Encourage scientific thinking with a 'laundry lab'

Doing laundry can be more than just a chore. It can also teach your child science skills, such as observing and classifying. Scientists notice details. Ask your child, "Does this towel feel different from that one? Why could that be?" Scientists also put things in groups. Help your child sort the laundry by color, size or family member. Challenge her to come up with a new way to "classify" clothes.

When helping with schoolwork, think ABC

Helping your child with schoolwork can be as simple as ABC (and D and E)! A is for Attitude. Model a positive attitude about learning for your child. B is for Breaks. Let him take short breaks during study sessions. C is for Choice. Let him choose what to work on first. D is for Directions. He should read them carefully, then restate them. E is for Encouragement. Find positive things to say about your child's efforts.

This trick looks like magic, but it's science

Try this science experiment with your child: Place a penny on a sheet of paper. Set a clear glass of water on top of the penny. Can your child see the penny? Next, cover the top of the glass with a saucer. The penny disappears! Explain that we see objects when light rays reflect off them into our eyes. But the light reflecting off the penny has to pass through air, water and glass, which makes it bend. The saucer blocks the bent light ray from reaching your child's eye, and the penny seems to disappear.

A failing grade is feedback for the future

Your child didn't pass a test. What should you do? Think of F as standing for "feedback." First, notice anything your child got right. Then help her learn from the rest by asking questions such as: What kinds of questions did you miss? Did you miss them because of something you didn't read or remember from your notes or the book? What does this test tell you about how you should prepare for the next one?

Send your child off to sleep with positive thoughts

The last words you say to your child at bedtime will be the words he hears in his head all night. Make a daily habit of remembering the best thing your child did that day. Tell him at bedtime.

Ask questions to encourage thinking

Not every problem your child will face will have an easy solution. So it's important to teach her to ask questions and think things through. To promote this kind of thought, say things like, "I wonder why that happened" or "I wonder what might happen if …?" Encourage your child to ask questions about the world around her. And when she expresses an opinion, teach her how to find facts to support it.

Share a strategy for success on matching tests

Tests in elementary school often have a matching section. To help your child score well on this type of question, remind him to read all the directions carefully. Tell him to look to see whether one column is longer than the other. If so, some answers may not get used. Your child should match the easiest items first, and then cross out answers he's already used. That will narrow his choices for the tougher matches.

When you set rules and limits, explain why

Children need and want limits. But don't simply demand blind obedience from your child. Once kids are old enough to reason, they should be encouraged to do so. Understanding why they should or should not do things helps them make good decisions when parents aren't around. When you make a rule or set a boundary, let your child know why she should obey it (and avoid saying things like, "Because I said so!").

Balance screen time with the things that matter

Children learn by doing. The main problem with too much screen time is that it keeps them from doing productive things. By necessity, students are spending more time with screens to do schoolwork. So when your child isn't doing schoolwork, make sure he spends plenty of time reading, playing outdoors, making art, pretending or just thinking. These are the things that are important for his development.

Chapter books make great 'installment' read alouds

Young children have short attention spans, so short books are best for read-aloud times. But as they grow older, kids can enjoy longer, more challenging books. Reading books aloud on the "installment plan" is a great way to read with your older elementary schooler. Try reading a chapter each night. Then stop and ask your child what she thinks might happen next. Who is her favorite character? Why?

Make a recording to jumpstart the writing process

When faced with a creative writing assignment, some children can't think of anything to write. Or they can think of a beginning, but by the time they write it down, they've forgotten where they were going next. If this sounds like your child, help him make a recording of his story. Then he can listen to it and write it down. He will probably have to edit his draft, but it's a great way to get him started.

Teach the three A's that improve school success

Whether or not your child earns straight A's, she can be successful in school if she masters these three A's: 1. Attendance. You show up for work even when you don't want to. Pass this value on to your child. 2. Attitude. Help your child learn the importance of effort. Let her know you expect her to try her best. 3. Achievement. Teach your child to set and work toward goals. Encourage her to set her sights high.

Show your child the positive side of mistakes

What sets successful people apart? When things don't work out they way they plan, they don't think of themselves as failures. Instead, they always try to learn from the experience. To teach your child this growth mindset, ask, "What would you do differently the next time?" Let him know you're proud of him for continuing to try, because that's how people get smarter.

Simple ways you can make a difference every day

Families play an enormous part in their children's academic achievement. Here are some important things you can do to help your student: Establish routines for schoolwork, chores, mealtimes and bedtime. Read with your child every day, and make wise use of recreational screen time. Supervise your child's activities. Express high expectations for her, then encourage and praise her effort.

Help your child publish a family newsletter

Here's an idea that will reinforce many skills your child is learning in school: Start a family newsletter. Your child can be a reporter, writer or editor. Ask other family members and relatives to send family news, poems and artwork. Then your child can compile the entries. If possible, help him do it on a computer. Not only will he learn word processing and other digital skills, he'll have fun with writing!

For more effective discipline, remember 10 rules

Ten rules can improve your discipline's effectiveness and your relationship with your child: 1. Set positive goals. 2. Say what you mean and mean what you say. 3. Involve your child in solving problems. 4. Avoid lecturing. 5. Ask what caused misbehavior. 6. Make expectations clear. 7. Use logical consequences. 8. Let your child make some choices. 9. Focus on what's good. 10. Show your love.

Resolve to make this a year for reading!

It's New Year's resolution time. To promote school success in 2021, make some that involving reading. Resolve to: Set aside time every day when the whole family reads. Keep lots of enticing reading material handy. Continue reading aloud to your child, and offer reading-related gifts as rewards. Then, to keep your resolutions, be sure to make a plan and track your progress. Don't forget to reward yourselves!