Building Good Study Habits
My husband Manuel says that anything done for 21 days straight becomes a habit. It’s probably true. My son is now in Grade 3 and although his study habits are still not perfect, my time spent with him in terms of reviewing his homework has drastically been reduced. Either he does his homework better now (after several years of doing so) or I might have gotten tired. (Just joking!)
From Prep till Grade 1, I would really watch him as he did his work. Much guidance was needed then and now, I realize that it was really about establishing the discipline that comes with going about your schoolwork. Beginning Grade 2, my son started to go about his work more independently and I guess it can only get better as the years progress.
When helping our kids study, what might we do to establish those good study habits?
1. Set a schedule: When my son comes home from school, he is given some time off before starting his homework. He dresses up, takes his merienda or afternoon snack, and relaxes a bit. We all know that traffic and schoolwork nowadays can be so stressful. Once he has settled, he proceeds to a room here in the house where he has a small table and where he does his work alone. He can now take care of going through the things that he has to do by himself. I would just review his work when I get home at night or early the next morning.
2. Try to minimize distractions: What would our kids rather do than study? They would rather play X-box, Playstation, Gameboy or computers or watch TV. It is our choice as parents then how much time we would allow our kids to engage in these activities on schooldays. In our household, schooldays and nights are typically “no TV or no Xbox” days. An exception can be made if all work has been finished or if our son did particularly well for a subject test or quiz and permission always has to be asked for. The opposite case is also true. If work is not done properly, then the said activities can also be banned even on Friday nights and on weekends when they are usually allowed. On schooldays, play (of the non-electronic sort, badminton, for example) and reading are encouraged once homework is finished.
3. Teach them to do their work independently: I have stopped “guarding” my son when he does his homework. I let him go about doing it by himself — if only to teach him organizing, planning, and review skills. I come in only when he says that all the work is done. These days, it takes me 15-30 minutes max to go through his work and I only need to point out the things he may have missed or review him slightly when there is a quiz or a test. For some subjects like Language, Reading where I know he does very well, I take his word for it when he says he has reviewed. My concentration is usually in Filipino and in Math where more time is usually needed.
4. Be flexible: Our kids have their own styles of studying and we should be open to what works best for them. I used to get irritated when my son would not sit properly at his table until I remembered that I was the same way. Even when I was much older, I never used my study table. I was studying while lying down on the bed (while watching TV even! — of course this was for my Masters), flat on my tummy (and my mother would wonder how I could study that way but she could not argue with my grades), or while pacing the room. Now, I don’t get as irritated when I see my son writing while standing up or sitting on the bed but as for the TV part, that can probably come when he’s in college.
So, let’s help our kids do well in school by teaching them how to study and to work independently. Grades are not everything but if you can get high grades, wouldn’t that be a good bonus? Although there are other factors that will ensure success in your professional life in the future, having done well in school can give you a headstart for that first job interview or application. Your child has entrepreneurial skills? Independence and organization skills will always be handy and you can already teach him those in the way you help him with his schoolwork. Happy studying!