Forty-Four Proven Ideas Parents Can Use to Help Their Children Do Better in School

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Making Time Count

Put specific times on your calendar each week when you will spend time with your children. During that time, focus your love and attention on your child.
Use car time to talk with your children. There's no phone or TV to interfere. No one can get up and leave. And kids know they really have your ear.
Plan to eat at least one meal together as a family each day.
Look for things to do together as a family. Get everyone involved in choosing how to spend your time together.
Try giving children TV tickets. Each week, each child gets 20 TV tickets. Each ticket can be used for 30 minutes of TV time. Any tickets remaining at the end of the week can be cashed in for 25 cents each. Parents can still veto a certain program, of course.
Reading to Your Child
Try relaxing your family's bedtime rules once a week on the weekend. Let your child know that he can stay up as late as he wants-as long as he's reading in bed.