Every parent knows that the first few weeks of school are both exhilarating and exasperating. Kids are excited to have new clothes and new school supplies and to be reunited with friends they may not have seen over the summer. They’re not so excited about the demands their school work puts on their time - time they’d much rather spend playing or watching television.
When school starts, the transition back to a more structured routine can be tough on kids and parents alike. Outside activities, like school sports or piano lessons, add even more time constraints to the schedule. Here are some tips to help your child establish smart study strategies while still leaving time for being a kid.
* Homework comes first - By stressing that finishing homework is the number one priority, parents let kids know that on school nights, they need to focus on studying. Making this clear will eliminate the need to argue or bargain with your kids every night over whether they can “just play one video game” before they start their homework. And finishing homework first means kids (and parents) won’t be up late completing a project or assignment that got started late and takes longer than expected.
* Establish a study area - Setting aside a special place for studying helps establish a routine. It can be a desk in your child's room, a place at the kitchen island, or the table in the family room. But wherever it is, the study area should have good lighting, a large work surface and no distractions.
* Give your child the tools they need - Spending time hunting for paper, pens, calculators or other supplies wastes time and breaks concentration. Have homework supplies handy, and make sure everyone in the family knows where they’re stored.
* Make time for fun - Kids spend all day in school, and they need some down time when they're at home, whether it's playing with friends or watching TV. Just be sure to set limits that everyone understands. For example, “you can play outside until dark,” “you can watch one television show,” or “you can spend half an hour on instant messaging.”
* Monitor television and computer use -- If your child is online, make sure you know what sites they're visiting or who they are instant messaging. Likewise, watch television with your kids so you know what they’re viewing. An easy way to make sure your kids are watching age appropriate programs is to subscribe to a service, that provides family-friendly programming, sports, news and more.
Setting up a few easy-to-follow routines as the school year gets underway can help set the tone for a successful school year.
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