The
secret to developing any great habit is to ensure that it is a top priority.
Study skills are no exception and improving them early will serve you well. Everyone, no matter their age, needs to study
at some point in their life: school, driver’s exams, lines for a community
theatre play, and presentations for work. Improving study skills is beneficial
at any age. As a parent, it is important to present a positive and encouraging
attitude towards studying. This will help your child stay motivated to study
hard and do well in school. You can also participate with them by teaching them
study habits that will make studying more fun. Here are some helpful tips that
will help improve study skills:
Improve Study Skills –
Create a Designated Study Area
An
easy way to improve study skills is to create a designated area in your home
for your child to study and do homework. It does not have to be fancy, but should
be conducive to studying; quiet, and free of distractions. It’s best to not use
their bedroom, as there is too much temptation to be drawn away from their
studies. A designated study space will allow your child to focus completely on
their homework and as such, they will improve efficiency and productivity.
Improve Study Skills –
Schedule Study Sessions and Commit to the Schedule
An
effortless tip to improve study skills is to schedule your child’s study
sessions … as stick to the schedule, no matter what. For example, if your child
comes home from school at 4pm and dinner is served at 6pm, then homework and
study time can be scheduled from 5pm-6pm. It may only be an hour of time, but
if your child is consistent with the schedule, they will be able to accomplish
a great deal. This time of schedule provides the consistency that will serve
your child now and in years to come.
Improve Study Skills –
Get and Stay Organized
Improve study skills by purchasing
a day planner for your child and teach them how to track their daily homework assignments.
This forces your child to stay organized and prevents them from forgetting an
assignment. Every night, review the assignment planner to see what work has
been assigned, and when it is due. This is an easy and effortless way to stay
abreast of your child’s study time without micro-managing. It also teaches your child how to keep
themselves organized, which will be of great benefit as his/her class load
increases in middle school, high school and beyond.
Improve Study Skills –
Discover Your Unique Learning Style
Children
should be taught how to study based on their own unique ‘learning style’. This
concept is key to improving study skills and will make schoolwork effortless
and fun for your child. Not everyone process information in the same manner. Some
people can hear something and remember it. For those students, it’s helpful to
use tape recorders in the classroom. Some other people learn best kinesthetically,
through the use of movement. For these students, the use of blocks, counters or
similar study aides are every helpful. Still other students learn best
visually. For them, color-coded notes and flash cards are a helpful tool. Once
your child learns how to study to his/her strengths, learning will become easy –
no matter the subject.
Ultimately,
making study habits a priority for the child is the parents’ responsibility.
Creating a study space, committing to a study schedule, staying organized and
adapting to their learning style are fantastic steps to improving your child’s
study skills. Once these habits are adopted, embraced and practiced over time,
your child will be a confident and proficient student – and the intrinsic value
of studying will be its own reward.
For more tips to improve study skills, visit: http://effectivestudyhabits.net
