Tips for Parents to Help Your Child Develop Effective Study Skills

The situation is this: Your child enjoys school. This includes their classes, teachers, classmates, and the overall environment. Homework is completed every evening. Both of you want to see academic progress, but their effort and enthusiasm are not translating into the kinds of grades and gains you want. It may be necessary for you to offer your child some guidance on developing effective study skills if this sounds familiar to you.

It takes a combination of attitude, habits, and effort to succeed in the classroom-it is not about any one thing. A strong study skill is necessary for this recipe, and it is not something you are born with. Straight A students do not come into this world already idealized. American students can get the grades they want without having to worry about all the stress. Students and parents are wrong to believe that managing your emotions, disengaging from distractions, and crafting an effective study plan that makes learning fun and easier is difficult.

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Having said that, how can you help your child develop the study skills they need to be successful in school? How can you see the benefits of those skills beyond just academic success? Let us look at seven tips to help you get started!

1. Make sure your students have a designated study area.

Where in your home is a conducive environment for focused study? Have you provided your child with a desk or work area for studying? If it is well-lit and free of distractions, ask yourself if it is a conducive place to concentrate. This area should be stocked with tools you will need for studying, such as colorful post-its, pens and pencils, highlighters, and scratch paper. You can give your child complete access to the space and let them decorate it as they wish. Teach them to tidy his or her desk each night so that he or she is ready to get right to work when it is time for the next study session.

2. Plan your day in advance.

Learning how to manage your time effectively is one of the most helpful study skills. Therefore, be sure your student knows how to keep a homework diary. Especially if their teacher provides these dates far in advance, have them note upcoming due dates for homework and projects. Once that is done, it is imperative to be certain that these assignments are completed on time. Ensure your child reviews material in the days before significant tests by breaking down the content. Make sure to break down larger projects similarly by identifying smaller milestones and talking about when these components will be completed with your child. In turn, this can prevent cramming and procrastination by encouraging more efficient workload management.

3. Taking notes effectively is the key.

Are you familiar with the Cornell Notes? Your child can benefit from using this classic note-taking system when it comes to processing information taught in class and properly retaining it. There are studies that show that handwritten notes are more effective than no notes or using a laptop. The use of active reading strategies, such as making notes or highlighting key points and passages, can also greatly help your child's retention of information.

4. Become familiar with the test.

To ensure your child is prepared for a test, reviewing content before the test is not always the most effective method. Use interactive methods instead, such as having them complete practice tests or using flash cards. It is also beneficial to have your child provide you with short explanations of the material aloud so that you know they really understand.

5. Do not cram for exams.

When studying a subject for a short period each day, longer-term retention is much better than when studying for a longer period every day. Your student can benefit from planning a study schedule that permits them to practice different subjects at different times—even 10 minutes of practice daily can make a huge difference! Besides encouraging smart breaks, it is also critical to divide your student's study time. It is possible to keep them focused and productive by taking a 15-minute break every hour.

6. Make sure your child knows how to ask for help.

It may be that a particular lesson in a certain subject is difficult for your student to comprehend. This may be because he or she struggles to understand the night's homework assignment. Asking for help is imperative in such situations (which does happen to everyone at some point). Students need to be taught to raise concerns early with their teacher and reach out for help - and parents should not be afraid to express concerns to their teachers. Another way you can help your child learn how to ask for, receive, and offer support is to teach them how to build effective working relationships with other students.

7. Stay away from distractions.

Turn off all devices that could distract your student while they are studying, such as their computer and all other gadgets. It is also detrimental to learning for your child when he or she multi-tasks, so encourage them to concentrate on a single subject for a sustained amount of time before switching to another. In order to maximize your child's focus and make the most of study time, ensure they have a healthy sleeping and eating schedule.

Parents have plenty of options with which to assist their children in building the study skills they need to succeed in school.

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