How Can Parents Help Kids Study?

How to Help Your Kids Study

Find Out What They Need to Know

Stay in constant communication with your child's teachers so you know what he or she is learning in class. Many teachers provide parents with a syllabus for the class, but it usually only provides a general overview of the material. To find out about the specific skills and content your child will be required to know, you'll need to ask. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be able to help your child focus on the right information during study sessions.

Establish Expectations & Goals

Make studying a priority by establishing how often your child needs to study on a daily and weekly basis. A lot of students will complete homework assignments and projects, but many won't take the time to study if they're not expected to do so. It also helps if you keep up with your child's grades, especially on tests. Create goals to improve low grades through effective studying. For instance, one goal may be for your child to study for half an hour each day.

Develop a Routine

Kids tend to have a better time staying organized and are able to accomplish more when they have set routines to follow. For instance, one routine may be completing homework right after school, or studying after dinner while eating dessert. The goal is to make studying a part of your child's daily activities.

Eliminate Distractions

Designate a study area that is free of distractions. In general, studying can be a challenge for kids, and being surrounded by distractions intensifies the challenge. Furthermore, it's generally not a good idea to allow children to study in their rooms. Have your child work in a quiet area of the house, away from the television and video games. If possible, you may also want to take your child to the local library when he needs to study.

Make Studying Fun

You can also help your child study by finding ways to make it fun. For instance, help her create flash cards. Then, play a review game in which each correct answer is worth one point. Depending on the subject, you can also find board and video games that cover the skills learned. Furthermore, a quick search on the Internet for educational games will lead you to numerous websites for your child to explore.