It’s rare for any child to truly cherish the idea of homework, but it has to be done and can serve quite the purpose. However, it’s also true that in their formative years, kids learn if doing work by themselves is something they feel comfortable with, or if it feels entirely taxing and frustrating to keep up with.
Now, the impression they get is not always and entirely down to how you parent them, but you can certainly make a positive impact on how they regard studying and the need to attend to things they would rather not be doing. After all, this is a life skill that all adults learn is necessary.
Helping your children set up healthy studying habits, then, is a worthwhile use of our time. It may help them avoid falling behind in class or feeling embarrassed about asking for help, and it can also help them begin to find a love for learning on their own, rather than simply in the composed environment of a classroom. That’s quite the intensive goal, so let’s discuss a few ways around that and how to get started:
Making A Schedule
The best thing we can ever do for any chore or task we have to keep up with is to make a schedule. Adults have to learn this, of course, and children can find great value in adopting that insight. For instance, most people have a luggage schedule in which they tend to wash certain clothes at certain times, like a color wash on a Sunday morning and a whites wash on a Monday evening.
So, we can do the same with our children to help them become more comfortable in getting to homework. Perhaps after they’ve arrived home from school and have had some time to unwind and relax, they’ll get to it. Then, they can eat their evening meal, and the rest of the evening is theirs to do with what they like.
Setting up a calendar in their room to help them lay out what homework to do and when can make a big difference in the long run. Gently reminding them to keep up on it and making a habit out of it as much as possible will make a huge difference. Momentum builds and provides.
Asking For Help
It’s important that we instill in our children a willingness to ask for help.. Without this, they’re liable to give up when they find something they don’t know or can’t reason around. Asking for help is an important way to not only begin to learn but also feel comfortable in not knowing.
This might translate to asking for help from a teacher, who will then, most of the time, be sur to provide it. Or it might mean asking you to come and check their work, or to reason through a problem with you. Making them feel accepted for being modest about this need can be important in their development. If they’re chastised for it, they’ll just shut off and avoid asking again.
Properly Addressing Struggles
In some cases, it’s true that children can have trouble studying through no real fault of their own. If this seems to be a common case, it’s important to think of the cause. Are they really acting out and lazy, or might they have real problems concentrating? Heading to the doctor to see what the issue could be and mentioning the symptoms may help them manage a condition, perhaps like dyslexia or ADHD.
From here, along with the worthwhile medication or advised route of care, you may consider taking the time to review All Natural ADHD Supplements; or opting for study methods that are recommended for children with certain conditions – such as taking frequent breaks, using flashcards, or simply discussing their needs with their teacher.
Incentives That Work
Incentives help us all. It’s not uncommon for adults to think ‘if I get all of my work done this morning, I’ll head out and grab an iced coffee.’ These little treats can help us no matter our age, so why not approximate them for our kids trying to develop those healthy habits, too?
Maybe you’ll be happy to play a game of chess with your son after he’s taken care of his science homework. Perhaps you’ll head to a restaurant if your child starts improving in their maths projects. Measures like this can make a thorough difference from now into the future; encouraging your child that good things come to those who try.
With this advice, we hope you can continue to help your child set up healthy study habits. With support from you and their teacher, the sky is the limit.