Consejos Escolares Para Padres Hispanos by Teresa S. Navas is a useful  and comprehensive guide to the educational system in the United States and how to navigate  it. It also provides helpful resources and tips for setting children up for success in school systems that will help them go on to lead successful and impactful lives.

Navas opens with the importance of parental preparation for entry into the school system in America. She expertly outlines guidelines for enrollment at most schools and what is required for documentation. The importance of preparation of the parents has a tremendous impact on  the preparation of the children attending school, and helps to reduce anxiety and worry about  an unknown or unfamiliar system. By creating a fictional family to use for examples, the Garcia  Family, Navas demonstrates many common home life situations and provides examples of how  they could be handled in a more productive way, while still respecting the culture.

An important part of preparation for school is ensuring that the new student will be close in readiness to their peers. Navas provides cited benchmarks for children of different ages and when they should be entering the school system, especially if they haven’t been enrolled in preschool or prekindergarten programs. She also provides helpful resources in both Spanish and English for parents to utilize for learning and development.

Navas has assembled an incredible and thorough breakdown of the educational system in America and informs readers in a clear and simple manner. She also summarizes the most  common enrollment requirements, from health screenings to documentation requirements for  addresses, and provides resources for parents needing more direct or clear information. This is a guide that any parent would find useful.

Not only does Navas provide resources for specific needs, but she also effectively explains the impact of family participation in the education process. While teachers are important for  learning during school hours, parental involvement at home during non-school hours is key for children to appreciate and respect the education they are given. The importance of having a  structured schedule at home, as well as including suggestions and resources for nutrition,  exercise, and screen time, would serve most Americans well to read. Aside from physical health, Navas provides a detailed summary of mental health issues that present in childhood, as well as advice and guidance on how to handle any potential bullying situations.

Navas effectively outlines the importance of communication between parents and school staff, but also with medical providers, such as pediatricians. By breaking down some common myths regarding readily available resources, this book provides a comprehensive guide to set children  up for success in the best ways possible. This book is a wealth of information that is useful to any parent of a school-aged child, regardless of their background or immigration status.

– Entrada Book Reviews