Every child deserves to feel seen and heard so they can thrive. This proves to be difficult when a child isn’t in the right educational setting. But between so many different options, how can we as parents really know what’s right for them?
“Every child learns differently. Their journey is going to be different and they already have these passions that are determining what they want to do in the future and we shouldn’t be imposing on them, but just really listening.” - Carlos Melendez
As parents, we want the best for our kids. When it comes to their education, there are so many options out there, it can feel overwhelming and sometimes impossible to find the best setting for them.
- What really are the differences between public, private, online, and homeschooling?
- What is an NPA?
- How can families find the resources they need to make these important decisions for their children?
- What carries more weight: what the child asks for or what the parent thinks they need?
Sometimes it’s hard to know what the right choice is, especially when you haven’t had the best experience in the past.
I recently talked to Carlos Melendez from Schola on my podcast about how to educate yourself around all the different educational options available.
If your child is currently struggling in their educational setting, I recommend taking the following steps to help support them:
- Talk to your child about how they’re feeling and where they need more support. No matter your child’s age, they should have input into their own education.
- Consider the unique needs of your child and your family. This includes whether your child thrives in structure or needs a less structured environment, if they have particular interests, need additional learning support, and more.
- Do your research. After doing a search of schools near you, you’ll want to talk to the director or principal, attend an open house, and talk to parents or kids already at the school. Ask about the school’s approach to learning, its behavior policy, its academic performance, special programs, and so on. You might also want to ask questions that relate directly to any experiences that you’ve had in the past.
- From there, weigh the pros and cons of each of your top schools. One school might easily be the frontrunner, but you may have to make an additional visit to select the best one for your child.
We’re so lucky to live in a time when we have more than one or two options for our children. Every one of them is so uniquely different and we can’t fit them in a box. Find out what opportunities exist around you by doing your research so your child has the best opportunity for a school where they can thrive.