NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As summer winds down, the excitement of back-to-school shopping, new classes and making friends are top of mind for children across the country. Parents face the familiar yet stressful challenge of getting their children back into a routine and prepared for a successful start to the school year.  

The good news is that when parents are involved in their children's education, children tend to do better and have more positive feelings about going to school.
 
There are many ways parents can encourage learning opportunities. Here are five easy ways parents can support their children's learning at home and throughout the school year:

1. Encourage your child to read. Reading is not just an important milestone in a child's education - it's also a vital stepping-stone to a lifetime of entertainment and enrichment. Reading to kids exposes them to a richer vocabulary than adults normally use in day-to-day life, and can positively impact their language, literacy and intelligence.
2. Promote active learning at home. Turn daily routines into practical learning opportunities. Children can learn problem-solving, math, science and vocabulary skills as they help with groceries, cooking and even laundry. For example, a weekly game night is a fun way to incorporate learning as a family.  
3. Partner with educators. Parents can support their child's academic success by working with his or her teachers to support learning. Play an active role in your child's education by knowing what they are studying at school and routinely communicating with his or her teachers. Set expectations and academic goals at the beginning of the school year and monitor your child's progress.
4. Capitalize on your child's interests. Children learn best when they are actively learning about topics they enjoy. Learning can take place anywhere: when your child plays sports, spends time with friends, acts in a school play, plays a musical instrument or visits museums and bookstores. Find learning opportunities by listening to your child's ideas and responding to them. When you encourage this type of give-and-take at home, your child's participation and interest in school are likely to increase.
5. Enroll in a supplemental education program. Learning doesn't have to stop when the bell rings. Enrolling in an academic enrichment program – like the YMCA's Leaders Club, Youth & Government, Rowe Scholars and Afterschool programs – is a great opportunity to provide your children with an advantage in the new school year. 

About the YMCA of Greater New York
The YMCA of Greater New York is, and always will be, dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families and communities. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves New York City's health and well-being and provides opportunities to give back and support neighbors. In scores of neighborhoods across the five boroughs and its camp upstate, the Y makes accessible the support and opportunities that empower more than 500,000 New Yorkers to learn, grow and thrive.