Learning’s fun

Getting a child to do his homework and study diligently can be a perennial source of frustration for parents. With all the distractions around children these days, it is quite a challenge to make them do their assignments and schoolwork.

The role of a parent in the schooling of a child cannot be underestimated. Education is a result of the combined efforts of the teacher or school, the child, and the parents. Here are some tips on how to motivate your child to study better:

• Designate a permanent study place. Start with a good desk, an ergonometric chair, good light and ventilation, and no distractions like TV or entertainment gadgets. Good light should come from above and behind the shoulder, placed so as to avoid shadows on reading and study materials on the desk. Create a comfortable study atmosphere and put curtains or sound absorbers to insulate the room from unwanted noise.

• Stock up on necessary references and supplies. Have a good dictionary, thesaurus, paper, notebooks, pens and pencils, paper clips, sharpener, stapler, organizing folders, and an easy retrieval filing system or personal computer.

• Make rules for the child to follow. No eating while studying; no phone calls or texts, either. Encourage him to take a break when he is hungry or thirsty, or when he has to go to the toilet.

• Teach your child how to organize his school paraphernalia. Develop in him the habit of putting things in their proper places so he’ll know exactly where to get them when he needs them.

• Make him realize the importance of keeping up with daily assignments. Missed readings and assignments are the major cause of cramming for exams. My mother used to compare assignments to dishes, and how they can pile up if not attended to daily. That interesting analogy stuck to my mind and guided me quite well.

• Make your child watch good TV. Guide him to educational and school-relevant TV programs instead of cartoons and junk shows.

• Love as a catalyst. Ask your child, "Do you love mommy? Then you must study. I want you to be bright and better than all the other children. So I will be very proud of you!" Children respond to loving messages and caresses.

• Teach your child to set words, lines, and formulas that he needs to memorize to music. Guess why the A-B-C song makes kids remember their alphabet faster. Writing down and reading aloud many times are also very effective for memorizing and retaining lessons.

• Give the child motivational rewards. A glass of milk and some cookies after the study period will give him something to look forward to. Promise him a new toy, clothes, to treat him to the movies if he does well in school. And always keep your promise if the kid delivers.

• Use visualization for higher grades. Photocopy the child’s grading card and put in high grades so the child can imagine getting excellent grades. You can also make a graph of his grading progress so he will be excited to see the lines go up.

• Use competition to motivate studies. Make the kids (if you have other children or you may include their cousins) compete for who gets the highest marks. Give trophies and awards for the pupil of the month, student of the semester, and student of the year.

• Set a group study time. Be a fine example by having your own "study period", too, to coincide with his study period. Instead of watching TV, the sound of which might just distract your child’s concentration, use the time to read and do your paperwork for the house or office. A family that studies together wins together.

• Make studying enjoyable. Don’t make it strict and mandatory in a negative way. If you compel kids to do something, they tend to resist. When kids have fun learning and discovering, intelligence and good grades won’t be far behind.

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