Study habits are emulated and learned. Example; Children learn to read. A child will only practice what he or she has seen.
Alice said her children have never found learning at home interesting. She said that the only way to get her children to learn is to hire the services of a private home tutor.
While this may seem a temporary option for her. Alice still discovered that a private home tutor will not always be there to make her children glued to their books.
Oftentimes, she gets overwhelmed by this art of getting them to love their books.
When children’s study habits are developed they thrive in learning and make better grades in their academics.
Ways to Develop Children’s Study Habits for Better Academic Grades
Practicing ways to improve children’s study habits is a way of setting up a learning structure for them. Having good grades and maintaining a healthy learning practice are one of the traits of a lifelong learner. In this age, learning to study is paramount for career growth and success.
So, let us review how parents or guardians can improve children’s study habits for better academic grades;
See also: 11 Ways to Improve Students Academic Performance in a New School Year
- Create time for study. Study time shouldn’t be used as punishment. You do not send your child to read because you feel disturbed. Schedule study time at different days of the week and see to it.
- Create a healthy study environment. Ensure that your child has a comfortable and well-lit study area with minimal distractions. Provide all necessary study materials, such as textbooks, stationary, and a computer if required.
- Promote self-discipline in studying. Follow through every rules set to achieve any learning goals. Self-discipline in studies prevent future academic problems and increase better academics in students. When children devote time to learn, they feel more motivated to achieve their goals.
- Promote study habits by letting children emulate studying. A very natural way children learn is by observation, imitation, and emulation. They imitate or observe what their peers or other adults around them do. The process of learning by emulation is a fundamental aspect of child development, social skills, and education.
Emulation is particularly important in the early years of a child’s life when they are still developing their sense of self and their understanding of the world around them. Through imitation, children learn how to interact with others, how to express themselves, and how to navigate social situations.
Hence, to help promote your child’s study habits, you need to also study. You should be seen by your child with books.
There are times I have to use my diary rather than a digital diary because I want my kids to find me using a book.
Sometimes, I still make notes manually to promote the use of books and study habits. While I study with my device I make notes with in a book. This is because your kids may not always understand that not all screen time is for leisure.
In other words, to improve your child’s study habits you need to model reading and studying.
- Practice Positive reinforcement.
Reinforcement plays a significant role in shaping behaviour and learning. Reinforcement is the process by which a specific behaviour is strengthened or weakened based on the consequences that follow that behaviour.
When a behaviour is reinforced, it is more likely to be reiterated in the future. Positive reinforcement occurs when a desirable outcome follows a behaviour, such as receiving praise or a reward for reading four chapters of a textbook. This encourages the child to repeat the act that led to the positive reinforcement.
Hence, study habits can be improved in children through positive reinforcement.
- Through encouraging vast learning. Teach your child to develop a love for learning by exposing him or her to varieties of subjects. Vast learning or general learning is important in this digital age. You may never know what your child can do if he or she is restricted to knowledge. A child’s study habits can be improved through exposure to varieties of concepts. When this happens, such a child discovers an area of interest and would like to learn more. For example; your child can learn about crops, animals, musical tunes, skin, the history of countries, the use of certain equipment, and others.
Oftentimes, while researching on more knowledge, her study habits are developing.
- Teach your child to study in order to teach others. When children learn with the intention of teaching others they develop strong study habits.
Why children should studying to teach a friend;
Studying a particular lesson with the aim of teaching a friend.
1) It helps children understand the subject matter better.
2) It helps them to relate concepts to real life.
3) Also, it improves their academic grades.
This is why collaborative learning should be encouraged both at home and in school.
As parents and guardians, request that your children explain what they have read to you.
- Help children develop enthusiasm for learning. When children love to learn, they would explore their world of interest. You can develop their love for learning by encouraging them to read books, watch educational videos, and participate in extracurricular activities.
- Limit screen time: Set limits on screen time to ensure that your child is not spending too much time on electronic devices. This will help them focus on their studies and be more productive. Limiting the use of screentime will enhance their ability to think of problems that could be solved in relation to their study.
- Discover your child’s learning style. Learning more about how your child learns is important to developing study habits. A visual learner learns differently from a kinesthetic learner. Hence, knowing your child’s learning style would help improve their study habits.
Irrespective of the age of the child, developing study habits is necessary for your child to thrive in academics.