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Volunteering at Your Child's School
You Do Have Time!
By Marie-Helen Goyetche
You work full time, take classes, and you have a life. But you're also a parent, and you're looking for a way to be a bigger part of your child's world, to make a difference in your child's life. One way to accomplish this is to volunteer at your child's school.
Your participation in school activities demonstrates an active interest in your child's studies -- a major boost to her self esteem. Academic abilities may also improve as a result of your increased involvement in your child's school life. You send a consistent, powerful message: "I care about you. It is important to me to be involved in your school life. You are important to me."
Getting Involved
The first step is to contact the school. Many schools already have a volunteer program in place and can immediately assign you to an area where your assistance will be most valuable. Even if your availability is sporadic, it is still likely that your help will be needed and welcomed. With budget cuts affecting most public schools, the time you invest volunteering can really make a difference to the entire school as well as to your child.
Regular Volunteering
If your schedule allows, you can sign up to be a regular volunteer at the school. Remember, regular doesn't necessarily mean full-time -- even if you only have an hour a week to spare, invest that hour in your child by helping out at his school. Consider these options: