As a parent, you want nothing more than for your child to succeed in school. But between homework, projects, standardised tests, and extracurricular activities, it can be hard to know how to best support your child without going crazy yourself. Let’s take a look at what you can do.
1. Get Organised
A big part of success in school is simply being organised and keeping track of assignments, upcoming tests, and extracurricular commitments. Help your child create a system (a simple notebook or Google Calendar will do) where they can write down everything they need to do and when it’s due. Check in with them regularly to help them stay on top of things, but resist the urge to micromanage; part of growing up is learning how to handle these responsibilities on their own.
2. Encourage Them to Ask Questions
Chances are, your child’s school day is very different from your own. Make sure they know that it’s okay to ask questions if they don’t understand something; not only will this help them learn the material, but it will also show their teachers that they’re engaged and interested in what’s going on. Likewise, listen attentively when they tell you about their day—even if it seems like all they did was play with their friends at recess. This is how they form bonds and learn social skills, both of which are important for success both in and out of the classroom.
3. Be Available for Help
As a parent, you obviously want to help your kids succeed in school. But try not to do their work for them; instead, offer guidance and support when needed. If they’re having trouble understanding a concept, sit down with them and explain it in terms they can understand. You can also look for support with things like 11 plus mock tests online too. Finally, help them brainstorm ideas for an upcoming project or paper. But resist the urge to do the work for them; ultimately, it’s up to them to learn the material and complete the assignments.
4. Encourage Breaks and Downtime
While it’s important for your kids to stay on top of their schoolwork, it’s also important that they take breaks throughout the day. Encourage them to step away from their work every few hours to move around, relax, or do something they enjoy. This will help them recharge both mentally and physically so they can come back to their work refreshed and ready to learn.
5. Find a Balance Between School and Play.
It’s important for kids to have some time after school to relax and play; this is how they blow off steam and release the pent-up energy that can make it hard for them to focus during class hours. But don’t let them turn screen time into a free-for-all; set limits on electronics use and make sure they’re still getting some physical activity every day. An hour or two of active play will do wonders for their concentration levels once it’s time to sit back down and hit the books again.