What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Parent Involvement in Education?

When you have a child, her development is of the utmost importance to you. You may want to be involved in every facet of your child's life. While this includes her education, there are some distinct advantages and disadvantages of parental involvement in education that every parent should be aware of.

Advantage: Relating to Your Child

Taking an interest in your child's education can be a great way of showing interest in and relating to your child. The generation gap, along with differences is personality and preferences could potentially serve to make your child feel isolated but being an active part of their educational process could help to close that isolation gap and bring a stronger bond between you and your child. Your child will take notice of this and, even if they don't vocalize it, he will more than likely be thankful that you care so much.

Disadvantage: You're Not A Teacher

Although you may have the best intentions in mind when attempting to take an active part in your child's education, you must also realize that you are not a teacher. Unless you've got a teaching degree and are familiar enough with the subject matter to honestly teach it, you may be harming your child's learning process. Sometimes parents, though misunderstanding, give their children false information that could make it more difficult for children to learn certain subjects. While helping them on their homework isn't going to lead them astray, there's a reason the school hired teachers; it's their job to do the teaching.

Advantage: Self Esteem, Motivation and Behavior

Parent who play an active role in the education of their child will have greater opportunities to motivate their children to behave more and strive for greatness. Self esteem may rise as a result of positive reinforcement that they may not be getting at school. An involved parent will also know when his child is misbehaving and be able to correct the problem before it gets out of hand and becomes a regular habit. With proper parental involvement, a child is less likely to feel the need to lash out and misbehave for much needed attention; they'll already be getting the attention in a much healthier way.

Disadvantage: Social Growth

Apart from the actual learning aspect, the social aspect and routine of school greatly help to shape a child into the adult they will become. Though you obviously love your child, it is important for her to spend time away from you to learn how to develop on her own so she can become her own person instead of an indoctrinated copy of her parents. Spending too much time with your child in this aspect could lead to an unhealthy attachment to the parent. It's important for children to learn independence; it will help them later in life when the time comes to leave the nest and become their own people. A child too attached to his parents may have more difficulty completing this crucial step of becoming an adult.