Here are some helpful tips if you are having trouble getting your child to come to school

Let Children Know that Good Attendance Is Important:

• Let your child know that you think attending school daily is important. Show them you are interested in their school activities and tell them that you want them to do well in school.

• Good attendance habits start at an early age. Make sure your child goes to school regularly and on time. This helps them develop a positive view of school and the importance of attendance.

• Become involved in your child’s school life and school activities. Take an interest in your child’s school work.

• Do not provide inappropriate excuses for your child to miss school. Do not let them take time off from school for minor ailments – particularly those which would not prevent you from going to work.

• Don’t expect or let older children stay home from school to babysit younger siblings.

• Set good examples and enforce rules.

• Keep an attendance chart at home. At the end of the week, review it with your child and reward them for attending school every day (i.e. visit to the park, a new book, break from chores, a special treat)

Establish a Routine:

• Give yourself and children enough time to get ready. No TV on school mornings.

• Provide students their own alarm clock. Teach kids to set and use their own alarm clock or clock radio.

• Set alarm clock 30 minutes earlier for students who need more time to get ready for school.

• Plan ahead the night before: such as identifying and pre-prepping breakfast, have kids choose clothes and shoes the night before, and pack their backpacks with completed homework and snacks/water.

• Set a regular bedtime schedule. Age should be a factor.

• Get proper rest and go to bed early.

• Have your child go to bed 10 minutes earlier and get up 10 minutes earlier.

• Have kids bathe or shower in the evening.

• Help your child relax before bedtime with a story, instead of the stimulation of television.

• Have schoolwork and lunch ready and laid out, ready to go.

• Provide regular study times and a quiet, clean area for doing homework.

• Have your child walk to the bus stop with another child who is always on time.

• Have a back-up plan for cold weather for cars not starting.

Keep Open Lines of Communication with your Children, Teacher, Principal and School Attendance Office:

• Let the school know in advance if your child is going to be absent or if you have concerns about your child’s attendance or school performance.

• Report all absences on the day the student will miss school by calling the office.

• Provide doctor’s notes to the office secretary when medical verification is available for student’s absences.

• If your child does not want to go to school, find out why and work with your school and child to address concerns. Let our child know he/she must attend school.

• If you notice your child is avoiding a particular class or is having a difficult time in one subject area, discuss this with your child and his/her teacher. Offer extra support at home. This will prevent your child from developing a behavior of avoidance in school when things become difficult.

• Get to know your children’s friends and their families and make connections with other families that value school attendance.

• Check your child’s backpack weekly. Occasionally important letters can become lost in a full backpack. Organizing its contents weekly improves your chances of finding these documents while they are still useful.

• Make sure your child knows you do not approve of him/her being late or absent. Talk to your child about issues that may be making them late for school.

• Help your child understand the state laws and school attendance policies.

• Do not let your child persuade you into making an excuse for him/her. Don’t give up. Reward good behavior and take it one day at a time.

• If your child is absent, contact his/her teacher to find out what he/she missed.

• Set up medical/dental appointments for weekdays after school.

Show Interest in Student’s Activities:

• Attend Parent Teacher Conferences, Back to School Night and Parent Meetings

• Volunteer in the classroom, on field trips or during school events.

• Make education a family priority.

• Encourage your child to get more involved with their school. Sign them up for extra-curricular activities they like or an after school program. Studies show the more involved a child and parents are with their school, the better their attendance and success is.