Click this link for directions for parents to create a parent account in Canvas.  A strong advantage of a parent account is that parents can link all of their children's classes under one account (theirs) which many find easier than logging in as their student (especially if they have multiple students in their family).  Once the initial set-up is complete, each new school year the new classes set up automatically for a parent.  Once the parent has linked his/her students to him/her, each new year's classes will automatically load.