Study Skills - How Can YOU Help Your Kids?

You pick up nuggets of wisdom in the most unexpected places. One was given to me by a man I met in the Scottish Highlands.

He was quite old, but had no intention of retiring from his small croft. Although he felt the occasional twinge, he had this to say - and it has stayed with me! : "It's a day's work getting started."

No matter how he felt, he had to make the effort to get up and get on!

This pearl of wisdom is not only for crofters!

The same principle applies to our kids when they have to get down to serious home study or 'homework': "It's a day's work getting started!"

So how can we help our kids when their teachers aren't there to 'motivate' them?

There are a number of simple things we can do, but don't underestimate their effectiveness. Let's look at some.

Top of the list comes an appropriate location for home study.

Many kids are happy to do their homework in the living area of the home, but that brings its own problems: visitors coming and going, the TV and music are just a few...

Much better, then, to give the kids an area they see as their study space, even if it means making some sacrifices. It could be a new use for a spare room or just a quiet corner out of the way. If your kids can get online in their study area, so much the better.

A huge drawback to study is having to set-up an area and unpack books and materials. You'll make it much easier if your kids can leave everything set up for next time.

You can overcome resistance much easier when all you have to do is sit down and get going!

It's also important to have all the necessary tools and materials for the job close at hand. It's hard to keep up your motivation when you have to stop every second minute to ask: "Anyone got a pencil?" or "What's happened to my calculator?"

It helps greatly and makes them feel organized and industrious when they have all the 'knick-knacks' that go with an effective home study programme:

Notebooks, ring binders, pencils, erasers, pens, wallets, a calculator, geometry equipment, science items, etc.

These items can make a dent in a student's allowance, so as caring, interested parents willing to invest in our kids' future, it's usually appreciated when we make these available.

It goes without saying the study room should be well-ventilated and maintained at an appropriate temperature. Nothing kills the study habit more than a lack of oxygen and an environment that's too hot or too cold!

But in some homes it's just not possible to set aside a study area. What then?

In that case call on the relatives. Usually grandparents will have a spare room, and they'd be delighted to see the kids calling in regularly for a study session.

Or maybe your kids could team up with friends over at their house. But be careful! There could be a temptation to chat instead of getting the heads down!

If this happens, why not encourage your school to set up a Homework Club. These are gaining in popularity the world over, and since they are run by teachers there's a lot more motivation to cut the gossip and get on with the work!

This arrangement could be ideal. As parents you come up with the study materials. The school is there with the supervision and the study location. All the kids have to do is supply the required effort!

Doing all you can to provide homework help will pay huge dividends all round.

Enjoy your parenting!

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