The Family-School Connection: Parental Influences in Academic Achievement and the Underlying Gender Differences

Research from multiple traditions demonstrates the impact of children’s social environments on their academic motivation, learning, and achievement. The present literature review attempts to better understand the family-school relationship, with a particular emphasis on parental influences on the child’s academic achievement and later career development. This paper focuses on the proximal (parent-child interactions) and distal (familial social/cultural context) dimension. Additionally, an attempt is made to understand the gender differences that are seen in children in their academic preferences and later career choices.