As a parent, nothing is more important than the well-being and success of your children. When it comes to education, our role extends way beyond ensuring our kids attend school. This becomes even more pronounced when you have children who face additional challenges, such as my son with ADHD and my daughter who has experienced bullying.

Understanding and Advocacy

From the moment my son was diagnosed with ADHD, we undertook a journey that required patience, understanding and a great deal of advocacy. Education isn’t for everyone and it’s essential for parents to recognise and act on this. When a child struggles, whether due to learning difficulties or social issues like bullying, it becomes our responsibility to advocate for their needs.

When my son started struggling in school, it wasn’t just the academic hurdles that concerned us; he was also dealing with the social stigma and isolation that often accompany such conditions. As parents, we had to step in and ensure that the school was aware of his unique needs. This involved numerous meetings with teachers, our local council and the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) Which resulted in developing an Educational Health & Care Plan (EHCP) tailored to his needs.

Support During Transitions

The decision to move schools was a last resort and is never easy, but sometimes it’s necessary for the well-being of your child. Both my son and daughter had to switch schools due to bullying, and this transition period was a crucial time for our involvement. Moving to a new school meant new environments, new faces and new challenges. We made a point to support them through every step of this transition. This meant visiting the new school together, meeting with new teachers ahead of time and discussing any concerns they had about the change.

For my son, who is also being assessed for autism, the move was particularly daunting. We had to ensure that his new school was equipped and willing to accommodate his needs. It was a collaborative effort between us as parents, teachers and the specialists involved in his care.

Active Participation and Listening

Our role didn’t stop at facilitating these transitions. It was vital to remain actively involved in their education. This meant more than just attending parent-teacher meetings—it involved daily check-ins about their day, assisting with homework and being a constant source of encouragement.

Listening played a huge part in this. Both of our children needed to know that their voices were heard and valued. When my daughter was facing bullying, she needed a safe space at home where she could express her fears and frustrations without judgement. We listened and validated her feelings, which helped her regain confidence and strength.

Empowerment and Decision-making

Empowering our children to make decisions about their education was another crucial aspect of our involvement. We wanted them to feel a sense of ownership over their learning and to understand that their opinions mattered. When my son expressed a desire to change schools due to the challenges he faced, we backed his decision wholeheartedly. Similarly, we supported our daughter in her choice to switch schools to escape a toxic environment.

This empowerment extended to helping them find strategies that worked for them. For my son, this meant finding new ways to stay organised and focused, utilising tools and techniques tailored to his ADHD. For my daughter, it involved building resilience and coping strategies to deal with bullying.

Conclusion

The role of parents in a child’s education is multifaceted and deeply personal. For us, it has meant being advocates, supporters, listeners, and champions for our children. It has involved making tough decisions, facilitating transitions and ensuring that our kids feel empowered and heard.

Education is not just about academic success—it’s about helping our children through the social and emotional challenges they encounter along the way. By being actively involved and supportive, we can help our children not just survive but thrive in their educational journeys. For parents facing similar challenges, remember that your involvement and support can make all the difference in your child’s life.

Article Credits – Luke Morrisen | Founder of Holistx