Helping Kids Beat the Back-to-School Blues

It seems just like yesterday that the school bell rang and classes were dismissed for the summer. But already, parents everywhere are beginning to panic because of the annual battles they will face trying to get their kids excited about the school year.

This may be a parent's worst nightmare, but it's one that must be faced given these facts:

* Students who have one or more parents involved in their education are more likely to get an "A" and less likely to be suspended, expelled or repeat a grade.

* Teacher surveys show that involved parents are the single most important partners public schools need to help students learn. Also, teachers provide more support and encouragement to children whose parents are involved.

* It's a matter of money. According to the Department of Education, students with involved families are much more likely to graduate from high school, and will earn an average of $200,000 more in their lifetime than high school dropouts.

Schools cannot do the job alone. That is why Boys & Girls Clubs of America (B&GCA) developed Project Learn -- a comprehensive educational enhancement strategy encouraging students to participate in high-yield learning activities that reinforce skills and knowledge taught in the classroom.

As a result of $7.5 million in funding provided by JCPenney Afterschool, more than 2,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country have been able to implement Project Learn and train their staff. However, Club professionals agree, the biggest challenge is getting parents to support Project Learn, which a Columbia University study found could increase a child's overall GPA by 11 percent.

"Many parents of the young people we serve had their own bad experiences with schools, so they are reluctant to get involved," said Roxanne Spillett, president, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Our goal is to break this cycle of disengagement by providing high-yield learning activities that can bring children and families together to enjoy learning."

The best news yet is that parents can easily engage themselves in their child's educational efforts by doing the following:

* Read aloud with your child every day.

* Talk with your child about the value of hard work and the importance of education.

* Show your child that you are learning, too. Let them see you reading for pleasure, and talk with them about ideas and events that affect your life.

* Check homework every night.

* Ask your child about what happens during the school day. Don't accept "nothing" as an answer! Instead, try asking, "What was the most interesting thing you learned today?"

* Limit your child's television viewing on school nights. Children who watch too much television learn less and get lower grades than students who watch less.

If you'd like more helpful hints on how to battle the back-to-school blues, visit www.bgca.org or www.jcpenney.net and download your free issue of Learn & Live, a newsletter for parents from the education experts at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, sponsored by JCPenney Afterschool.

Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com, e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) comprises a national network of more than 2,800 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 3.3 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," Clubs provide guidance-oriented programs on a daily basis for children 6 - 18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key programs emphasize character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.