No parent wants to hear these words from their child, “I got an F on my homework.” Thanks to the internet and all of the intellectually challenging classes and activities out there, there’s no shortage of resources to help your child succeed in class. So then, why might a student continue to fail their assignments? Here’s where you step in, Mom and Dad, by setting up the ideal work space for your child in your own home. No need to dust off the tools. Just keep these five easy tips in mind:
1. Designate an area far, far away from comfort zones.
Comfort zones are those places of pure relaxation, encouraging the acts of daydreaming, napping, sleeping or just flat out laziness. These pastimes will never work alongside your child’s studies, so ban your student from using anything remotely comfortable. Set rules and restrictions with your child during their scheduled study time. Refrain from using laptops while lying in bed, no reading while stretched out on the couch, and writing an essay while swinging in the family hammock probably won’t produce positive results either. If you have to lock up the pillows and toss beds and sofas into storage for a few hours, then do so. Fluffy surfaces intended for nap time will encourage just that!
The tutors of AHEAD Tutorial & Review Center state that once falling asleep and studying becomes habit, “your mind might unwittingly associate studying with sleep.” You want your child to FINISH their homework, not stop and snore.
2. Be very, very quiet.
In an age of high-speed internet, a kid’s attention span can be quite the task to capture for long periods of time. Background noise is possibly the easiest way to turn a student’s head away from their books. Not everyone is capable of constructing a soundproof box inside their home, so try the next best thing. Just find a peaceful area for your child to set up shop.
Keep in mind certain noise-makers to stay away from such as the television, the telephone, barking dogs, crying babies and talkative family members. Sorry, grandma, but the less noise you make, the better chance your student completes his/her homework with minimal wrong answers.
3. Eliminate the distractions.
Distractions work hand-in-hand with noise, so the answer is obvious, right? One would think so, but parents should think like their child/teenager and count the things that would pose as attention deterrents. We have already eliminated noise and knocking out one will most likely take care of another, unless you live with a mime. Windows should also be kept in mind, though. The transparent barrier between the library-like homework station and the lively outside world makes for great distractions. Yes, they allow for great natural light, yet a kid can think of plenty he/she would rather be doing outside rather than being stuck inside, staring at math problems.
4. Locate a sufficient light source.
Keeping your child in the dark will only hurt them. By shedding some light on the situation, not only will they be able to see what they’re doing, but so will you. Even though they may have the best of intentions, not having an appropriate amount of light can be discouraging. Straining one’s eyes in order to see what lies before them involves more work than necessary. The study station might backfire once your student becomes frustrated, unable to concentrate for lack of a well-lit area. Drag out the lamps, be they lava or grandmother-style, play lighting designer, and give your child the appropriate balance of visibility.
5. Give music a chance.
Music is usually thought to be a distraction, and it is, if you’re listening to heavy metal on full blast. Yet according to USA Today, “tailoring the music you listen to while studying, based on the subject matter and your mood, can help keep you focused.” In order to generate a mood which influences concentration, one simply wouldn’t take the lyrics out of a hardcore rap song and attempt NOT to dance.
Certain styles encourage a healthy learning or working environment, and “easy listening” does just that. At one point, Mozart was thought to be the only go-to genre, but there are so many more modern options that will be more relatable to students of today. New Age, Trip-Hop, and House are only a few lyric-less options to keep your child’s mind relaxed and open to learning.
Take these five tips into consideration and a homework station should be a piece of cake, both for you and your child. Their concentration will increase and, in turn, you will see the difference in their grades. No longer should you cringe at the sight of progress reports. Work with your student to create the perfect study area for them and anticipate the words, “I passed!”