How to Develop Good Study Habits
Every parent wants to help their children develop good habits that will benefit them throughout their lives. In this article, we'll provide some insights from experts on the importance of good study habits and offer tips on how you can assist your child in cultivating them.
Positive habits can make life easier, as they become second nature and eliminate the need for constant mental energy and motivation. Establishing good study habits early on and good grade sets the stage for future academic success and can be applied to all areas of life.
Children are highly influenced by their environment, so when parents, teachers, and mentors model positive habits, children are more likely to follow suit. Good habits have a positive impact on various aspects of life, including nutrition, physical activity, and time management. Instilling effective study habits in children is crucial for their academic development and helps shape them into active learners.
Read on to discover ways to instil the most effective study habits ever in young learners.
Is your child struggling to keep up with schoolwork? Are they falling behind? Are they bored in class? Or are you looking for extension work for your child? Check out our eBook to learn more about how we help your child improve academically and build confidence through our in-centre after-school tuition.
Understanding Study Habits
Simply put, study habits are actions we learn to do automatically, without much conscious thought. Good study habits encompass establishing a regular and realistic routine, deciding what and how to study effectively at stud, studying effectively throughout, using time effectively, taking notes, and recognizing when assistance is needed.
It's important to differentiate between homework and study. Homework refers to specific tasks assigned in class or by a child or high school teacher to be completed outside of school hours, typically within a two-hour timeframe of two hours of class. On the other hand, study involves independent learning to realize one's full potential and is not limited to assigned homework or class material.
Differentiating Homework and a Study Session
Homework and study sessions have distinct purposes and approaches. Homework consists of specific tasks set by the school, while study sessions are self-directed learning periods. The amount of homework assigned can vary based on a child's age, grade level, and school policies.
"Study group" sessions, however, are less structured than class and involve a child's efforts to retain information, address learning gaps, pursue areas of interest, build confidence, and test or extend their understanding of topics.
As a parent, it's important to discuss with your child the reasons behind homework and study, focusing on the benefits rather minimize distractions from studying smarter than viewing them as chores. Independent study beyond assigned homework is recognized as a valuable life skill that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for learning.
Offer Choices
Experts recommend providing children with choices rather than giving them strict instructions. Allowing your child to make decisions fosters autonomy and a sense of ownership over their studies. Creating a study timetable together is an effective way to establish a routine.
Consult with your child's school to determine the expected time for homework self-testing, practice exams and study groups and involve your child in deciding how much additional study time they would like to dedicate. Allocate enough sleep and regular time slots for both homework and study, ensuring reasonable breaks between study sessions, regular breaks and being realistic about concentration spans.
Craft a Study Timetable
Planning study time is essential to effective learning. Help your child develop time management skills by assisting them in creating a study timetable. Utilize a weekly planner to allocate specific time slots for studying various topics and practising skills.
Encourage your child to dedicate time each day for study and homework, which will eventually become second nature and promote strong planning and time management abilities. To aid concentration, introduce visual timers and weekly study schedules, so your child can track the time spent on a task and know how much longer they need to work.
Plan Study Sessions
Teaching children how to plan their time and manage it effectively is a valuable skill. Assist your child in developing time management abilities by helping them plan study sessions. Utilize a weekly planner to block out dedicated time for studying specific subjects or tasks. For older students, they can focus on different subjects each day or dedicate their afternoons to specific tasks.
Establishing a consistent routine for study and homework helps students learn and build strong planning skills. If your child struggles with focus or completing tasks within the allocated time, visual timers can serve as a motivating tool, helping them stay focused and on track.
Create a Distraction-Free Study Space
Designating a distraction-free study space is crucial for developing good study habits. Help your child identify potential distractions and work together to minimize them. Having a dedicated study area with ample workspace, proper lighting, and comfortable seating positively impacts concentration and productivity. It's important to understand that instilling these bad study habits takes time and effort. Be patient, consistent, and celebrate your child's successes along the way.
Maximise Time Utilisation
Even when your child doesn't have assigned homework, it's important to have successful students utilize the allocated downtime wisely for self-selected study sessions or engaging in activities that focus on reading, writing, or math. This reinforces the habit of using time effectively and encourages continuous learning.
Praise and Reward Effort
Studies have shown that recognizing and praising a child's effort rather than solely focusing on their innate abilities enhances their confidence and promotes a lifelong love for learning. This approach, known as developing a growth mindset, encourages children to embrace challenges, persist through obstacles, and value their own words and efforts. When praising your child, acknowledge little value of their hard work and little value of their dedication.
Model Desired Behaviours
Minimizing distractions is also an important point and an effective way to inspire your child. Consider for example setting aside time during study to take a break to work on your projects or engage in learning activities while your child is studying. This allows you to be available for support during their study sessions if needed.
Implement a "When-Then" Routine
Incorporating study and homework time into your family's daily routine creates a seamless and predictable habit. The "when-then" routine is a simple strategy to encourage positive habits related to studying, homework, and school projects. It involves informing your child that when they complete their homework, then they can engage in a preferred activity, such as playing on the iPad or visiting a friend.
This every-night routine ensures that homework and other responsibilities are completed before other distractions take over at night, reducing the likelihood of forgetting important dates, assignments or class notes and ensuring most students get a good night's sleep.
Mindset
Encouraging a positive mindset towards learning is essential when developing good study habits. Help your child cultivate a growth mindset by emphasizing the importance of effort, resilience, and the belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through practice and dedication.
By fostering a growth mindset, you instil in your child the confidence to tackle challenges, embrace mistakes as learning opportunities, and continuously strive for improvement, ultimately up cognitive performance and leading to a more positive and productive study experience.
Set Goals for Motivation
Goal setting is a powerful tool for motivating children to maintain focused attention and consistent effort. Setting goals helps children develop a sense of purpose and provides direction for their studies. Encourage your child to set both small and large goals, such as passing spelling tests, mastering times tables, or receiving an end-of-year academic achievement award. Have them write down their goals and display them where they can see them daily. Remind them of their goals if their commitment wavers over time.
Make Learning Fun
When learning is enjoyable, children are more likely to engage in study. There are numerous ways to make learning fun, regardless of their grade level. Explore hands-on learning activities, such as conducting science experiments at home or working on art projects. To spark interest in new subjects, consider visiting museums, art galleries, or historical sites.
Exposing children to artifacts and famous works can inspire a deep interest in the subject matter, serving by example and as a natural motivator for further study. For younger children, gamify spelling or times table practice by awarding points for correct answers and presenting prizes f good grades or reaching specific point milestones.
How We Can Help
Developing strong study habits is a valuable skill for every child. If you're considering after-school tutoring or need assistance with planning revision and exam preparation, consider seeking support from education centres like NumberWorks'nWords.
They offer free, no-obligation assessments and provide study techniques through free lessons with experienced tutors. Even if you choose not to continue with their services, they can discuss your child's assessment results and suggest strategies for addressing any learning gaps. Book a free assessment today to support your child's academic journey.
Fostering effective study habits in children is crucial for their academic development and future academic success. By implementing the tips outlined in this article and providing support and guidance, parents can help their children develop the necessary skills for lifelong learning.
