Do you know what is the secret to raising an A+ student? The answer is revealed in Reader’s Digest Asia. Here is a statement from their feature article:

Dozens of studies have shown that the most consistent indicators of student achievement - more than income or social status - are the home environment and parental involvement.

They highlighted 3 families where the children have excelled - a Malaysian homeschooling family, and single Filipino mother of three and a Singaporean mother.

Reading the comments and experience of these 3 families, I found a common trait — they all read to their children and encourage their children to love reading. Here are excerpts about the 3 families.

  • The Malaysian family - “Most critical of all, there are books - a home library with all kinds of books for adults and children. Their parents began reading to the children when they were just a few months old, instilling a love of books. “
  • The single Filipino mother - “…she had to get her kids reading early on. So she took them to the local public library. “They borrowed books after their nursery classes and read at home.” At night, she read aloud to them despite being tired after a full day of work.”
  • The Singaporean mother - “She reads to her children ‘all the time.’”

So as you can see, the “nursery” for raising an A+ student is not at school or tuition centers but at home. Parents need to be involved in their children’s learning and one of the most important thing you can do for your children is to teach them to love reading. It starts with 2 very simple acts:

  • Read to them often
  • Create a home library so they are always surrounded by books

This is one good parenting skill we should all strive for.