KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Responsible Teens

As kids leave elementary school and head for middle school, a lot of parents start to think their kids don't want to be around them anymore.  But, a new study from the Journal Child Development reveals that middle schoolers really may want to spend more time with mom and dad.  The middle school students who feel more attached to their parents really perform better in school.  The report found that parents that are more involved in their children's lives at school and with their children's friends have a better gauge of what their kids are really doing.  The kids in turn, want to please their parents.  That means better academic performances and more of an emotional connection with parents.  When kids see their parents in school volunteering and watching their behavior, experts see an improvement in those kids' grades.  Kids get the message that mom and dad are there, so they better perform.  Getting involved with your child is easy.  Things like checking up on homework, attending school meetings, volunteering at special events in school send the message to your child that you are present and engaged in their lives.