Volunteering at Your Child’s School 101

We know you are a busy parent and you shouldn’t feel guilty about it! Career moms (and dads!) tend to struggle to find the time to volunteer at their child’s school.  This can be due to time constraints or a busy work schedule.  With that said, it is important your child perceives that you take an active role in their education. 

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics,

"School-aged children are more likely to get mostly A's, to enjoy school, to participate in extracurricular activities, and are less likely to have ever repeated a grade and to have ever been suspended or expelled if their fathers or mothers have high levels of involvement in their schools.”

As you understand the importance of being involved, let’s learn how a busy mom (or dad!) can play a role in their child’s education at school.

1.       If you have 15 minutes:

a.   Volunteer to use this time to send reminder phone calls or emails for field trips, fund-raisers or parties in the classroom.  You may not be able to take part in the actual event, but a simple reminder to the parents of your child’s classmates will play a huge role in making the event run smoothly.

b.   If you’ve noticed a lack of crossing guards, a policy issue or other initiatives you may want to see implemented at the school, take this time to voice your opinion and ask other parents to weigh in.

2.       If you have an hour: (Or lunch break!)

a.   Volunteer to read at the school. Even if it’s not in your child’s classroom, many students with reading disabilities need the opportunity to work one-on-one with an adult who can give them the attention they need to learn new reading skills. Just be sure to pop your head into your child’s classroom to show that you’re there and that you care.

b.   Use your lunch break to eat with your child at school. Bring them food! It’s a great way to make them feel special and make their school day.

3.       If you have no time available during the school week:

a.    Ask your child’s teacher if there are any out-of-classroom projects you can assist with. This shows the teacher that despite your 9-5 job, you are putting forth the initiative to be a part of your child’s education. This can also strengthen the relationship between your child and their teacher.

b.   Plan ahead and take a day off at work when you are already planning a half-day.  At the beginning of the year, find out when there is a field trip or party, and plan ahead.  If you’ve needed to schedule a doctor or dentist appointment, schedule the appointment early in the morning or late afternoon on the day of the event. Then you can plan to spend the rest of the day at the school.

c.   Join the PTA/PTO. These meetings are generally at night to accommodate working moms and dads.

So, despite your busy schedule, there’s always a few minutes  you can give to your child to ensure their education and show that you care.  Just make sure to let your child know what you’ve done or how it will affect them and their classmates if you are not directly volunteering in your child’s classroom. All types of help count and he or she will love you for it. 

Sources:

http://www.parenting.com/article/school-volunteering-ideas?page=0,2

http://www.parentssource.com/volunteer.article.asp

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Five Fun Activities to do With Your Kids During Spring Break

Spring break is fast approaching, and while the kids are ecstatic, parents are doing the panic dance.  If you haven’t planned a week’s worth of activities, don’t freak out just yet.  We have five excellent ideas that will keep your children busy during their time off of school.

1.    Head to the beach!  While this may seem like an obvious choice, it’s relatively inexpensive and you can make a day of it.  Pack a cooler with subs and sodas, grab the car keys and head out!  If you live in Florida, you should have little to no trouble traveling to the nearest beach with the kids.  Just don’t forget the sunscreen and sand toys!  For a list of Florida beaches, refer to this directory.  http://www.awesomeflorida.com/beaches-of-florida.htm

 
2.      Tour a local attraction or theme park!  Plan a trip to your local museum, aquarium, planetarium, zoo or park.  Many attractions have kid discounts and can be a cheap way to offer a fun, educational experience that kids will surely love.  “Hands on” learning is one of the best ways for children to be involved and understand science, nature and history.  For a list of Florida attractions, select the area in which you live, and start planning your trip from there. http://www.touristflorida.com/
 
3.      Plant a garden and get outdoors! Head to your local nursery and pick out seeds such as carrots, tomatoes, eggplant, and cauliflower that bloom nicely in the northern parts of Florida in the spring.  Pick a sunny spot in your back yard, grab a shovel, and line your garden with rocks or stones.  Plant seeds that are in season and watch your children learn the science behind vegetable growing.  They’ll love enjoying their home-grown veggies after they’ve sprouted!  For more information about home vegetable gardening, follow the link below. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021
 
4.      Volunteer for a day!  Give back to your community by signing up at a local soup kitchen, nursing home or animal shelter.  It will be a rewarding experience for your child, and helping the less fortunate can help ground children and help them appreciate the smaller things in life.  It will teach them not to take anything for granted and maybe they’ll change a life. http://www.volunteerflorida.org/volnow/index.html
 
5.      Theme a rainy day “SPRING” and craft, bake, and play spring activities!  It is highly likely that at least one day during spring break will be rainy.  Take this day to stay indoors, craft spring arts and bake springtime snacks and dinners. For a list of spring-themed food and fun, check out the following site. http://familyfun.go.com/spring/                                   

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