Parent and child

Extensive research confirms that a proper parent-teacher relationship will result in a child performing better at school. The connection may not be immediately obvious, but the simple fact is that children who know that their parents take a personal interest in their school life take their studies more seriously.




Parent Teacher Networking - A Child's Decisive Winning Edge
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Priya_Florence_Shah]Priya Florence Shah

Extensive research confirms that a proper parent-teacher relationship will result in a child performing better at school. The connection may not be immediately obvious, but the simple fact is that children who know that their parents take a personal interest in their school life take their studies more seriously.

Among other things, this is because all children seek their parents' approval, and seeing a high degree of parental interest in their academic performance clearly shows them that better grades is a good way of getting it. Children of parents who do not take an active interest in their school life tend to view school as a separate and not necessarily important part of life.

By networking with their children's teachers, parents become partners in making their children's dreams come true, and in helping them reach their fullest potential .After all, it is teachers who give children the knowledge tools to help them set things in motion later in life.

When parents fail to recognize this and build amenable relationships with their children's teachers, they are losing out on an incredible opportunity to be part of their children's future. Teachers should be given due recognition for the role they play in a child's life. As Margaret Riel said, being able to help someone learn something is a talent.

How can parents begin to build a better relationship with their children's teachers? While there are no clearly defined formulas, it will definitely call for increased interaction at some level. Calling up regularly (but not incessantly - teachers are busy people) is a good way to start.

On such calls, you can warm the conversation up with some informal pleasantries or local gossip and then politely inquire about your child's performance and general conduct at school. Asking for suggestions is a sure-fire ice breaker - most teachers are happy to share their views on such subjects.

You are certain to get some very useful insights. Keep an open mind and be willing to learn from experience. Attending the local PTA meeting after having interacted with some of your child's teachers on a personal level also becomes a far richer social experience.

In this age of social networking, parents can also network with their children's teachers on the Internet. Such teacher parent websites are, in fact, very effective, since they have the advantage of leaving behind a documented track record of such interactions. Also, parents and teachers can exchange far more information in this manner than on the telephone - or even during face-to-face meetings.

The best way to go is to join a specialized parent-teacher network. Not only does this allow parents to keep up to date with their kids' classes and activities, it also lets them network with other parents. This is an invaluable advantage. Parent forums can also be of great help.

Of course, personally attending school events is an obvious must-do. Parents should attend as many parent-teacher conferences, open houses and cultural events as possible. This gives teachers the assurance that the parents are interested in their child's performance, progress and wellbeing and at school, in turn giving them greater incentive to take personal interest in the child.

For parents who have the time and willingness, volunteering as classroom helpers, drama coaches or field-trip chaperones at the school are matchless ways of involving themselves in their children's school lives.

In closing, I'd like to share with you a priceless gem of a poem by an unknown author that beautifully elucidates the importance of a parent-teacher partnership. You may want to share it at the next teacher appreciation week in your child's school:

Whose Child Is This?

"Whose child is this?" I asked one day

Seeing a little one out at play.

"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile

"Mine to keep a little while.

To bathe his/her hands and comb his/her hair,

To tell him/her what he/she is to wear,

To prepare him/her that he/she may always be good,

And each day do the things he/she should".

"Whose child is this?" I asked again,

As the door opened and someone came in.

"Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile.

"Mine, to keep just for a little while.

To teach him/her how to be gentle and kind,

To train and direct his/her dear little mind,

To help him/her live by every rule,

And get the best he/she can from school".

"Whose child is this?" I asked once more,

Just as the little one entered the door.

"Ours", said the parent and the teacher as they smiled.

And each took the hand of the little child.

"Ours to love and train together.

Ours this blessed task forever."

Priya Florence Shah writes for [http://www.parentella.com]Parentella, a private communication platform that provides tools to help the [http://www.parentella.com]parent teacher connection flourish. Parentella believes in increasing parent involvement in education and building online school communities. Visit us for a private, safe, and secure experience in communicating with your child's educationists.

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In Part 2, the discussion turned to you investigating your parent's financial situation and whether there was assistance in your state to help them.  In Part 3, we delve into your options as to your becoming a legal decision maker for your parent's financial affairs.



