Help Your Child Succeed in School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early
Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school. Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, leads to poor reading skills. Students can still fall behind if they miss just one or two days every few weeks. Absences and tardiness can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in kindergarten so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Eventually, good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and college.
WHAT YOU CAN DO AT HOME:
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Make sure your child has the required shots.
- Introduce your children to their teachers and classmates before school starts.
- Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.
- Try to schedule non-urgent related medical appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
- If your child must stay home due to illness, ask the teacher for resources and ideas to continue learning at home.