Simply acknowledging, for example, that “You don’t need to know how to do the
homework to help” can begin to open up the concept of engagement for many parents.
Recognizing and helping parents understand and define other important roles they can
assume with their children is important – roles such as being a listener, a mentor, a
coach, a co-learner or a guide. When parents assume these types of supportive roles,
they encourage their children’s learning (Building Parent Engagement, 2011).