An Alphabet for Parents

From NCTE's Parent to Parent: Our Children, Their Literacy:

Always ask her/him what went well at school today.

Boast about the good things s/he tells me.

Celebrate his/her mistakes because everybody learns from mistakes.

Do a diary together – recounting family gatherings, outings, letters, and messages.

Encourage him/her to be themself and to expect their very best.

Forget the adult worries and remember she's just a little girl (boy).

Gather, go out, and get experiences galore! Out of doing comes learning.

Hug them often – at lease once every day (regardless of size).

Invite her to be the greatest, happiest child in the world. Tell her that and treat her accordingly.

Join in when s/he's reading or studying, realizing that your actions speak louder than anything you can say.

Keep on learning yourself – all that you can see, do, and be – living life to its fullest.

Listen to her/him when they are troubled and laugh with her when they are joyous.

Make a difference in their days by mentioning that you really care.

Notice when their hair is combed (at least when they comes down for
breakfast).

Offer them opportunities to decide things for themself – what to wear, when to do chores; give power over their life with all the risks that that entails.

Pin up artwork, tests, writings, heroes, and photographs, for all the family to enjoy (call up Grandma sometimes to remind her of his latest accomplishments).

Question their teacher and their coaches often about how they feels s/he's doing at school and on her/his team.

Relax and enjoy childhood. Read to them often. Remember how fleeting are the childhood years.

Squeeze praise into every day's time slots. Save a private moment for sharing what s/he chooses to share.

Turn the TV off sometimes to talk together – at the dinner table, before s/he goes to bed, when s/he comes in from little league.

Use her/his talents to the fullest. So that s/he realizes that their presence makes a difference to others, let them take out the garbage, wash the dishes, cook, and help at church or in the community.

Volunteer when needed. Be that model of helpfulness in school, demonstrating that learning is his/hers and your most important business.

Wait patiently for them . S/he may be a late bloomer, a deep thinker, a slow mover.

Xtra, extra, extra – that's what moms and dads are all about.

Yes, you are the one who counts. It's your values and strengths he will imitate.

Zoom ahead together in life, aware and confident that s/he is a unique gift to you.