Last week I spoke with a parent who has been struggling with helping her son study effectively. He is in the 6th grade and she said their study sessions end up with yelling and tears. She mentioned that her son had been struggling with science all year long, and she felt helpless and not sure she can help him. Her words were filled with worry and fear:
“I don’t know how to study science with my son! I need some ideas…can you help?”
I can relate to these worries both as an educator and a parent of 3 children. I shared with her some very tangible and effective ways to help her son study science and other subject areas.
First, ask your child, “How do you like to study?” Find out what works best for your son or daughter! It is important to understand how your child prefers to study. All children have unique learning styles; therefore, their study strategies will vary as well. Find out if they prefer to work alone, with a study partner, or both. Understanding how they study best will clarify the best study strategies to use.
Here are 5 Study Tips for Parents to Share with their Children:
1. Rereading Notes:
Rereading notes is an excellent way to study content. However, have your child get creative with this study strategy by having them reread notes to you or a study partner. The more they reread notes, the more they will retain the information!
2. Flash Card Fun:
Using flash cards can be a wonderful way to study. Have your child turn their flash cards into a fun game, like memory match with word cards and definitions. Another idea is to play charades with flash cards. Many kids love this study alternative! Making it fun will keep your child engaged and focused.
3. Quizlet:
Quizlet is an interactive online study tool. It is simple to use but very effective. Quizlet offers a variety of games so your child can study content. The variety of games and activities will keep your child stimulated and learning.
4. Technology:
Many kids love using technology so have them incorporate what they love with studying, like using FaceTime for studying. Have them FaceTime a friend in their class and do Q & A sessions. This is a great way to incorporate some fun into study sessions.
5. Game Board:
Transform a game board into a study board. Make up your own rules or apply the rules of the game. Incorporate the content questions and have fun with it. Remember the goal is to make study time enjoyable and more importantly effective for your child.
In order to make study time more enjoyable it is important to sometimes think “outside the box.” This approach may take more time; however, the time spent studying with your child will be more enjoyable and more effective.
Don’t you want to make learning fun for your child? How do you incorporate “fun” into your study sessions?