Post by Chris Allen: As a parent, it’s your responsibility to make sure that your children take their schoolwork seriously. Strict parenting is strongly linked with academic success. Unfortunately, many of today’s parents worry more about things like organic food, air pollution, and social media than they do their children’s educations.
If you want your children to succeed, then you need to sit down and discuss the importance of studying with them. Only through hard work will your children get grades.
This post will tell you about a few things you can suggest to your child that will help them to improve their academic performance.
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Taking Tests
One very effective way of improving your child’s intellect and attitude to education is to get them to take tests. There are many tests they can take, like for example the Sutton Selective Eligibility Test, which can help you to get an idea of how your child’s coming along with their schooling. If you are going to get your child to sit test papers, then you need to also give them revision material. Most test providers will recommend specific revision materials. You may have to buy these yourself.
Study Space
If you want your child to perform well academically, then you need to give them somewhere comfortable to study. A large number of children have to study in shared bedrooms. If your eldest child shares with their siblings, then give them somewhere private to study in the afternoons and evenings. Providing your child with somewhere of their own to study could significantly improve their performance at school or college. Make sure to invest in good stationary equipment and a laptop for them too, so that when they are studying they are completely comfortable.
Lesson Planner
If your child is in secondary school or college, then it might be a good idea to get them a lesson planner. It’s sadly very common for teenage students to miss lessons. If you get them a lesson planner (and you’re concerned your child is missing class intentionally) then you’ll be able to keep track of their classes, so you can quiz them on what they have learnt. Another benefit of getting them a lesson planner book is that they’ll be able to record all of their homework. Your child’s grades can suffer if they do not keep on top of their homework.
Regular Help
Throughout your child’s studies it’s essential that you are there to support them. Unless you provide your child with constant support, they might underperform at school. A lot of children need their parents to give them a loving nudge, encouraging them to do better. If your child is underperforming then a loving nudge is all they could need. You will need to sit down with your child and discuss their performance with them though. Explain to them that they are not doing as well as they could and try to get to the bottom of why this is.
Taking Notes
In addition to getting your child a lesson planner, get them a notebook so that they can take notes during class. Studies show that students who take notes absorb more of the information that they are recording and being taught than those that don’t. Another good thing about notes is that students will then be able to refer back to them at home when they are studying (or when they are working on tests in class). It’ll also help them to revise when they are preparing for exams.
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Constant Revision
You need to get your child to revise. A lack of revision could stunt their performance. Even if they are still able to perform in class, not revising will most definitely prevent them from achieving good grades in exams. Unfortunately, a lot of children do not revise today. Instead, they ‘cram’ which is very bad for them and their performance. Cramming will be explored more in the next section. If you get your child to do an hour’s revision every day, then they will be more likely to succeed when it comes to completing coursework and written tests.
Avoid Cramming
Cramming, as mentioned in the previous section, is a habit you need to get your child out of if it is something that they do. Cramming involves staying up late and extensively studying in the days prior to an exam. It usually involves drinking a lot of coffee, not sleeping, and staring at a computer screen for hours and hours. Studies show cramming is not good for young people’s mental health or academic performance. A lot of the information that they take in is not fully absorbed when they cram, as well. If you notice your child doing this then sit down and explain to them that it’s bad for them.
Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is essential. As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your children are fed properly. Don’t let things like organic food take priority over their education (as many parents sadly do), but still take steps to ensure that they eat a healthy and balanced diet. In addition to eating a healthy diet, make sure that they stay hydrated, get enough sleep, and do not get hooked on junk food. If you keep your child away from junk food when they are young, they’ll be more likely to avoid it in adulthood.
Asking for Help
Finally, make sure to explain to your child that if they ever struggle with anything, they can ask you for help. You should also encourage them to ask their teachers for help too. A lot of young people conceal their feelings, concerns, or worries. If your child is not open when they are confused, sad, or simply doesn’t understand something, then they could grow up to be repressed. Encouraging your child to be more open and more confident will benefit them into adulthood and also improve their performance at school.
Your child’s education is something you need to invest a lot of time and money into. If you do not, then they could grow up to become an underachiever. Consider the things listed here if you want to really make a positive impact in their lives.