and the involvement of parents in their educational and learning experiences establish a realistic goal and expectations in their future careers. With the assistance of parents and their active involvement in the learning process of their child, it is easier to foster an environment that promotes discipline, guidance and holistic support during the difficult times of learning of a child. When children know that their parents are there to provide assistance, it develops their self-esteem, boost self confidence and emulate higher motivation level within their selves.
The effectiveness of parental involvement in a child’s education has been discussed by Brewer and Picus (2014) where they noted that children enter pre-school with different levels of academic skills, and children whose parents have been actively involved in their learning process, such as reading them books and teaching them to like books through their interaction with their parents, tend to have more advanced learning process. Certain areas that were identified where the parents can help enhance the educational learning experience of their children include reading to children, parental styles, assistance in doing homework and the educational materials available in the home. It has been noted that among the impact of parental involvement include academic excellence, better monitoring of the child’s learning progress and weakness, enhanced coordinated effort between parents and teachers in encouraging acceptable child behavior inside and outside of the school. The active participation of the parents results in an encouraging environment that helps children to learn better and attain enhanced academic excellence and observe appropriate behavior.
According to Ho and Kwong (2013), parental involvement results in the psychosocial and intellectual development of a child. Being around with supportive parents has the direct effect to the child’s self concept and academic achievement. Parental involvement also involves parental investment, the concept of which involves how such investment contributes to the child’s academic and educational development. Parental investment is one way that parents contribute to their child’s learning development. This is usually accomplished by providing the child learning resources, such as a study desk, computer, books and other forms of learning resources. Other forms of techniques used by parents to be involved in their child’s education include attending in PTA meetings, participating in their child’s school activities, disciplining the child to develop a good study habit, providing learning materials, assisting children in their homework, constant visit to teachers in order to get a feedback about their child’s learning development and behavior in the classroom. Constant visit of parents to their children’s school allows them to understand the learning environment of their child. They adapt the same kind of learning environment at home and even use the teacher’s teaching methods that are found to be effective in the child’s learning and development. The home becomes an extended learning place for their children and some parents even invest in creating a quiet and peaceful room at home where the child can read and study.
The effectiveness of parental involvement in the child’s education has been upheld in most literatures. In terms of academic achievement, the outcomes of research studies vary as to the extent of the influence of parental involvement in a child’s academic excellence. According to Nokali, Bachman and Drzal (2010), there has been a moderate association between the involvement of parents and to the learning-related skills of the child in his academic performance. Parental involvement appears to have a moderate effect as to the child’s achievement motivation, persistence to complete a task and in the development of receptive vocabulary in the kindergarten years and preschool. Notable is the fact that most literatures involve the study of parental development during the child’s early childhood stage. The effect of parental involvement in the middle school remains to be understudied. With the parents’ involvement in their children’s learning process, they contribute in helping the child develop certain degree of self competency and learning becomes easier because of the support and investments that their parents willingly give in providing various learning materials, especially those that are not provided in the school setting.
Parental involvement is also known for its positive effect to the child’s socioemotional development. Parents who are active in honing the child’s behavior makes children more responsible in showing appropriate attitude and behavior that enhances their social functioning and ability to interact with children and their teachers. Involvement of parents in this sense is known to promote good conduct behavior and less attitude problems among children in school.
In conclusion, parental involvement has positive effects in enhancing the child’s educational and learning processes. As children become engaged in school, their learning process is not confined within the four corners of the classrooms. Parents play a vital role in enhancing the child’s socioemotional, psychological and intellectual development. Involvement of parents in their child’s education contributes in fostering a more conducive environment for learning, development and boosting the child’s self confidence. The home is where the child spends most of his time, thus, parental involvement in their educational enhancement come into play. This makes the home an extended place for learn where parents can contribute in honing the child’s behavioral development and helping them improve their inclination to learn. Parental involvement serves as a basic pillar in the child’s learning process that helps them achieve academic excellence and stable socioemotional development.
References:
Brewer, D.J. and Picus, L.O. (2014). Encyclopedia of education economics and finance. New York:Sage Publication.
Ho, E.S. and Kwong, W. (2013). Parental Involvement on Children’s Education. New York: Springer.
Hornby, G. (2011). Parental involvement in childhood education. New Zealand:Springer Science.
Nokali, N.E., Bachman, H.J. and Drzal, E.V. (2010). Parental involvement and children’s academic and social development in elementary school. Child Development. 81(3): 988-1005.
Onwughalu, O.J. (2011). Parents’ involvement in education. USA: iUniverse.
