In today’s article, we have summarized key points from the fantastic NY Times article, How to Help Your Child Study by Abby Freireich and Brian Platzer. We encourage you to read their article in full.
School isn’t easy for everyone. Some kids struggle, which means the rest of their family struggles, too. As parents, there are many ways we can make homework and tests less stressful for our household – but it means we have to be intentional about teaching our kids good study habits.
Common Challenges for Kids When It Comes to Homework and Tests
According to How to Help Your Child Study, “[A child’s] stress tends to be exacerbated by three primary challenges: procrastinating, feeling overwhelmed, and struggling to retain information.” Sounds familiar, right? I doubt there is a parent on the planet who has not dealt with at least one of these challenges. Also, many children suffer from test anxiety. Fortunately, there are ways we can help our children overcome these different challenges and boost their confidence.
10 Tips for Improving Your Child’s Study Habits
While no two kids are alike (or two families), there are some tried and true practices that parents can implement to help their children study more effectively. The first thing you need to remember is that kids must be taught how to study – study habits for kids do not come naturally. By teaching and modeling the following behaviors, parents are helping their kids learn study skills they will use for their entire education.
- Embrace Routine.
When life is busy, it is hard to have a routine. However, routines are lifesavers when it comes to study habits. Follow the same homework routine each day. For instance, give your child a set amount of time to decompress and eat a snack. Next, homework. Then, reward a successful study time with their favorite activity.
2. Designate a Homework & Study Spot.
Another part of your child’s routine should be completing their homework and studying in the same spot. Designate this place in your home. Make sure it only has just what they need to complete their work. Along these same lines, it is also wise to encourage kids to organize all the spaces associated with homework and studying, such as bookbags, folders, and lockers.
3. Reduce Distractions.
Whether your child suffers from procrastination or not, you need to reduce the distractions. A phone near the study spot is a major temptation. Instead, make the study space a phone-free zone. Likewise, make it a rule that the television stays off during homework and study sessions.
4. Use Nightly Lists to Prioritize.
Before bed, have kids use a checklist to check what they did and look at what they still need to do. This teaches kids how to prioritize their time and plan ahead. It also gives parents an opportunity to see what their kids get done each day.
5. Give Kids a Planner.
It is also wise to give your kids a study schedule planner – or both a calendar and a homework planner! Put the calendar up in their bedroom and have them write down important test days and project due dates on the bedroom calendar and write down daily homework in their homework planner.
6. Stay Consistent.
How to Help Your Child Study explains, “Kids ultimately thrive in the comfort and reliability of a structured approach to homework, so each afternoon they should follow the same steps in roughly the same order.”
7. Teach the Difference Between Doing Homework and Studying.
Parents often neglect to teach their child there is a difference between doing homework and studying. This may be because we expect homework to prepare our children for the tests. However, this is not always the case. For instance, kids need to be taught the best study strategies, such as how to identify keywords, take notes, and summarize information.
8. Prevent Your Child from Feeling Overwhelmed.
If your child struggles with feeling overwhelmed, begin by encouraging your child to plan. Use the planner and break up large assignments into smaller, more manageable pieces over a few days rather than doing it all the night before.
9. Help Your Child Retain Information.
Some children have difficulty retaining information. If this is an issue for your child, try to identify your child’s learning style. For instance, some students learn best visually. If this sounds like your child, look for opportunities to incorporate visual learning into studying. Teach your child how to identify keywords, summarize information, and make study materials (such as flashcards).
10. Share Test-Tasking Strategies.
Finally, teach your kids how to take a test. Again, this is a skill that needs to be taught. For example, teach kids the importance of reading all the directions before they start to answer the questions. Remind kids that staying up late and cramming the night before a big test is never wise. And, encourage kids to eat a good breakfast the morning of a big test and to take deep breaths during the exam.
Apps to Help Improve Study Habits
If parents need a little extra help improving their child’s study habits, then they should check out the following apps:
