School can be a difficult time in a child’s life with so much going on around them and so many changes to adjust to. As a parent, there are a number of things that you can do to help make this time less stressful. We have teamed up with an international school in Hertfordshire to share some of these with you below.
Routine
Routine and structure are important for children. It helps to maintain a sense of normality as things around them change and ensures that they continue to lead healthy lives. Getting the right amount of sleep, eating the right foods and drinking enough water all contribute to a child’s ability to concentrate and retain information.
Conversations
Having conversations with your child about school is important. It communicates to them that what they are doing is important and helps them to take it seriously, whilst giving you the opportunity to aid where possible. Make sure they can always come to you with any concerns or worries about their education, especially during exam season.
Expectations
Having goals is good. It gives children something to work towards. Expectations, on the other hand, that are strict, rigid and unrealistic can do more harm than good, especially where their mental health is concerned. Try to avoid setting your child up to have a poor relationship with learning. As long as they always do their best, that’s all that matters.
Teachers
Make the most of the teaching staff that are available to help. Your child’s teachers in particular can help you to stay in the loop with how they are doing at school and offer you advice on how to support their learning at home if there are things that they struggle with.
Praise and Rewards
Children respond well to praise and encouragement. It’s a good motivator and gives them a buzz each time that they work towards or achieve something academic. Perhaps consider awarding small rewards whenever your child receives a good school report or exam grade. Just like praise, rewards can be great incentives for children to get their work done and have a more positive attitude towards their education.
Firm But Fair
Going back to structure, it’s important that children have study time embedded into their routine and stick to it. Fun is just as important as studying, so a fair balance of both is needed in an everyday routine. Having plenty of breaks in between can help your child to stay refreshed and not burn out.
Somewhere to Study
While your child respects your rules, it’s important for you and the rest of the family to be just as respectful to them when they are doing their work. Noise can definitely disrupt their learning, and setting up a peaceful study area in a quiet room can help them to concentrate.
Time Management
At their age, your child may not yet know how to manage their time and prioritise. You can help them with this by learning about the work that they need to get done and helping to organise their diary or schedule. Having a family calendar or timetable on the wall can help with this, showing the times designated for homework, studying, playing, eating dinner etc.
Learning Opportunities at Home
We all know how important it is for children to study at home and revisit what they have learned at school. But this doesn’t have to be boring! There are lots of fun learning opportunities all around you, from cooking to gardening, that can be explored. Perhaps you could encourage your child to expand their vocabulary by teaching them a new word a day, or let them use their maths skills to work out how much your next trip to the shops should cost. Utilise the world around you to help affirm their knowledge.
Do you have any more tips? Let us know in the comments below.