Help Your Child Succeed in School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school — and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Eventually, good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and college.

Did you know?

• Starting in preschool and kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
• Students can still fall behind if they miss just one or two days every few weeks.
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
• Absences and tardiness can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.

What can you do?

• Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
• Keep your child healthy and make sure your child has the required shots.
• Introduce your children to their teachers and classmates before school starts.
• Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
• Try to schedule non-urgent related medical appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session. 
• If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
• If you are concerned that your child may have a contagious illness, call your school or health care provider for advice.
• If your child must stay home due to illness, ask the teacher for resources and ideas to continue learning at home.