Parents told to stop doing their kids’ homework
portant than the family’s financial status, The Smith Family charity has said.
In a renewed push to get parents involved in their child’s school day, The Smith Family general manager Alan Le May said parents needed to take an active interest, even if they weren’t up to helping with homework.
“I think the worst case scenario is where a parent feels that they are overwhelmed perhaps because of their previous experience at school or because they didn’t perform well at school themselves,” he said.
“They feel like they are not able to meaningfully engage with their child.”
Mr Le May said some parents may not realise just how important parent engagement was for their child.
“It’s not just about doing maths and science, it’s just about engaging in the broader sense… attending parent meetings and talking to them in the car about school.”
He said the home learning environment was the biggest factor in a child’s education, even more important than the family’s financial status.
P&Cs Queensland chief executive officer Kevan Goodworth said parents were the first and fundamental teachers of a child.
“Whether or not they have a high level of education, what parents can do in any way helps,” Mr Goodworth said.
He said even if parents were unable to help out with homework, they were still extremely important.
“By the time a child reaches Year 10 or 11, most of what they are doing is something parents can’t help them with, unless they are a scientist, historian or foreign language expert,” he said. “The most important thing is to provide an environment where learning is valued and supported.”
Mum-of-six Rebecca Dunwell homeschools her eldest children and said she always encouraged them to read, participate and learn life skills.
“It’s important that parents are willing to step up to the mark and show they are interested,” she said.