Strengthen the Home to School Connection

Parents play a vital

part in their childs
growth
academically and
socially. Different
kinds of involvement
can have varying
results.

The Influence of
Parent
Involvement on
their Childs
Social
Interactions

Table of Contents

Mimi Tran
University of California,
San Diego

Methods
--Parent
Involvement
--Students Social
Interactions

Observations
Analysis

Implications
Conclusions
Summary
References

Parents have a powerful role in their childs involvement in their childs academic

All parents are

involved in
different ways.
-Assistant Principal
from San Diego Unified
School District

developmental outcome. It is a common

engagements influence their childs social

understanding that a parent or guardians

interactions in the classroom? In order to

presence influences their childs outcome

properly answer this question, two things

in a classroom. There are many studies

will need to be clarified. First, the idea of

showing a strong correlation between

parent involvement must be discussed as

positive parent interaction and students

to clarify the degrees and extent of such

academic achievements. With so much

influence. Secondly is the concept of

attention on students academic

student social interaction and how this was

achievements, the influence that parents

measured. According to observations of a

have on students social interactions in the

5th grade classroom and interviews of

classroom tends to be overshadowed.

different stakeholders, positive parent

The question that will attempted to

be answered is: How does parent

influences generally have positive effects

on students social interactions in the class.

The Influence of Parent Involvement on their Childs Social Interactions

Mimi Tran

UCSD EDS 2014

Across all social

classes, parents pay
close attention to
their childrens
education
[working-class and
poor parents] take a
different approach to
helping them reach
their goal.
-Lareau (2003), Unequal
Childhoods

Methods
This study observed 32 students in a
5th grade classroom at a school in San
Diego, CA. In addition to the
observations, there were also a
series of interviews varying
stakeholders, including a teacher, an
assistant principal, and a parent.

Parent Involvement
Parent involvement is a
broad term that can mean different
things. As an assistant principal from
San Diego Unified School District
stated, All parents are involved in
different ways. This is, by all means,
true. The influence of parents who
feed their child and attend parentteacher conferences cannot be
denied. However, there are also
parents who will also help their
students with homework at home or
attend school functions.

different based upon different factors.

In this brief study, parent

According to sociologist Annette

involvement was measured for each

Lareau (2003), Across all social

student in the 5th grade classroom.

classes, parents pay close attention to

Observations and notes were taken

their childrens education [working-

based upon the parents and students

class and poor parents] take a different who attended two out of classroom
approach to helping them reach their

activities: the parent-teacher potluck

goal, however (p. 198). Under all

and the ice skating party. Important

circumstances, parents can be

stakeholders were also interviewed

influential to their children.

about the concept and purpose of

In this article, parent

involvement is defined as positive
parent interactions with their childs

parent involvement.

Students Social
Interactions

academics. Steven Sheldon (2002)

Students social interactions

states, the term refers to a range of

refer to how students interact with each

behaviors, including ensuring that

other. In the classroom setting,

children have breakfast before they go observations were made during

to school, volunteering at school,

transitional periods for which students

helping children with homework, and

went to talk or sit next to other students.

holding a position on the local school

These observations were made on a

board (p. 302). There are countless

random school day. Notes were made

ways for parents to be a part of their

for the top three students that each

childs education.

student made an attempt to socially

These various levels may be

The Influence of Parent Involvement on their Childs Social Interactions

Mimi Tran

UCSD EDS 2014

The more the parent is

involved in the
students life inside and
out of school, the more
confidence the child
will have academically
and socially.

interact with. The social interactions

clearly that there were groups of

groups. In one group, many of these

could be who they chose to play with

students who interacted with more

students seemed to gravitate towards

during recess, sat next to during

students than others.

each other. There was a group four to five

whole class lesson, or who they

Of the students whose

girls who were friends, but their

talked to when transitioning or

parents were more active in the

friendship was exclusive. Students who

project time. This data was collected

school events, there were two

were not in exclusive friendships were

and used to create a sociogram in

distinct groups. There were the

isolated and did not reach out or attempt

order to display which students were

students who the teacher felt were

to socialize with their peers.

more interactive with a greater range

more vocal and more social. There

of students.

were also the students who were

Observations

more isolated. Students who were

Analysis
These observations suggest that parents

social and vocal tend to interact with who are more involved in their childs

When looking at the observations

a greater variety of students

and data yielded for parent

throughout the class and played with their childs social interactions. Students

involvement and for students social

different students at recess. Students can become more confident in school and

interactions, there seems to be a

who were more isolated seemed to

are eager to reach out socially. A mother

correlation relationship. The parent

still reach out to their peers, even if

of two children shares her belief that, the

observations of the 5 grade

their efforts were not as

more the parent is involved in the

classroom showed that there were

reciprocated.

students life inside and out of school, the

th

parents who would show up to more

schooling have a positive influence in

Students whose parents were more confidence the child will have

events than other parents. Also,

not involved in the school activities

academically and socially. Parent

analyzing the sociogram showed

were classified into two different

involvement in a childs education is

The Influence of Parent Involvement on their Childs Social Interactions

Mimi Tran

UCSD EDS 2014

correlated with their child academic

their childs social interactions in the

ideas on how parents can be more

and social success.

classroom. An assistant principal

involved in their childs education:

Interestingly enough, there was

believes that parents are one of the

Communicate with the teachers

also a danger of having too much

most important stakeholders in their

to get updates on events and the

parent support or involvement. There

childs education because the

childs progress

were several students who seemed too

parent is the childs first teacher. As

reliant on their parents, resulting in

a result, parent support for children

teacher conferences, back to

their own social isolation and difficulty

yields many benefits, including

school night, Open House, choir

with making friends.

increase academic and social

concerts, etc.

However, students who do not

success.

have a clear parent involvement are not

Attend school events parent

Check the childs homework

Lastly, a teacher from a

daily

doomed. Correlation does NOT imply

school in San Diego shared his

causation. While students who have

thought, no [parent] WANTS to not

needed either the parent can

parents who are interactive in school

help their children. Some WONT.

help or get a tutor

events tend to be more social, students

Some dont know how. And for some,

Model positive attitudes towards

whose parents are not as involved are

it is a bit of both. But, most are doing

school and social interactions

still capable of being social.

all they can given their situation.

Implications and
Conclusions

Parents are involved based on their

In conclusion, based on the

observations and research collected in
this research brief, it is suggested that
parent involement positively influences

Provide homework help if

Talk to their children about their

day and things they learned !

own understanding and their

situations. While some parents are
able to be more present in the school
setting, others show their support at
home.
Here are some suggestive

Summary
Parent involvement and support for their childs
academics usually had a positive correlation with
their social interactions in the classroom,
regardless of social class.
For all circumstances, parents can be influential
in various ways:
o Parents can review their childs homework.
o Parents can have a positive relationship
with the teacher.
o Parents can attend school functions.
Positive parent and student relationships can
lead to increase in the childs confidence
academically and socially.
The Influence of Parent Involvement on their Childs Social Interactions

References
Lareau, A. (2003). Unequal
Childhoods. Berkley, CA:
University of California
Press.
Sheldon, S.B. (2002). Parents
Social Networks and
Beliefs as Predictors of
Parent Involvement. The
Elementary Journal, 102(2),
301-316.