Why is Punctuality so Important for Your Child?

We all have such busy lives, and there is always more to be done, and not enough time to do it. Does this sound familiar?

Let’s take a step back to examine why punctuality is such an important character trait and why it is important to practice punctuality with your child from a very young age.

An Important Key to Your Child’s Success

Research shows that children with consistent school attendance learn more. If children are to fully benefit from the many learning opportunities, regular school attendance is vital. A student who is 10 minutes late every day will miss 30 hours of instruction during the year, definitely, a significant loss in the teachable moments that you can’t get back.

Children who are late or absent can never recover what is most important: the discussion, the questions, the explanations by the teacher and the thinking that makes learning come alive.

While punctuality will promote learning, arriving late to school can also be very disruptive for the child, the teacher, and the other students in the class.

A child’s success in school and ultimately in life depends on having a solid educational background, one that can only be gained through punctuality and regular school attendance. When the child grows up, he will quickly learn that employers seek reliable, dependable and responsible people to fill employment positions.

Regular attendance at school is also important in promoting social development. Developing positive attendance and timekeeping habits at a young age will serve the child well throughout his/her life.

What does your child miss when they arrive late?

• The opportunity to participate in circle time and share experiences and conversations with their friends
• The opportunity to be a classroom helper for the day
• The opportunity to get settled in and be ready for the day with their friends
• The opportunity to participate in all the fun activities that start right at the beginning of each school day

What can you do to help your child to be punctual every day?

• Make sure your child stays healthy by eating nutritious food and getting enough exercise.
• Establish a regular bedtime to ensure that your child gets a good night’s sleep, awakes rested the next morning and has enough time to prepare for school.
• Show your child why education is important. Give specific examples of how education helps people succeed.
• And most important – Lead by example.

Research shows that attendance is the single most important factor in school success.