Creating Good Habits for School
The kids are all back to school and in the swing of things full force. Some kids are already getting assigned time-consuming projects, taking hard tests, getting heavier homework loads, and balancing school with sports and social lives.
Basically, now is the time of year where the stress really starts to ramp up.
You, as the parent, might be looking for some ways to help them with their studying, time management, and homework deadlines. There are definitely some ways where you can help them without over-inserting or overindulging!
Let’s talk about how to help your kid do well in school:
Schedule regular check-ins with teachers, coaches, classmates’ parents, and anybody else who can be a part of your kid’s educational community.
A healthy level of communication and support your family feels around your child’s education can make them (and you) feel good.
This can also help you intervene–if needed–as quickly as possible, with tools like IEP, 504, tutors, etc.
Help them develop a routine with their homework and good habits for studying.
Encourage their independence with it, but teach them that they are better off in quiet rooms, without TV, and getting their assignments out of the way instead of doing them last in their day.
Lead by example with organization, and help them manage their backpacks and school papers.
Utilize tools like a calendar to track important events and due dates.
Try different tools; if a calendar does not work for them, then maybe they are an assignment book , to-do lost, or sticky note person!
Any of these can set them up for learning success.
Everyone learns differently.
It might be a good idea to use different studying styles and strategies in order to see what works best for your kid.
Once you find what learning strategies work best for your child, offer encouragement and support but also let them work on their own with what they can.
Avoid making comparisons to other kids.
Their learning journey is unique and theirs alone.
A lot of kids hit different milestones at different times, struggle with different subjects, and need more support with certain things.
Focus on your kids strengths as well as their areas for growth without bringing up other kids (like siblings or friends) as this could make them feel inadequate.
Make learning fun!
And start this young.
Right from the start, show your kids the different ways to enjoy learning.
Whether they love to read, visit museums, watch tutorials, learn about history, or do math games, there are many different fun ways to learn! Starting early allows you to build the foundation in a positive way, and they will be more open to future learning.
For more ideas there is also story telling, problem solving activities, science or nature based games, fun fact of the day cards, word or language related puzzles, and so much more!
If you feel like your child might be struggling with learning, there are many different ways for them to get the support they need. If your child is struggling in school, there are many ways that child and teen therapists can be of help! Your child might have an undiagnosed learning disorder, have school or homework anxiety, have trouble with stress and time management, be overscheduled, or be dealing with a social/emotional issue that is making school harder. If any of these sound like your kid, they may need some additional support, and the therapists at Amel Counseling and Consulting are here to help! Reach out now for a free, 15-minute phone consultation and see how we are able to be of assistance.