Being the Good Child - When Your Parents Become Old and Vulnerable, Part 3
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Runyon]Jeff Runyon

In Part 2, the discussion turned to you investigating your parent's financial situation and whether there was assistance in your state to help them. In Part 3, we delve into your options as to your becoming a legal decision maker for your parent's financial affairs.

Form a Team

Once you decide that you need to get involved with your parent's financial affairs, you can start very slow. I recommend that as soon as you notice that there is a need to get involved, you immediately contact your brothers and sisters and discuss the circumstance. The earlier communication is started, the easier it will be to make decisions as they arise. Everyone should be on the same page going in.

Now if there is mutual agreement among all parties involved, the next step will be to get a Power of Attorney. This is a legal document that assigns you (and possibly others) the authority to deal with financial matters on behalf of your parents. This can be an 'all-inclusive' document or it can just cover certain aspects of their financial world. If there is a hesitation among your parents and your siblings to empower just one person to oversee all aspects of their financial life, you can get a Power of Attorney that spells out exactly what is covered.    For instance, you could get a Power of Attorney that states that you have the authority to handle all bill payment and deal with monthly bills on their behalf. You can also add that this gives access to other certain aspects (such as the sale of a car, their house, or other assets) and even make medical decisions for them.

Get Your Paperwork in Order

While you can prepare a Power of Attorney using computer software or online through a legal assistance network, you may find it necessary to consult with a lawyer for this document preparation. This is especially important if 1) their estate is sizeable with lots of assets, 2) there are a lot of family members and there is or there could be any question as to the legal standing of the bearer of the Power of Attorney or any other unclear or clear cut issues. The money spent on consultation and having all parties onboard with the proper documentation will be well spent later on. Getting this paperwork done early and with everyone's agreement, especially your parent's consent since all parties must be of sound mind when this is executed erases any issues that could crop up later when it could be very difficult to resolve.

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Unmarried parents have the same rights and responsibilities of parental custody that divorced and separated parents have. Both parents have financially, legal, and physical obligations towards their children. They also have the legal avenues to create a parental custody agreement.


Unmarried Parents and Parental Child Custody
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Abigail_Vernon]Abigail Vernon

Lisa and Rob dated for several years and had a child together. When the child was three, Rob and Lisa decided to break up and separate. Allen and Mary dated and broke up. One night they got back together. A child was born from that union. Steve and Becky had a one night fling. He was long gone when Becky learned she was pregnant. These are only a few of the child custody scenarios that unmarried parents can face. How do parents in these situations set up a parental custody arrangement for their children?

Unmarried parents have the same rights and responsibilities of parental custody that divorced and separated parents have. Both parents have financially, legal, and physical obligations towards their children. In some situations, an unmarried mother may not be involved with the father of the children anymore. In this case, the mother needs to locate the father and inform him about the child. The father can then acknowledge paternity, or the mother can file a paternity suit so he will acknowledge paternity. (A father shouldn't acknowledge paternity unless he is certain he is the father. In order to make this clear, the father and the child can take a DNA test.)

Once both parents know about the child, they can work out a parental custody agreement. They will need to decide who the child will live with and what the custody schedule will be. They also need to schedule in visitation time for the non-custodial parent (the parent who the child doesn't live with) and come up with a plan for holidays. The non-custodial parent will most likely pay child support to the custodial parent. Parents can also create a joint custody arrangement where the child lives with both parents.

The custody and visitation schedule is the biggest part of the parenting plan. It's best if the mother and the father can work together to come to an agreement about this schedule. If the parents cannot get along or figure something out, they should consider going to custody mediation. Mediation is usually successful for helping parents create the best possible schedule for their children. If the parents still cannot reach an agreement, they will need to present their case to the family court. The mother and father will both show the court their parenting plan and explain why it is best for the child. The court will then make the decisions about the custody agreement.

After the custody agreement has been accepted, or decreed, by the court, it becomes the child custody order. This means that both parents are legally obligated to follow the terms and conditions it contains. If the parents want to change the order, they can go through the courts to do so.

Unmarried parents can establish a parental custody agreement that works for their children. No matter what the circumstances are between the parents, they should work together and create an arrangement to raise their child. They will be rewarded for their efforts by having a close and positive relationship with their children.

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