Children often come in two categories when it comes to studying, those who love to and those who don’t. Having a son or daughter who has little or no interest in completing schoolwork in their spare time can be challenging. The last thing anyone wants is to disrupt a harmonious home with arguments, and a child being forced to do their work will usually not reflect their best.
So how do you encourage children to do their homework and study when they have 1001 excuses why they can’t? We explore how to avoid disagreements and have assignments and studying done on time, whether it’s for an 11-plus exam or GCSE preparation.
Do It Together
The best way to encourage a child to sit and study is by reducing the isolation it can often entail. Offering to help them through it will strengthen your parental bonds and showcase your desire for them to do well, which may encourage your child to want to succeed on their own. Also, it offers the chance for you to see if they are struggling.
Often children may not wish to admit when they find something challenging. Like any adult, they suffer from keeping their pride. Sitting with them will support you in seeing if there are any subjects they require help with, with the likes of online tuition.
Create a Fun Study Space
If a child has no space to study, or the only space available is at the dining room table, they are less inclined to concentrate on studying. You can help by creating a colourful and customised space in an appropriate area of your home for them to hit the books.
Dedicated study spaces at home have been proven to help children achieve their best. Whether you find room in their bedroom or dedicate an area of the communal rooms, it needs to be a space they can shut off the outside world, reduce distractions and apply themselves to their work. You can still make it fun and inviting by decorating it to their style or in colours they enjoy.
Discuss Their Future
Whether you have a child studying to take their 11-plus or a student in their final GCSE year, it is never too early to discuss their plans after education. Engaging your child in their own plans for the future will help them understand the importance of achieving well in their education to get the easiest path to their desired career.
Whether it is a national footballer, a police officer or a career in the manufacturing or scientific industry, all professions are easier to get into with higher education. Many fields even require a university degree. Explain to your child the importance of studying to achieve their goals, and you may find they become a little more enthusiastic about concentrating on their studying.
Communicate Issues with Their Educational Setting
Children often detach their home life from their school life, which is more prevalent throughout primary school education. Detachment from education at home can result in a lack of interest in the subject matters they learn in class. Try as you might, often trying to convey the importance of studying to your child can be difficult.
If you are having severe issues getting your child to study for their upcoming exams or simply staying on top of their homework, discuss these worries with their teachers. Whilst you may not see any problems at home, the school may have picked up on some concerns. Teachers are experienced in engaging children, so they will be a good point of support for getting your child back to studying at home.
Create a Schedule Together
Each family and each student is different. Finding dedicated time to study can often be a challenge if there are a variety of out-of-school commitments which get in the way. Sitting down with your child and figuring out where there is available space in their schedule can help them get into a routine of studying and will soon become a habit.
In addition, don’t forget to schedule some free time. Studying overload can be a common reason for children to resent the need for revision. They learn all day at school, so coming home to hours of additional studying can be off-putting. Make sure to use the schedule to plan fun activities and downtime to help them achieve an optimal mental space to take in what they are studying well.
Help Them With Study Techniques
As mentioned above, all children are different. What studying techniques work for one student may not work for another. There are many ways children learn, kinetically, visually and audibly. If your child struggles to concentrate and absorb the information, they may be reluctant to study.
Speak to your child about how they think they can learn best and if there is a particular method, help them set this up for all the subjects they need to study. As experts in GCSE tuition, we have seen many children reach the age of 14 and have struggled throughout their entire educational years because they have been kinetic learners and therefore have required tailored materials to their needs. Finding a way that works for your child will help encourage them to study.
Get Outside Help
If you have tried all these techniques and nothing seems to be working, it may be time to consider getting expert help. Private tutors have years of experience with students of all capabilities and can work one-to-one with them to ensure they take in the lessons they are learning at school.
At Achieving Success, we have a team of tutors, all qualified in teaching and offer a range of programs to fit in with family life. We have the best results for GCSE and students excelling with our 11-plus tuition in Birmingham.
We can offer assistance to help your child achieve the best they can get. It is never too early to start, so speak to our team today by calling 0121 769 2795.