The Importance of Developing Good Parenting Skills

Helping parents expand their parenting skills is an important component of the Esso Family Math Program. While parents want to help their children with math, they may lack the skills necessary to assist their children's mathematics development. They may not be familiar with activities they can do at home using everyday materials, like those introduced through Family Math. Furthermore, parents often do not know how to stimulate their children's thinking and talking when engaging in these activities.

It is important for Family Math volunteers to model positive parenting skills, demonstrating worthwhile strategies to help parents communicate effectively with their children. Leaders and Teaching Volunteers must model these skills without acting in a prescriptive manner, or appearing to be judgmental of a parent's present behaviour. Parents must learn how to invite their children to share their thinking, encouraging them to communicate their understanding (or lack of it) in a safe and relaxed atmosphere. Becoming a good listener is hard, and takes effort and patience. Through observational learning, parents will discover the value of not being critical of their children's incorrect answers and not being excessive in their praise of correct ones. They will learn that incorrect answers can, and should, be corrected in a positive manner that encourages further thinking and development. When a family has fun learning a challenging topic together, and they respect each other's thought processes, everyone benefits.

	Our Partners in Making ESSO Family Math A Community Success