Dr. Suzuki insisted that parents must partner closely with the educators of their children. He recognized that the parent is the first and best teacher of his child, and that the fate of a child is in the hands of his parents.
The Suzuki School recognizes that the parent has several important obligations to their child in their educational journey during the first five years.
The parent must first select the school that is right for the child; this program must be one of excellence. In our experience, we have come to realize that parents must understand the philosophy of the school and its approach to educating their child in order for the experience to be a successful one.
Parents must also partner with their child’s teachers so that his needs are met. The teaching teams have the knowledge, training and experience in providing the environment and the lessons, and they will collaborate together with parents so that both the home and school environment offer a consistent outlook on what the child is learning.
The child’s school day is filled with countless learning opportunities in language, math, arts, and in life skills. Parental focus at home should provide those experiences for the child that cannot be taught at school: trips throughout the community, visits to friends and relatives, gardening, preparing and serving meals, cleaning and organizing the various rooms in the house, travelling to new places, and of course, enjoying time at home together. These collective experiences provide an enduring structure and a comforting sanctuary that, when combined with the lessons of the classroom, develop a balanced, well-rounded child.