Nurturing Good Study Habits for Your Child
At Flexispot, we understand better than most that we all want the best for the young people in our lives, and understanding the challenges they face and how best to support their study habits is important to helping them thrive. Understanding handy life hacks, how to navigate their needs and support a comfortable working space at home are needed to help maximise and improve their study time and optimise their wellbeing.
With the right tips and tricks on hand, you can help your child to use their study time more effectively and feel more confident in their wellbeing. Instilling healthy study habits early in life allows them to nurture success for years to come, both in school, in their relationships, and in the workplace.
With our tips, watching your child struggle and worry will be a thing of the past. Let's take a further look.
Make Use of Learning Technology
Internet access, tablets and mobile devices are now a constant in our lives. Whilst this can be a cause for concern for parents and guardians, technology can offer great support when understood and used in the right way. Understanding how to use online resources effectively is key to your child's future success and wellbeing, in study, work, and relationships.
Take time to help your child learn about educational apps and different technologies. Ensure appropriate time limits are set and monitor as needed to ensure safe use and a focus on study and homework. Digital educational resources do a great job of keeping things entertaining, too, so your child will feel encouraged and engaged throughout!
Eliminate Distraction
Life has so many distractions, and keeping your child's focus on track can be difficult. However, we must accept that none of us can multitask perfectly and eliminate troublesome distractions whilst nurturing elements that help our child keep focused is the path to study success.
You may want to eliminate the distraction of mobile devices when used improperly – perhaps designate a place and time outside of their study area so they can understand use of their devices is appropriate outside of study time. Audio and TV presence can be very distracting for some children; equally, others may find a level of background noise helpful to focus. Explore the options and ensure sound and conversation distractions are supportive, not distracting.
Take Short but Regular Breaks
Sitting and studying for hours on end without taking breaks for movement or a different focus for the mind can be detrimental for us, especially for young people who are still going through mind and body development. Ensure your child takes regular breaks away from their study space – perhaps a 10-minute snack or stroll outside when safe for every 30 minutes of work – to improve their focus, mood, and overall wellbeing.
Other ideas for breaks can also help keep study sessions feeling fresh and inspiring. Why not try some gentle stretching or a yoga session together, some time to check in with friends, or work on a personal project or hobby that inspires them and builds general confidence in other spaces. Physical movement and a chance to refocus the mind make all the difference in nurturing healthy study habits.
Using a standing or height adjustable desk especially developed around a growing child’s needs is another great way to promote movement during long periods of study. Take some time to explore all options for breaks and movement with your child and understand that this may change over time as your child learns more about themselves and their study preferences. A standing or height adjustable desk allows movement, good posture and consistent circulation and comfort throughout the day, whilst fitting to their changing breadth of needs as they grow.
Designate A Fixed Studying Area
Life and study can spill over to all areas of the home for children as they learn to organise themselves and manage various aspects of their life. For those of us who have had to work from home during the pandemic we have learnt better than most how much easier it is to stay focused and productive when spaces are kept ordered and separated for work and home. Nurturing this division for your child's time management is just as important.
Whilst the kitchen table can be a great starting study space, having a set study space as your child's study needs get more complex is important. Allow them a desk that can grow with them, and they can customize and adapt to their own needs, away from other distractions in main living areas. When a child feels positive about their study space and that they can take ownership, they're more likely to feel encouraged and excited about sitting down to work.
