Good attendance is critical for the academic and social development of children and youth for several reasons:

1. Academic Success: There’s a strong correlation between attendance and academic performance. Missing school can lead to gaps in knowledge, making it harder for students to understand new material and succeed in their studies.
2. Skill Development: Regular attendance allows children and youth to develop important skills, including literacy and numeracy, which are foundational for further education and employment opportunities.
3. Consistency and Routine: Having a consistent routine helps young people feel more secure and enhances their ability to learn. It also instills habits of discipline and responsibility.
4. Social Interaction: School is a primary social arena for children and youth. It’s where they learn to interact with their peers and develop social skills. Regular attendance helps maintain and build friendships and supports social development.
5. Opportunity for Support: If children have learning difficulties or other needs, being in school increases the chances they’ll get necessary support and interventions.
6. Engagement: Higher attendance rates are often linked to higher levels of student engagement, which can lead to a more fulfilling school experience.
7. Reducing Dropout Risks: Chronic absenteeism is a predictor of dropping out of school. Ensuring good attendance in the early years can reduce this risk.
8. Building a Work Ethic: Good attendance helps inculcate a strong work ethic, which is essential for success in the professional environment of the future.
9. Enhancing Confidence: Regular attendance allows children to keep up with the curriculum and their peers, which can enhance self-esteem and confidence.
10. Legal Compliance: Truancy laws require children of certain ages to attend school.

• First and foremost, make sure that your child clearly understands the importance of attending school regularly. 
• Set the expectation that in your family, children attend school: it is their job! 
• Monitor their medical and mental health: put supports in place to keep them healthy.
• Make sure they are eating a healthy diet and have a sleep routine with a regular wake up time.
• If you think they are struggling academically, contact the school immediately. 
• Try to book family vacations during regularly scheduled school breaks.
• Be proactive. You know your child best. If you detect any unusual behaviour or changes in their behaviour pattern, contact the school immediately.

Improving school attendance for a child often requires a multifaceted approach that involves understanding the root causes of absenteeism, collaboration between parents and the school, and strategies that support the child’s overall well-being. Here are some tips and tools that parents might find helpful:

1. Establish a Routine: Set a regular bedtime and morning routine to help your child get enough rest and be prepared for the school day.
2. Instill the Importance of School: Regularly discuss the value of education and how attending school can impact your child’s future.
3. School Engagement: Encourage your child to participate in school activities, clubs, or sports, which can increase their interest in attending school.
4. Communication with School: Stay in contact with your child’s teachers and school officials to understand their perspective on your child’s attendance and to share your concerns.
5. Monitor Attendance: Keep track of your child’s attendance and address any patterns of absenteeism promptly.
6. Identify Barriers: Determine if there are specific reasons your child is reluctant to attend school, such as academic challenges, bullying, or social issues, and work with the school to address them.
7. Health Management: Ensure your child’s physical and mental health needs are being met. This includes addressing any medical conditions, anxiety, or depression that may be affecting their attendance.
8. Transportation Solutions: If getting to school is a problem, explore alternatives or arrange carpools with other parents.
9. Praise and Incentives: Recognize and reward your child’s efforts to attend school regularly. Positive reinforcement can be very effective.
10. Seek Support: Look for community resources if you’re facing issues that impact school attendance, such as economic hardship or family instability.
11. Counselling Services: Professional counselling can help if your child is dealing with emotional or behavioural problems that affect their attendance.
12. Early Interventions: For younger children, early intervention can address attendance issues before they become ingrained habits.
13. Peer Support: Encourage friendships with peers who have good attendance habits. Peer influence can be powerful.

Each child and family’s situation is unique and may require different strategies. It’s also beneficial to remain empathetic and understand that improving attendance can be challenging and may take time. Consistent and loving support from parents or caregivers is crucial in helping children overcome barriers to regular school attendance.

Promoting attendance at home is crucial since parents and guardians lay the foundation for children’s habits and attitudes towards school. Here are some strategies you can use:

1. Establish Routines: Consistent bedtime and morning routines can help children be well-rested and prepared for the school day.
2. Talk About the Importance of School: Have regular conversations about how school can impact a child’s future opportunities and the benefits it offers beyond academics, like social skills and extracurricular activities.
3. Prepare the Night Before: Encourage children to set out their clothes and pack their school bags the night before to reduce morning stress.
4. Nutritious Breakfast: Ensure that children have a healthy breakfast every morning to fuel their focus and participation at school.
5. Model Good Attendance: Demonstrate the importance of punctuality and commitment by maintaining good attendance at your own commitments.
6. Avoid Scheduling Non-Essential Appointments During School Hours: Schedule medical appointments and family trips during school holidays or after school hours when possible.
7. Monitor Attendance and Academic Progress: Keep track of your child’s attendance and address any concerns or patterns of absenteeism with them and their teachers.
8. Encourage Social Connections: Support your child in making friends and getting involved in school activities, which can make them more eager to attend school.
9. Address Concerns: Talk with your child about any issues at school that might affect their desire to attend, such as difficulties with classmates or teachers, and work toward solutions.
10. Stay Connected with the School: Participate in school events and maintain open communication lines with teachers and school administrators.
11. Positive Reinforcement: Reinforce good attendance with praise and recognition of your child’s effort to get to school even on tough days.
12. Understand School Policies: Familiarize yourself with the school’s attendance policies and the potential consequences of absenteeism.
13. Seek Support When Necessary: If there are challenges affecting your child’s attendance, such as health issues, family struggles or learning difficulties, seek support from the school or community services.
14. Promote Health and Wellness: Encourage a healthy lifestyle that supports good attendance, including adequate sleep, regular physical activity, and proper hygiene habits to prevent illness.
15. Mental Health Awareness: Be aware of your child’s mental health. Anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues can affect attendance and may require professional help.

Poor attendance indicates a lack of engagement with both the academic and social aspects of school. It may be a symptom of a more complicated issue, such as:

• Relational/attachment issues
• Undiagnosed learning disability
• Undiagnosed mental health condition (anxiety, depression, ADHD)
• Behaviour issues
• Addiction issues: drugs or alcohol, gaming, internet or social media
• Bullying
• Low self-esteem
• Sleep issues

Links to Resources:

• A toolkit for Raising the Attendance Rates of First Nations Students in British Columbia

Handouts to Support Parents

1. Chronic Absence – What does it mean?
2. Family Media Use Plan
3. How technology use can Affect Attendance
4. What to say when your child does not want to go to school
5. Tips for Getting to School Regularly and on time