How to be the Best CEO for your Family

How can parents continue to embrace their new job title?

Join your local PTA. This is a great opportunity to tap into a network of teachers and other parents. It’s a forum for sharing ideas, concerns and even experiences.

Talk to kids regularly about school. As a parent, you may default to asking your child "How was school today?" This may elicit a response of "fine" or "OK" which doesn’t give much insight into what happened at school. Try asking questions like, "What did your teacher read to the class today?" or "What was the best part of your day?" to get your son or daughter talking. 

Identify academic strengths and weaknesses. Not every child will excel in all subjects and it’s important to know what subjects your child might need a little help in. If your child is struggling in a particular subject, talk to his or her teachers about what you can do to help and work together to devise a plan for success.

Have a positive attitude toward learning. Kids are very perceptive and can easily pick up on their parents’ feelings and attitudes. Show your child that you value education and that learning never stops!

Develop a partnership with your child’s school. Your child’s teachers and other school staff have a great deal of influence on the academic journey. By establishing a relationship with them now, you’ll be more in tune with what your child is learning in the classroom and better able to address potential problems before they arise. Talk to your child’s teachers about how they prefer to be contacted, whether by email, text, phone or in-person, and have regular check-ins.

Reinforce lessons at home. This not only helps kids think deeper about subjects and make connections but also increases interest and excitement in a topic. For instance, if your child is learning about marine life in science class, plan a weekend trip to the local aquarium.

By being the best CEO for your family, you can help ignite a lifestyle of learning in your child and set him or her up for academic success.