Have your child point out her latest art project. You d be surprised by how much you can pick up about your kids' lives during these informal chats. And by taking an interest in your children s school, you ll also send the message that you care. Volunteer at your children s school. You can spend just an hour helping your kids make costumes for the class play, or drop by during your lunch hour to give a 20-minute talk to your son s class about your work.
Studies show that children whose parents are involved in their education do better in school.
And as a parent of two grown children, I am a firm believer that these kinds of small activities help working parents become fully integrated into their children s lives. Set aside time every evening to discuss their day with them. When you talk is unimportant. What matters is that you focus only on them during this time. These kinds of daily interchanges will help keep the lines of communication open, even when your children become teens.