Each fall when I was heading back to school, my father would always help make sure I had everything I needed for the first day, such as notebooks, pens, pencils, art supplies and any other materials that were

required. He also helped me

throughout the academic year with my homework, guided me in completing school projects, and helped me to negotiate my time between school, clubs and other activities. Most importantly, he was always there to listen to me when I had good news to share, or when I was facing some difficult challenges. As a dad you can have a positive effect on your child’s schooling in many important ways.

Action ideas:

•Consider talking with your child about your expectations and rules related to academics, extracurricular activities and spending time with their friends.

•Take time to ask and listen. Invite them to talk about how they are feeling and help them to make wise decisions.

•Think about establishing a reasonable bedtime so they are well-rested to learn in the morning. Also, encourage them to have a healthy breakfast so they will be more alert at school.

•Especially for younger kids, think about using a wall calendar, and hang it in a convenient place so they can record when assignments are due, tests will be given, and extracurricular practices and rehearsals will be held.

The local fathering effort, in cooperation with the National Center for Fathering, provides bi-weekly Action Ideas to stimulate conversation between fathers and parents. For more information, or to join local conversations, contact David Eggebeen at e5x@psu.edu, Mick Trombley at mick@micktrombley.com, Robert Orndorff at rmo104@psu.edu, Chris Dufour at chrisdufour19@gmail.com, or Marc McCann at marc@thesecondmile.org .