Principal offers tips for parents

Parents can help make the best of their children's school experience.

Winfield Scott Elementary Principal Dave Elliot said parents can use several practices that will ensure a better school year for their children. He discussed several simple ideas in the Winfield Scott Newsletter. He admits that accomplishing these simple tasks may not always be easy.

Ensuring that children arrive at school on time is an extremely important factor in the their education. Elliot said that failure to do well at school could be linked to unsatisfactory attendance.

"Poor attendance is easily linked to academic difficulties," he said.

Parents should allot some time every night for their children to complete homework and reading, Elliot said. The allotted time should be convenient for everyone and early enough in the evening that the children are not too tired to complete the assigned work. According to Elliot, reading to children can heighten their academic success.

"Research shows that reading to a child 20 minutes per day makes a huge difference in their abilities," he said.

Homework time is also a good time for parents to visit with their children about the school day. Elliot said that parents should contact the school office should any questions arise about the school day.

"Don't be afraid to call with questions or concerns," he said.

The amount of time children are allowed to play video games or computer games should be limited, Elliot said. Also, he cautions parents to monitor their children's Internet access for safety reasons. Parents should encourage children to play outside. Elliot said that outdoor play is great for brain growth.

He also said nutrition is really important for children.

"Healthy meals and snacks are the fuel that children's bodies use for growth," Elliot said.

The school office has a booklet that contains healthy snack recipes. Any parent wishing to have one may stop by the school to pick one up, Elliot said.

He encourages parents to become actively involved with their children's school, and said that Winfield Scott uses a lot of volunteers, especially on special event days.

Parents are encouraged to take advantage of a new program, Bring a Buddy to Breakfast, being offered at the school. This program allows family members to have breakfast with a child, Elliot said.