With everyone now back into the swing of a new school year, the homework is starting to trickle in. Whatever their age, the need for studying at home gets greater as children progress through school. Here are some ways to inspire their studies and help make the transition to a new year easier.
- Co-work together
With more of us working from home nowadays, it can be a nice idea to create their own study space next to yours in the office. Even as an adult it can be a good feeling to have others sitting with you working, and it can really motivate your own work too.
Sit alongside your child and work on laptop or writing/books so that they feel included and inspired to work alongside you.
You could deploy techniques such as co-working for time blocked phases, so that you both complete a task without any distractions in, say, 20 minute slots. Include a ‘prize’ or reward upon completion. – Perhaps this could be 5 minutes break playing their favourite game, or making a snack together.
- Emphasise the importance of effort over outcome
It’s always a good idea to congratulate a person on their achievements (however little those may be), and to place the emphasis on effort rather than attainment means that you’re reiterating the importance of trying hard, and not necessarily always getting the results that you desire. - This can also help manage a fear of failure.
This can also really help children speak to themselves kindly, and by praising our efforts and what we have managed to do (even if that is simply taking action), it means that we’re far more likely to set achievable expectations of ourselves in the future.
After some studying, why not ask them to make a list of all that they have achieved (rather than a to do list), as a little positive reinforcement to help them feel good about what they have achieved.
- Boost their energy
Regular walks outside, maybe a blast of their favourite song or even creating a short ‘warm up’ routine for homework can all help get them feeling inspired to study. Healthy snacks during break times can really help motivate too!
- Make mistakes into learning
Mistakes happen. We all know that it’s about what we do with the outcome and how we can learn from any mistakes we have made.
Perhaps a child has been put off Maths by a few wrong answers. Maths can be a tricky subject because there are no nuances involved; it simply is right or wrong. In a world where there is (more now than ever) a focus on acceptance of everyone’s own opinions and values, it can be difficult to navigate a subject that is actually very black and white.
To counteract Maths anxiety, practising, adding fun challenges, and ensuring that any of your own negative feelings about the subject aren’t aired in front of the child are all good starting points.
For older children and other subjects, it may be more about reviewing the process, where they slipped up and identifying whether any more time is needed for knowledge and thinking.
- Minimise distractions
Homework is best completed in a specific space, where the mind is trained to expect to study. Having a television on in the background, or a sibling using a device nearby isn’t going to be conducive to a good outcome, and can also make things more challenging due to sensory overwhelm.
A quiet space with minimal disruption is usually best. Ask your child if they would feel comfortable with soft music in the background. Lots of people enjoy having a little background noise, yet others find it very difficult to concentrate on anything else when music is playing.
A clutter-free space, with good natural light and fresh air is usually enough to get started.
- Create an inspiring environment
Whether they have space in their own bedroom, in a shared study or in a playroom, it is really important for school children to have their own, independent space in which to study. Having their own clutter-free study space will help with concentration, and also helps instil a sense of pride and responsibility too.
Some of the top things to look for when it comes to decking out their study stations are:
- A desk with a large top on which to work. – Somewhere to spread out and to be able to leave notes and books on if required.
- Somewhere for storage – As children progress through school, they’ll have more study aids and need more storage for books and files. Space saving desks with built in storage can therefore be really useful. – Look for hidden storage cubby holes under desk tops and even extra storage in the foot wells. Alternatively or in addition, bookcases and cupboards are always useful and can often tuck in underneath other pieces of furniture too.
- The presence of some form of wall space or board. – They might need to stick up study timetables or visual aids to help them concentrate.
- Look for classic designs when it comes to furniture. – especially desks and storage, because it will give the furniture greater longevity and means that you can even repurpose it and move into different rooms.
Inspired to revamp their study station? Click here to see our full collection of study furniture.
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