7 Learning Habits That Will Change Your Child’s Approach To Academics

Childhood is the best time to inculcate any habits that you think a person must have. Learning habits must top this list for your child’s bright future. Habitual learning brings out better results than compulsive learning. There are many methods you can adopt to form a good learning habit in your child. Let us look at some easy-to-apply methods to make learning a habitual activity for your child.

Create A Study Space

Dedicating a certain area to study within the house creates discipline in your child. It could be a small corner in his or her bedroom or your kitchen table. Whatever spot you choose, ensure that it is a quiet one. Make sure it is a place that is away from distractions like the T.V. It is best if your child’s study space is not one that other members of the family do not visit frequently. This will prevent interruption of the learning activity your child is involved in. The spot you chose for your child’s learning activities should be well ventilated. It must have everything the kid will need while studying. Ensuring this prevents your child from stepping out for things. A good study space enhances a child’s learning.

Set A Learning Goal

Talk to your child and understand his/her learning requirements. Take a look at the assignments that need to be completed. Set short and realistic goals. Keep in mind your child’s age and learning capacity while doing this. Setting unrealistic goals can push a child into disappointment and even low self-esteem. Break the goal down into schedules per day, per week and per month. This way goals will seem more achievable to the child. Monitor your child’s progress towards the goal depending on his/her age. Children below 10 years may need you to sit with them. For teenagers, you may want to peek into their schedule once in a while. Be strict about zero interference of distractions during study time. Teach your child to adhere to the decided rules without forcing them on him/her.

Organise Tasks

Organisation can be a tough job for children. Assist them in this process and prioritise things. Don’t pack the day with too many activities. Make space for timely breaks in your kid’s study schedule. Research reveals that a strategised 20-minute break after one hour of uninterrupted study can increase productivity. Observe the period of best concentration in your child. Choose either morning, afternoon or evening to schedule a study period accordingly.

Feed The Kid With Motivation

During study schedules, the child may get discouraged if he/she is unable to progress as decided. At this point, it is important to provide the necessary motivation and modify the schedule if needed. You must assure your child that he/she can definitely meet the target and there is nothing to worry. If the set target seems very hard to meet, modify it slightly to encourage your kid. However, make sure that this does not become a habit. Your child must know that the schedule cannot be adjusted every day. If this rule is not established, the study schedule will lose its importance. When that happens, the results won’t be as expected.

Try A Study Group

Many kids grasp concepts faster when they learn in groups. Check the learning pattern of your child. See if he/she is a group learner. Identify children in his/her group of friends who share a learning pattern. Bring all such kids together and create a good study atmosphere. This method can be tricky too. Many times children waste a lot of time in a combined-study session. To ensure that this does not happen, you must keep a close watch. Also, a combined study requires a certain age group to give successful results. If your kid is less than six years, he/she may be distracted in a combined study session. Choose a study pattern according to your child’s age.

Review Your Methods

It is not enough to simply implement study methods. Checking their effectiveness is equally important. During a study session, spare some time to check what the child has learnt. Towards the end of a study session, (ideally) ask questions. Let the child review his/her learning. This will be useful to the child and give you an idea if the current study method is working.

Set The Right Example

Children learn more through observation than through instruction. Set the right example for your child while doing your own tasks. Avoid postponing work or delaying it unnecessarily. Carrying office work home or vice versa can set a wrong example for your child. Avoid this kind of a work style as far as possible. Dedication, accountability and hard work are all part of learned behaviour. Don’t forget that developing minds are constantly observing you.

Inculcating earning habits in a child is all about knowing the capabilities and limitations of your child. Once you explore that, forming a positive learning pattern is easy.