09/28/2019
Check this article out for helping your children develop good learning habits!
Written by Emily Graham (from mightymoms.net)
Smart Strategies for Helping Your Youngster with Homework
When you need to help your kids is sometimes really obvious, like when your youngster is stung by a bee or learning to drive. But when it comes to homework, your choices can feel overwhelming. You want to lend a hand so your child can do her best, but how do you accomplish that without doing too much? Whether you’re looking for a good tech tool or ideas for setting up a study environment, here are some painless parenting strategies for helping your kid without crossing the line.
A weighty message. Of course you want your child to be successful in school. After all, our academics are meant to prepare us for a productive future. That same purpose can make it difficult to know what your best strategies are. As The New York Times points out, if you do your child’s homework on her behalf, you send entirely the wrong message. You tell your child she needs your help in order to manage in life, and you also tell her the important result of homework is to be right - not to learn. In your method of assistance, you want your child to be supported. You should provide an appropriate learning environment, supply good tools, and use positive reinforcement of habits, achievements and education. With those strategies, you can send an appropriate message to your youngster.
Good study environment. There are a few key components in your child’s homework environment that will help with her success. ParentMap suggests figuring out what your child’s learning style is and working out ways to best support her. Does she need everything in a binder so she can keep track of assignments more easily? Would a visual reminder, like a calendar, help her stay on top of things? Would she do better by making to-do lists for each class and working through them? Also consider your child’s homework space. For instance, some kids learn best in a quiet corner of the bedroom, while others might perform better in a place where they can interact with you at times. Regardless of your solution, an area where she can focus, with good lighting and away from distractions such as the television, is paramount.
Good tech tools and materials. Your youngster will need her work area well-supplied to ensure optimal focus. By keeping everything close at hand, she doesn’t need to search around the house or in her backpack for school supplies. You can create a school supplies caddy that’s outfitted for all her homework, craft and study needs. Also, a tablet is a wise investment, since kids can access apps and software that make educational activities fun. For example, Apple’s store lets you download apps onto their tablets such as the iPad 10.2. With these apps, your child can learn lessons in history, math, and other school subjects
Keep things positive. According to some studies, positive reinforcement is your most effective means of fortifying good homework habits and academic performance in children. Giving your child encouragement and showing you believe in her can help your child to believe in herself. Praise her successes, big or small, as quickly after her accomplishments as possible for the best benefits. When your child doesn’t do as well as she hopped on an assignment or test, parents sometimes find it hard to know what to say. One suggestion is to always look for ways to praise your child’s efforts rather than her grades. You can even celebrate her successes with fun (and educational!) activities, like creating toothpaste for elephants out of ingredients you have on hand.
Knowing how to best help your child can feel daunting. Provide an appropriate learning environment, supply her with good tools, and stay positive. With a few simple and smart strategies, your youngster can be successful without you overstepping bounds.
