Parents

When students have high aspirations, they have the ability to dream about the future while being inspired in the present to reach those dreams.

As a parent, you want to ensure that your child’s opinions are heard. The My Voice™ Student Aspirations Survey gives you that opportunity. Based on over two decades of research into student aspirations, the My Voice Student Aspirations Survey measures student perceptions of 8 Conditions That Make a Difference.

The survey results provide detailed information about how well the 8 Conditions are being fostered in your child’s school. The data will be a valuable resource for educators and school leaders to improve teaching and learning in a manner that directly impacts your child. The data collected will also contribute to a database that can be utilized to make improvements in the educational system at a national level. Below are a few ways that you can foster the 8 Conditions for your child right away.

Keep in mind that the My Voice surveys are not evaluative tools; the intention is to allow school leaders the opportunity to reflect on their current practice and better understand their role in promoting aspirations throughout their schools.

8 Effective Ways to Foster Your Child’s Aspirations

1. Value your child’s individuality

Ask your child to teach you one thing he or she is particularly good at doing. This may include a skill, hobby, or even something he or she is learning at school. Then share a hobby or interest of your own that is unknown to your child. Learning about what makes your child unique encourages self-pride in his or her individuality. Use magazines and quizzes and career inventories to learn more about who your child is, as well as who he or she wants to become. Let him or her know that you think it is great that a family is often made up of people with different talents and gifts.

Belonging Activity

2. Connect your child with caring, supportive adults

Encourage your child to meet adults at school other than his or her classroom teacher. This might include the guidance counselor, safety officer, custodian, or assistant principal. Help your child realize that these adults care about his or her success. Work with your child to develop a checklist of adults he or she knows and trusts. Share with your child the people in your life you count on for advice and support.

Heroes Activity

3. Celebrate effort, perseverance, and citizenship

Before asking your child about grades, ask about how much effort he or she put into an assignment or class. Then discuss your child’s ideas about how he or she could improve the completed assignment. Talk about the importance of putting forth your best effort while doing simple tasks such as cooking dinner, mowing the lawn, or even cleaning a bedroom. Reflect on how you model perseverance and effort for your child. Children who understand the importance of effort and perseverance learn to value the personal growth that leads to success as much as successful outcomes.

Sense of Accomplishment Activity

4. Laugh together and often

Few things are more fun than laughing with your child. Take the time to watch funny TV shows or movies with your child, learn a new game or sport, or create your own cartoon captions. Share with your child the things you found amusing when you were younger: What cartoons did you watch? Which “Knock, knock” jokes did you tell? Have fun playing a simple drawing or acting game.

Fun & Excitement Activity

5. Question the world around you

Creating an environment where your child asks and answers questions helps him or her to discover the world. During family dinner time, try to solve longstanding local, national, and world issues. Ask questions and push your child to think of thoughtful/original suggestions and responses. Work as a family to create the next great invention. Discuss what issue your invention addresses and how it improves conditions in the world.

Curiosity & Creativity Activity

6. Reach for the stars

Encourage your child to take healthy risks.This might be as simple as trying a new food or reading a difficult book. Then challenge him or her to join a new club at school, learn a new sport, or take a course at a local college. Share with him or her risks you have taken that have helped you grow as a person. Take a course together with your child at a local community center.

Spirit of Adventure Activity

7. Share decision-making opportunities

Making the right decisions and accepting responsibility for your actions is a perennial adolescent challenge. Provide your child ample opportunities to be a decision-maker. This might include making decisions concerning finances, household responsibilities, and family rules. Use current events to discuss other people’s decisions, including whether or not you or your child would have made different decisions, and why.

Leadership & Responsibility Activity

8. Make a difference

Help your child see the world beyond his or her needs and wants. Learn about issues that face your community, country, and world. Become involved in a local civic activity. Help your child find a cause that uses his or her strengths and is meaningful to him or her. If your child likes to be outdoors, discover your community’s date for cleaning up a local park or trail. If your child has good math or organizational skills, find out what fundraising efforts need help in your community. Children who enjoy meeting new people can help out at a local co-op or food pantry.

Confidence to Take Action Activity