Studies show that students will desire to be better at something if they know their parents want them to do it. Students show more motivation, effort and zeal towards something that they think will impress or please their parents. Research shows that students whose parents take an active role in their education have better attendance, get higher grades, do not get into trouble and are more likely to turn away drugs or alcohol. Students who feel that what they are doing is important will be more likely to excel at that activity.
Students who do not have to worry about a hostile or dysfunctional home life will be far more likely to succeed in school. This is because they go home to parents who care and want to protect them; this feeling of safety and belonging helps students focus on school work rather than the stress called by parents who berate or violent guardians.
Students who have support from parents are also more likely to participate in extracurricular activities. This is because they know that they can get something out of the extracurricular activities because they will have support from their family. Students do not want to have to hide their extracurricular activities from their parents, so parents who will endorse and support the activities of their children will find their children are more willing to participate.
Students who have open communication with their parents are also more likely to do better. Students who feel they can draw on the knowledge and wisdom of their parents will be more willing to come to their parents for help on assignments or school problems. These students will do better because they are tapping into the resources that they have.