For parents of younger students
Remember that the attitudes and routines you establish now can serve you and your child well for the rest of their life.
Encourage their natural curiousity and eagerness to learn and use it to implement a study routine.
Keep it fun and have two or three subjects handy to allow for short attention spans and wandering minds.
Incorporate movement. Include some real "physical education" both to help your child develop and to burn off excess energy. This can be tumbling, dance, traditional sports or just movement of any kind. Keep it light and happy and not too result oriented. Remember, young bodies are still developing and so is your child's control of it. Be encouraging and try to keep their frustration levels low.
Be patient. Studies show while children tend to progress differently in different areas (excel in some subjects and lag in others) their results eventually even out. Try showing them different ways to look at things they are having trouble understanding, use different approaches and be willing to move on to something more comfortable for them without letting either of your frustration levels get too high.
Find a site or subject that your child particularly enjoys and use that as "dessert" at the end of your study session. Even better, find a book your child enjoys and finish your sessions by reading together. Always try to have things end on a positive note.
For more specific help like reading or math, check our Links page.
Encourage their natural curiousity and eagerness to learn and use it to implement a study routine.
Keep it fun and have two or three subjects handy to allow for short attention spans and wandering minds.
Incorporate movement. Include some real "physical education" both to help your child develop and to burn off excess energy. This can be tumbling, dance, traditional sports or just movement of any kind. Keep it light and happy and not too result oriented. Remember, young bodies are still developing and so is your child's control of it. Be encouraging and try to keep their frustration levels low.
Be patient. Studies show while children tend to progress differently in different areas (excel in some subjects and lag in others) their results eventually even out. Try showing them different ways to look at things they are having trouble understanding, use different approaches and be willing to move on to something more comfortable for them without letting either of your frustration levels get too high.
Find a site or subject that your child particularly enjoys and use that as "dessert" at the end of your study session. Even better, find a book your child enjoys and finish your sessions by reading together. Always try to have things end on a positive note.
For more specific help like reading or math, check our Links page.
For parents of older students
Teach them real life skills. Help them see the real world consequences of their actions- especially their study habits and educational achievement.
One way to do this is by having them develop a household budget (theirs, not yours). Use real numbers for expenses and let them see how much it costs to live at different levels. For example, start with a studio apartment and a basic food allowance. Let them explore how much more to move up to a one-bedroom and add in things like eating out, a car payment (don't forget insurance and maintenance), cable TV, internet access, and a smart phone. And finally, let them step up to a mortgage and all the related expenses of raising a family. Don't forget vacations! Help them make the connection between how they want to live and what they need to do to support that lifestyle.
There are basically five paths for a student upon high school graduation: college, a trade school or internship, joining the armed forces, starting a business, or going to work. Explore these different paths with them as much as possible. College is not for everyone and there are trades that pay as well or better than many college degrees do. There are also companies where you can work your way up to very rewarding positions without college, or while they pay for your college.
Teach them how to weigh the pros and cons of each approach, combining their natural abilities and interests with the payscales and advancement available in each path. Have them plot out several different courses they could take in life and compare them. Emphasize the fact that they can change course, that nothing is set in stone, but that some courses will provide them more flexibility than others. Take them out and let them actually see some of their choices and try to make sure they have a realistic idea of each area.
Of course, all of this is in addition to helping them with their homework! As they get older, there is more value in teaching them how to find solutions then in helping them find them. Remember, your job is to prepare your child for adulthood and independence.
One way to do this is by having them develop a household budget (theirs, not yours). Use real numbers for expenses and let them see how much it costs to live at different levels. For example, start with a studio apartment and a basic food allowance. Let them explore how much more to move up to a one-bedroom and add in things like eating out, a car payment (don't forget insurance and maintenance), cable TV, internet access, and a smart phone. And finally, let them step up to a mortgage and all the related expenses of raising a family. Don't forget vacations! Help them make the connection between how they want to live and what they need to do to support that lifestyle.
There are basically five paths for a student upon high school graduation: college, a trade school or internship, joining the armed forces, starting a business, or going to work. Explore these different paths with them as much as possible. College is not for everyone and there are trades that pay as well or better than many college degrees do. There are also companies where you can work your way up to very rewarding positions without college, or while they pay for your college.
Teach them how to weigh the pros and cons of each approach, combining their natural abilities and interests with the payscales and advancement available in each path. Have them plot out several different courses they could take in life and compare them. Emphasize the fact that they can change course, that nothing is set in stone, but that some courses will provide them more flexibility than others. Take them out and let them actually see some of their choices and try to make sure they have a realistic idea of each area.
Of course, all of this is in addition to helping them with their homework! As they get older, there is more value in teaching them how to find solutions then in helping them find them. Remember, your job is to prepare your child for adulthood and independence.