Teenagers, homework and studying to get A+
In this article you will see, How to encourage your teens to study hard, do homework and get A+ in exams?Most teens need no help doing things that they are interested in, be it gaming, shopping, or hanging with friends. But when it comes to homework, giving them a push can mean the difference between a zero and an A+. Here are a free tips to help you motivate your teen.
Here are some basic rules to help your teenagers manage their time better and get on top of that pile of homework each night:
Use positive guidance techniques
Teens can feel loved "conditionally," which means that they only think you approve of them when they do a good job. This can lead to depression and bitterness. Try to be as positive as possible. If a teen comes up to you and tells you something really terrible, like they failed a unit test or something, understands. It took a lot of courage for them to work up the nerve to tell you this, the cooler you are with it, the more likely they are to come and talk with you on a regular basis.
Make them start homework or study
This seems obvious, but it is not as simple as you may think. Instead of telling him/her to "go start your homework," bring them to the computer or their work space and sit down next to them. Don't give up and walk away. Just sit there, next to them and violating their personal space until they open their notebook or laptop and start their work. Watch to make sure that really start. Sometimes, it is that simple push that they need. Once they are on a roll, you can walk away and let them continue.
TV only at certain times
Decide together when study time will be and agree that there will be no TVs turned on during that time. If you have an older student who is easily distracted by TV and some younger kids, this may mean that the younger ones need to do something else instead of watching telly so the older child can get their work done. This rule may be hugely unpopular but it’s your home and you make the rules – and this is one of the best ones because TV can be a real distraction for children of all ages. Perhaps the younger ones could tidy their toys, do some housework, bake some muffins, or fold the laundry? In your dreams?
No phones during homework time
Tell the kids that their mobile phones will be turned off and the landline will be answered by Mum or Dad and messages taken. If phone calls are necessary during study time at least keep them short. After homework is done they’ll have oodles of time to chat and TXT.
No Facebook, messaging or Skype
This could be hard to monitor but make it a rule and remove privileges if the rule is broken. Remind them it’s against the rules at work and at school to do social networking, so it should be no biggie applying the same rule at home. Also, remind the kids that doing it during homework time will only drag out the time spent at their desk.
Music on or off while they do their homework
Many people work well to music, especially with headphones, while others find it drives them nuts. Discuss this with your child and come up with a music rule that favours getting the homework done as efficiently as possible.
Discuss consequences
If they are planning on going out with friends, don't nag them to get the homework done before hand, but let them know that if they fail any assignments, they will not hang with friends outside of school for a week. The same applies if they want to do something like go skateboarding or something like that. Allow them to go, but with conditions
Bring their backpack to them
This may seem ridiculous to you, but it can work. Teens are lazy by nature. It can be all the more difficult to get them to work if what they need is downstairs and they are comfortable on the couch upstairs. Sometimes, teens will forget about work, simply because it is not in sight. As they say, "out of sight, out of mind.
Help make the study space work for them
Having a good place to study will make heaps of difference to your teenager’s mindset. If you have the cash, give them a budget to fit out and decorate a study area in their bedroom or somewhere else quiet and comfortable, such as a disused guest room, basement, attic, or even partition off a part of the garage or undercover deck.
Offer to give them a hand with the décor, and help with assembling kitset items such as a desk and shelves. Make sure the power points and cabling are in working order. You don’t need to spend lots of money – kids can be very creative and resourceful when given the opportunity.
An A+ for time management
Even primary school kids can benefit from using a diary, wall-planner, whiteboard or blackboard to give them a big picture of their workload and to keep track of deadlines and other important dates for school projects, extra-curricular activities, homework assignments and tests.
Time management is an important life and work skill, so take the time to show your child how to plan each day, prioritise tasks, create timelines for projects and work towards deadlines.
Give them a break
No one works well on a rumbling tum so give your child something nourishing to eat and a drink before they hunker down to tackle that major essay or maths assignment. Dehydration and low blood sugar causes foggy thinking and poor concentration, so remind them to refuel with healthy snacks like cheese and crackers, fruit, or even a bowl of wheatbix.
Tell them to leave the desk for 5 minutes every hour to stretch their arms and legs and give their eyes a break from the screen. Sitting for long periods is not good for anyone’s physical or mental health.
When the going gets tough, offer to help
Many children have problems adjusting to the growing mountain of homework. These tips might help:
At the start of the evening's homework, help them plan their tasks and make a note of things that need to be done over a period of time
If they get frustrated or upset, suggest they take a short break. Then try again later, with your assistance. If it doesn’t go smoothly, get them to switch to a new task. Perhaps write a note in their diary explaining the problem and if it continues, have a chat with the teacher about your child’s difficulties
If your child’s workload is exhausting them and threatening to overwhelm them, then you must talk to the school’s Principal or main classroom teacher
Food for thought and action
Teenagers have a lot going on. Not only are their bodies growing and changing, but they are juggling school, homework, family life, friends, social lives, hobbies or extra-curricular activities and, for some, after-school jobs and romances.
All that activity should be fuelled by fresh fruits and vegetables, lean red and white meat, fish, wholemeal carbohydrates, low fat dairy and healthy treats such as nuts and rice crackers.
Encourage your children to drink water and ensure that their meals are healthy and filling. Try to keep a lid on their intake of junk foods, processed foods and foods that contain preservatives, artificial colours and flavours (as these can have an adverse effect on some children's ability to concentrate).
If you think your kid is going short on vitamins and minerals, dose them daily with a multivitamin and mineral tablet, and maybe an omega-3 capsule. Fish oil is a great source of omega-3, comes in capsule form and is reasonably priced. There are studies being done in Australia at the moment to find out if fish oil helps kids learn better and retain information more easily. Stay tuned!
Invest a few minutes in revision
This idea is worth introducing even before they reach their first year of high school. Once homework is done, and if they’re still fresh, suggest they get into the habit of spending just ten minutes each night reviewing something they have already learnt. This may seem a little over-the-top, but it's a great way to get your child familiar with revising information – a skill that will come in handy when they’re studying for tests or exams.
You could help get this habit started by asking them to take a few minutes to explain something to you. Later you can show them how to summarise information in their own words, in bullet points (one bullet point for each important piece of information), or one or two paragraphs.
Keep their eyes on the prize
Every now and again it doesn’t hurt to remind kids that doing their homework and putting in the hours of study will pay off one day. It doesn’t have to be about earning oodles of money (although who’d say no to that?) but about having the freedom to choose a trade or profession they’d enjoy and be good at.
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