15 Simple Ways to Enhance Your Child’s Education

The late educational blue-sky thinker Ken Robinson (a hero during my teaching days) once gave a monumental Ted Talk asking whether schools “kill creativity.” The premise was about children being sanctioned, pigeonholed, or over-tutored due to misdiagnosed learning difficulties.

For many years, this has been the default setting for the American school system. However, this approach is flawed, and it doesn't help students who have little engagement in rote teaching styles or punitive measures. Therefore, parents can learn how to help their students improve with decisiveness, discipline, and a dash of bravery.

1. Let Dancers Dance

Robinson describes the story of a fidgeting student who struggled to engage in class. After a parental conference with a behavioral specialist, the expert departed his office for a private chat with the mom.

He left his office radio playing and, after leaving, prompted the girl's mom to watch. Her daughter began dancing to the music within seconds. “She's a dancer,” he observed. The student ended up attending dance school, graduating from Royal Ballet School, and had a career as a soloist. The lesson here is to find your kids' strengths and channel them; don't focus on correcting weaknesses.

2. Ditch the Devices

There are endless ways a device addiction can ruin your child's health and learning ability, from Text Neck to myopia to diminished concentration. Sadly, a rising tech tide is engulfing our schools as Microsoft, Apple, and Google spread their influence through school accreditation.

Ironically, the school's tech entrepreneurs' kids go (or went) to do the opposite. Schools such as the Brightworks and Waldorf groups use little technology in their teaching programs. If this isn't a flag, a recent Guardian article reviews a study showing that  “deeper reading” in 10-12-year-old pupils improves using paper.

3. Allow Reading for Fun

While reading is clearly an important part of any human being's education, it seems to be left behind somewhat in schools right now. A 2023 report by the National Education Association (NEA) found that students' access to the books they want is limited.

Meanwhile, many are forced to read for testing, dulling any pleasure with reading they might have. The solution for parents is simple: join the library, take your kids there, or let them choose some real paper books. The key word here is “choose.” Moreover, graphic novels or comic books are a worthwhile compromise for stubborn bookworms.

4. Foster Real-Life Learning

Nothing makes a child learn faster than being embroiled in the subject matter. What kid doesn't enjoy feeding animals, baking cookies, or helping dad in the garage? Learning is defined as retaining information and using it to unpack other phenomena, and positive, hands-on experiences only boost this skill.

A heartwarming video emerged last year of a dad teaching his teenage son to drive the old family stick shift. The kid will never forget this incredible learning moment — nor will his dad. “I love you, Dad,” is all the kid says through his smile.

5. Get Involved

Any teacher will attest that the best parents are the ones who don't burden their students with pressure. Instead, they integrate themselves into their children's journey by assisting with projects, chaperoning on excursions, and volunteering for school events.

The UCLA School Mental Health Project cites research that paints school volunteers as a strong catalyst for student progression. Seeing adults on campus reminds pupils that school is something to take seriously; moreover, it promotes good communication with the teaching faculty.

7. Accept Extracurricular Activities

I once visited Nanjing International School in China, and the campus and facilities blew me away. Still, they paled in comparison to its extracurricular activities program, which wasn't reserved solely for students — parents and the local community were invited.

Research on this matter is conclusive, and urges participation for several reasons. Primarily, it promotes connection to the school; furthermore, it reinforces school learning and lowers dropout rates. All parents should, if feasible, enroll their children in ECA programs.

8. Less Macro; More Micro

The American school system is guided by standardized testing, which has many benefits and drawbacks. For all its merits, such as helping students who need to transfer to other schools, there is one major drawback.

Teachers feel under pressure to “teach to the test,” meaning a series of ticked boxes leaves more expressive learning by the wayside. The fast-expanding International Baccalaureate system (IB) does the opposite. Instead, it uses a series of “formative” tests throughout each learning module. This way, students and teachers enjoy a more integrated learning experience.

8. Introduce a Foreign Language

A second language offers its participants numerous benefits, such as improved job prospects, access to other cultures, and even better cognitive preservation. Notwithstanding all the other benefits, it improves brain function.

Carley Spence wrote for the Cambridge University Press in 2022 about how bilingual adults have more neurons and dendrites in their brains — i.e., denser gray matter. Furthermore, a dual-language brain has better white matter strength than a monolingual one.

9. Mentorship Programs

There are few better ways to stimulate a love of learning than a great teacher, though adults outside the classroom are teachers, too. Surrounding your child with positive role models is one way to increase their accountability and pride.

Finding an academic or professional mentor is a surefire method for improving academic prowess, especially if that mentor works in a field of interest. Senior student mentorship programs are commonly available in high schools.

10. Take Them Traveling

Having seen much of the world and shared this journey with my son, I can confirm that seeing new cultures teaches old and young. Of course, not everyone has the money to go abroad, though travel can be local and just as effective.

A monthly road trip to a national monument or area of historical interest will go a long way to capturing any child's sense of wonder.

12. Homework and Study Groups

It can be difficult for single-child families to motivate over-extended students to push themselves alone. The University of Florida promotes study groups, citing how technology is helping students stay connected.

The report shows how in-the-flesh co-studying is assuredly more fun, providing a slew of positives along the way. Benefits range from honest peer review, shared problem-solving skills, and gaining academic assistance.

13. Supplement Their Learning

Too many parents don't have access to universal private school choice programs, which is hardly surprising. There are only 12 states with this benefit, but parents not under the jurisdiction have other options.

Researching the school district and curriculum is the best way to help supplement your child's learning. Even an underperforming school has access to teaching resources and curriculum plans. Learning doesn't end at the school gates — some might say it is where it begins.

14. Promote Critical-Thinking Skills

We are living in a difficult period right now, one in which the sharpest of minds have an overwhelming number of distractions. One byproduct of a distracted mind is a lack of critical thinking, leading to many negative outcomes, such as unconscious ignorance.

From a young age, kids need to understand why confirmation bias, a lack of research, or groupthink is bad for them. Science Direct explains how problem-solving is a great way to influence this important life skill.

15. Push a Growth Mindset

While we should strive to improve all our faculties, it starts at the top — without the correct worldview and outlook, success is impossible. Entrepreneur magazine lists four indicators for childhood success such as “company kept, education, accountability, and self-motivation.”

The latter can come in many forms, namely determination. Every human being will suffer setbacks on their journey — it's how they rebound that determines their story.

16. Let Them Play Drums

Every child on this planet needs an outlet for expression or physical frustration. Many teachers will confirm that violent classroom encounters stem from young people unable to channel their energy or frustrations. A student harboring negative or nervous energy is not going to learn anything.

What's more, as an educator of 15 years, I have seen too many creative students with no artistic or creative outlet. Parents can sometimes become so fixated on grades that they lose sight of their child's identity.