5 Study Smart Habits for Your Child

Your 8- year-old child is expected to memorise tables, dates and spellings, finish his/her work on time, organise the school bag and study stable, and more. Many a times, we expect our child to get into a routine automatically; we assume they will learn to manage and work around things. While some do learn on their own, others need to be guided through. It’s a crucial time for your child– the habits that get formed now will stay with your child for a lifetime. The question is: Where to start?

Tips to aid your child in his/her journey as a student

Here are a few tried-tested tips to aid your child in his/her journey as a student and an individual. Just one thumb rule: Practice makes perfect.

Study Zone: Before your child sits down to study, createa supportive environment that helps him/her to keep the focus and concentrate. A blaring television in the next room is a big no-no.Let his/her study area be noise free, far as possible. Assign a dedicated space at home for this purpose. Quiet is good, boring is not. Make it a lively space. Put up charts, frame some quotes or pictures, depending on your child’s age. Surprise your child by gifting small things for the study space, like a pencil stand or a small box to keep erasers/sharpeners, and other such. 

Organise well: Daily activities and academics go hand-in-hand. When you teach your child to manage her daily tasks and routines in an organised manner, her academics will gradually reflect the same. Guide your child on organisingwardrobes, drawers, books and CDs etc. Make certain things non-negotiable, such as no snacking on the study table. Ask your child to make colourful stick notes that serve as reminders. For instance, a simple “Keep me clean” on the study table; “Empty me when I’m full” on the bin, and so on.  Bright, cheerful lighting works well to keep sleep and laziness at bay.

Track the clock: Time management is one of the most important skills and needs to be practised every day, every hour, every minute. This can be best inculcatedin young children (7 - tweens) by making use of visual organisers like time tables in the school diaries. Make a time table with your child for the home too that balances out the study and leisure time and paste it on a bright spotin your child’s room where it is clearly visible. Reward your child if he sticks to the routine but do allow some deviations from time to time.

Plan it right:Encourage your child to use planners from the very beginning. Let your child write daily assignments in the planners (subject wise) and make a tick when it’s complete. You don’t have to use expensive or complicated planners, make use of simple yet attractive ones. Check out a good stationary shop.

Flash/Cue cards: Making use of simple and colourful flash cards for different kinds of task. Help your child use these cards for taking notes, memorising important points, dates and events, highlighting key vocabulary or anything else.

As you put these ideas to work, do evaluate what is working and what is not – and modify accordingly. Some ideas may work better than others. Be creative and allow room for improvement and most importantly, involve your child at every step; allow him/her to make choices and take decisions. This will instil self-confidence.