How to Help your Child Develop Study Skills

by Mhari-Anne at LS Tuition

Learning how to study, complete homework projects and revise, is essential as your child moves towards the end of primary school. We asked the experts at LS Tuition for their advice on getting into good working habits.

How can parents help their children to organise workloads?

Parents play a crucial role in helping children to organise their workloads. By setting clear expectations, creating consistent routines and schedules, and fostering good study habits, Parents can provide their children with the tools they need to succeed. Encouraging children to prioritise tasks, break down larger tasks into smaller ones, and providing regular feedback, can all aid towards the reduction of stress and an increase in productivity.

One of the best ways to help children with their workloads is to allocate a consistent ‘homework’ time slot each day/week. This becomes a regular part of the child’s routine, resulting in heightened concentration and less resistance. One of the best times to tackle homework is after school – when children are still in the ‘concentration zone’. This is the time when children are likely to be the most productive and can then relax for the rest of the evening.

How can you help your child to learn the basics of note-taking?

Organisation is a crucial aspect of note-taking. By organising their notes, children can easily reference and understand information later on. Some effective methods of organisation include using headings, bullet points, and abbreviations. Encourage your child to find a system that works for them, for example using different colours for different subject areas, or organising notes by date.

One excellent exercise for note-taking is to ask children to watch a BBC Newsround Segment and practice taking notes as they watch. Parents can then discuss the content of the Newsround segment with their children based on the notes taken. This exercise is a fantastic way to reinforce the basics of bullet points, headings and abbreviations and promotes key learning in a fun and relaxed environment.

How can parents help their child with revising or preparing for exams?

Establishing a study schedule is the first step to success. A structured study schedule supports children in staying motivated, focused and can aid towards lessening the pressure of trying to tackle everything at once. Encourage your child to set aside specific times for studying specific subjects/topic areas, and stick to that schedule as much as possible. This will help them stay organised and prioritise their time effectively.

Time is key when it comes to exam revision. Parents can support their children by encouraging them to start early, thereby allowing themselves enough time to figure out where the learning gaps are and organise how to plug these gaps prior to the exam date.

Past Papers, sample questions and mock tests can help your child build confidence both with the exam content but also generally working within the structure of a timed exam. Parents should encourage their children to practice regularly and seek feedback from their teachers. This will help them identify areas for development and track their progress.

Keeping a positive mindset is crucial! Encourage your child and praise their hard work. Be supportive and understanding, and help your child maintain a healthy balance of study and relaxation.

What sort of activities develop good research skills?

One of the best ways to support the development of research skills is to follow your child’s lead regarding their interests. If your child is interested in Space, have them use a laptop/IPad to research facts about Space. A great way to combine both research and note-taking skills is to have children develop a Brainstorming Map, otherwise known as a Spider Diagram. Brainstorming Maps are an excellent tool as they can support learning at various stages of understanding/development. Where initially the child may only have the main topic in the middle of the map and various separate facts dotted around the page, eventually this can progress to including subheadings within the main topic and can morph into an essay/report outline which the child could then use to write a final piece.

Can parents help their child develop good time management skills?

Parents play a critical role in helping their children develop good time management skills. Children follow by example, so one major way in which Parents can support, is to model desired behaviors to their children. Encouraging planning and goal setting further supports by teaching children to set achievable goals and develop plans to achieve those goals.