3 Ways Parents Can Help Children Build Effective Study Habits

Even for adults, studying can be quite a stretch, so how much more for kids?

While some children may require professional help from an educational therapist, others do not. Either way, the primary objective is to get them all to appreciate their studies and to have fun while doing so. Moreover, considering that children are different, it is advisable to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Even twins have different personalities. Also, one in five kids in America experiences some difficulty learning, making it more essential for parents to find solutions. The following are a few tips.

• Be innovative in your experimentation processes

As a parent, whenever you decide to be actively involved in your kids’ studies, it goes beyond randomly pulling up a chair to sit close to them. What is helpful and recommended is to devise new ways and means to make learning exciting. At some point, the usual way of studying becomes mundane. When that happens, it requires re-strategizing your previous methods. For example, if your child is struggling with reading or recognizing vocabulary, try the flashcard method instead of purchasing more books. This is quite different and will re-engage your learner’s interest.

Another alternative for subjects your child finds difficult is to try audiobooks or educational podcasts on those specific topics. Fortunately, you will find a wealth of age-appropriate educational materials that make learning different but exciting. Meanwhile, you can try setting up a classroom look at home for young learners. This may include investing in primary classroom furniture to recreate that appeal. Do not forget to add an exciting twist to the setup. The idea here is to be constantly innovative while trying out new ways to engage your child.

• Acknowledge and reward efforts when necessary 

Recognizing your child’s successes in the learning process is very much appreciated. It boosts their self-confidence and creates a desire to do better than they already are. When using this strategy, be mindful about crossing into the ‘entitlement territory.’ This is when your learner begins to feel a sense of entitlement whenever you reward them with a gift for improving their performance. For this reason, it helps to alternate your reward system.

It shouldn’t always be about a physical gift. Instead, it can be simple words of appreciation and further encouragement. Perhaps, on special occasions like birthdays and festive seasons, all the gifts you intended to give can be presented to your child. It is a mark of positive parenting as your child begins to understand that studying harder is for their benefit.

• Teach your child how to study in advance

It is not surprising that several students like to cram in the final week leading to exams. Others even do that in the same week of these tests. According to professional teachers, it is the worst way to study. What cramming does instead, is pressuring the brain into ‘absorbing’ more than it can in a short period. Scientists also say it stresses the brain and results in forgetfulness.

A little online research about this organ tells you that learning in advance allows the brain to process information into memory. Therefore, by studying in advance, the human brain would have stored everything for recollection later. To do this right, help your kids in breaking bigger lesson concepts into smaller topics. This is called smarter studying.

It would be great to encourage them to tackle each one at a suitable pace. Again, it helps to find out from your child’s school the calendar for the term. That way, you will have an idea of when tests are coming up. Finally, know your child’s academic strengths and weaknesses as that defines the background to how you can help.