Homework & study tips FOR PARENTS

THE NEW school year is quickly approaching and parents everywhere are hopeful for their children’s academic performance after the summer’s break. But, while we encourage our kids to do better in the classroom, how we manage them at home, especially where homework is concerned, can also play an important role in their educational development. Check out these tips for making homework time great again!

CHECK HOMEWORK EVERY DAY

Let homework be a routine for you and your child by checking every day whether he/she has any to do. In the event that there isn’t any homework, use the opportunity to catch up on the day’s lessons and having some study/ revision time.

LET YOUR CHILD DO THE WORK

A common mistake that many parents make is to use homework time as an opportunity for them to do the child’s work and secure the grade they want. While it’s important to know the answers to questions, remember that homework is supposed to be for the child’s own learning and benefit.

TALK WITH THE TEACHER

Be careful not to confuse your child with how you approach homework, especially if it varies significantly from how he is taught in the classroom. To avoid this, speak to your child’s teacher and get a feeling of what classroom lessons are like. Remember, you are the teacher at home!

KEEP THEIR MINDS ACTIVE

When approaching a new topic, keep your child’s mind active by constantly engaging them on the material. Ask those problematic questions in different contexts to test if your child is actually grasping the concepts and not swotting.

MIX IT UP

Every child has a favourite subject and it is okay for your child to always want to take on a tricky math sum or two. However, allow him/ her to appreciate other subjects by incorporating them in fun ways during study time.

TEACH ORGANISATION

Show your child the value of being organised by allowing them to have an assigned homework book or folder, along with special supplies like writing paper, pens, pencils and crayons just for homework time.

BE STRATEGIC

Preparing for an exam will take a little extra effort and so, be strategic about how much you introduce to your child each session. Never wait until the night before the exam to begin revision. Instead, help your child study a little each day for about an hour or two each session, allowing them to really learn the concepts.