For Parents

As a parent, you have the most powerful voice in the education of your child. Study after study has documented that when families are involved in school, their children do better. Kids receive higher grades, attend more frequently, get better test scores, show improved behavior, and graduate at a higher rate.

	A TASC program coordinator described a recent Family Night she and her staff hosted: »"On family nights we invite not just our own after-school kids and parents, but any family member from the school as well as school staff. We give chess and knitting instruction. It's wonderful to watch children playing chess with their parents and parents learning, so they can play with their children. And not just daughters, but sons are learning to knit. I turned around from playing chess to see a mother from a shelter, non-English speaking, help another mother, attired in a business suit, find a missing stitch."

Many parents who get involved in their kids' after-school programs feel connected to their schools. Families of elementary students, in particular, are naturally in touch with after-school staff, who they often see at dismissal. Many programs employ parents or welcome them as volunteers and active supporters of after-school. Parents who feel connected to their after-school programs are more likely to have contact with teachers and day school staff.

Some after-school program sites offer skill-building workshops for adults, including employment readiness, English as a Second Language (ESL), GED, and tips on how to help kids with homework. Many sites provide referral information for social and financial services provided by their community-based operators, strengthening relationships between families and programs.

Others host regular family events where parents might join their kids in service projects, attend "gallery" openings, work together with their kids on family histories or try out the dance moves or new software their kids are learning.

We know that when parents have peace of mind that their kids are safe, happily engaged in activities and supported by experienced staff from mid-afternoon to early evening, they can be more productive in their workplaces.

TASC encourages parents to get to know the staff of their after-school programs, to use them as a resource and to get involved.