Parents involved in their child’s education influence their academic performance positively. It is crucial to engage your children in their studies and support them. Relying solely on public education can only get your child so far. A recent review of UK schooling revealed that 71% of British students are anxious about their education and feel uncomfortable asking questions in class, with around 50% behind in at least one subject. This data highlights the importance of a parent’s role in filling the gap left behind in public education. Yet, 60% of parents struggle with helping their kids with homework.
Facilitating your child’s education starts from home. However, motivating them can be challenging. To effectively get your child to study, consider the following strategies.
Ways to Get Your Kids to Study
1. Hire a tutorÂ
Tutors can provide professional help in educating your child. Hiring a tutor increases your child’s study time, improving their academic performance. A large-scale study supports this claim by reporting the improvement of at least 90% of students after receiving lessons from their tutor after only two months. However, finding the time for private tuition between your child’s school routine can be tricky.
Enrolling them in a regular academy with rigid timings may overburden your kid, as they may struggle to reach their classes on time. Instead, bring the classroom to your child through online education. Your child can benefit from flexible schedules and engaging lessons by receiving online tutoring. It is an affordable and convenient option that enables your child to receive private lessons anytime, anywhere.
They can monitor your child’s progress and create a personalized lesson plan to build their strengths and reduce weaknesses. With daily tutoring sessions, your child can build proper study habits and improve their performance in school.
Read Also: 7 Benefits of Pursuing an Online Master’s Degree
2. Make it funÂ
Your child may be more willing to participate in studying if it is more engaging. By making learning fun, you can get your kid to pay more attention and discover the joy of learning. Instead of having them mindlessly cram information into their heads, you can utilize the following immersive ways to make learning fun:
- Teach it as an exciting story
- Turn it into a challenge and have your kid compete with other family members
- Use hands-on activities
- Plan educational trips
- Teach through roleplay
- Give your child colorful stationery
The effectiveness of the strategies can differ for each child. Try a few techniques and keep using the ones your child enjoys most. By making learning a fun experience, your child will want to study more. It will also improve their memory retention and focus.
3. Foster positive reinforcement Â
A positive learning environment is crucial for developing your child’s efficiency and self-esteem, which considerably impacts their studies. According to recent research, a child’s faith in themselves and their abilities affects their academic success. The higher their self-esteem, the greater their performance. Unfortunately, many children lack high self-esteem by the time they reach fifth grade. As a parent, you have a significant role in making your child feel capable. If you want your child to believe in themselves, you must show them love and support as they learn new things.
When you positively reinforce your child with praise or reward, you build the faith they have in their abilities. It makes them enjoy the learning process. When your child feels good about studying, they are likely to do it more often. They participate more in class and can handle more complex problems without giving up. On the other hand, being highly critical of your child can create self-doubt. This lack of self-esteem can result in a fear of failure, discouraging them from learning.
However, it would be wise to balance praise and criticism. Only give compliments when they are due and avoid harsh judgments. Remember that your child is not just learning course objectives but also developing an integral part of their personality. As parents, you must create an environment in which they feel safe and loved. Â
Read Also: How to Choose the Right Online High School Program
4. Create a quiet study spaceÂ
According to a recent poll of 243 students, around 78% said they have difficulty focusing on learning. This low attention span can result from environmental distractions like noise from cell phones. It revealed that 67% of students reported that ringtones interfere with their ability to understand the learning material. Similarly, your child may be unable to focus on their studies because of the lack of peace and quiet.
You can create a proper study area even if you don’t have a study room. All you need to do is set up a desk in a relatively quiet spot in your home, like an attic nook or kitchen table. You can complete it with books and let your child decorate it with personal items to motivate them to study there. While your child is learning there, ensure no distractions like a TV or phones are nearby. It would also be best to provide adequate lighting for your child to study effectively.
5. Encourage breaksÂ
The amount of time your child studies should be according to their maximum attention span, which is about two to three times their age. For example, a five-year-old cannot focus for more than 15 minutes, and a thirteen-year-old cannot concentrate for more than 40 minutes. Anything more than that, and your child will become oversaturated with information and lose interest.
To ensure you don’t overburden your child, you must provide them with adequate rest, food, and water. You can give them a 2-5 minute break after they reach their max attention span. Encourage them to stretch or go for a run to feel refreshed. Besides boosting your child’s attention, frequent breaks can also improve productivity and decrease stress.Â
Read Also: Exploring the Benefits and Career Advantages of Online HR Certifications
Conclusion
Your child may not get the hang of studying immediately, which is entirely normal. It is important not to overburden your kid and hold them to unrealistic expectations. Yes, encouraging your child to learn is essential to their future success. However, pushing them too hard may result in the opposite of what you want. The most important thing is to be patient, kind, and supportive.
