Tips for Busy Parents

Here are some ways you can use your time more efficiently to help your child be successful.
1. Use time in the car with your child, or other pockets of time to squeeze in a little more learning. Of course, your child can't write an essay in the car, but he can talk about what he's going to write, or perhaps review spelling words.
2. Set priorities. Decide what's most important to you. Then consciously decide how to spend your time. Make sure your decisions reflect what matters. Have a choice between cooking a fancy dinner or reading with your child? Order a pizza and read the book.
3. Spend one-on-one time. Kids need both "quality" and "quantity" time with you. There's nothing like spending time alone with a parent to make a child feel special. Every week, make an appointment to spend some time alone with each of your children. Get out your calendar and write it in. Then treat that appointment as seriously as you would an important business meeting.
4. Find your child's "Prime Time" for studying. This may be a key to his/her success in school. One mother found that after her daughter, a real early bird, set her study time for 5:00 a.m., her grades went up. Another family of night owls found that late evening study hours were best. Work with your child to find the homework time that's best for him. You might find that his "prime time" works to your advantage too.