Simple Ways to Encourage Learning

By: Colorín Colorado (2004)

(This article is from the ColorinColorado.org web site and is also available in Spanish. The links in the article below will take you to articles on ColorinColorado.org.)

Simple things you can do to help your child learn at home:

Let your child know you believe in him or her
Tell your child often that you believe in him or her. Let your child hear – starting at a very young age – that you believe in his or her ability to do well.
Talk, sing, and read with your child
Talk, sing, and read together, as often as you can! Click here for some fun ways to read with your child.
Involve your extended family
Ask all the people who care about your child – aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, godparents, baby sitters, neighbors, and friends – to encourage your child to do well in school. Give each of them a copy of our reading tips and activities pages.
Limit your child's TV watching
Try to control how much TV your child watches. This includes when your child is with you, with a baby sitter, or home alone. Children need to hear and talk to adults in order to build their language skills.
Have a positive attitude toward school and learning
Take an interest in how your child is doing at school so he or she will believe that learning is important. Find ways to help your child succeed in school.
Make sure your child does homework
Look over your child's homework each night. Ask your child to explain what he or she is learning. Make sure that assignments are completed. If possible, find a quiet place for your child to study, and set aside time each evening for homework.