School can be challenging for many kids. You can support your child this school year in many ways — the social situations that stress them out, educational barriers of being on a set schedule or a culmination of them all. Here’s an exploration of how to help them through potential struggles so you can be there for your kid in every way you know.
1. Establish a Sleep Routine
A solid sleep routine is essential for children to be at the top of their game for school. A routine good night’s rest is critical for optimal learning. If your kid doesn’t get adequate sleep, they will likely not perform as well in their studies or social activities.
Children need sleep to help their attention spans, problem-solving, emotions and memory. Make sleep a priority for your kid and ensure they go to bed at a reasonable time every night so they get the necessary rest for school.
2. Healthy and Balanced Meals
Eating healthy will help your child learn and perform better academically. Healthy snacks can improve your kid’s educational experience and boost their performance. Try to keep healthy snacks around the house and in their lunch box to promote better eating habits. Make well-rounded meals that will fuel them to tackle their projects and assignments.
When your children eat healthy meals, they could see an increase in their memory, brain function and concentration. Eating well and exercising go hand in hand and increase productivity and cognitive abilities. Ensure your kids gets the proper nutrition and physical activity to increase their chances for success.
3. Create a Homework Space
Create an area for your child to do their homework in peace. Doing their work on a laptop propped on their lap in their bed isn’t a recipe for success. Get your kid a desk or use some space on your kitchen table to make them a dedicated space for their homework.
Designating a spot for schooling can help your child associate a calm and chill vibe with their homework. Allow them to decorate their space to boost their creativity and improve their concentration.
Read Also: Ways to Help Your Child Stay Organized at School and at Home
4. Communicate With Your Child
Ensure the lines of communication remain open with your kid. You want them to come to you about anything, so try your best not to judge or talk down to them when they open up to you. A foundation of trust will carry your relationship with your child throughout their lives, so don’t break it unless you have to. Kids rely on their parents to model responses to situations.
Allow them to ask as many questions as they need to feel satisfied when situations arise. Check in with your child about how school is going, inquire about any concerns they may have and openly discuss solutions to their problems. Children tend to take school more seriously when they know their parents care about what goes on there. Set the stage for your kid to learn and grow by nurturing their academic development as much as possible.
5. Help Them Organize
Organization is essential to good study habits. Teach your child how to arrange and sort things to make them less overwhelming. You can start making lists and watch their instant gratification when they cross items off their to-do lists.
Gifting your child a planner or a calendar can help them keep up with tasks and activities. Make it fun and let them choose their own to encourage individuality and expression.
Organize their stuff into separate piles or folders to show them how much organization can affect their productivity. Teach them to trust the process and model organization hacks for them in their homework space and throughout your home. Organizational skills are learned behavior that takes practice. Make simple lists that include aspects of your kid’s daily routine to get them in the habit of using checklists.
6. Teach Them Time Management
Time management is critical as you get older and start to juggle more. Children might be in extracurricular activities, sports and a church group and have to figure out how to manage everything. It’s all about balance. You must show your kid how to prioritize their needs over their wants and make time for what matters most.
Homework should always come first before they can meet any wants. Establish boundaries and uphold them so they know where the bar of standards is and what limits they can push. Children go through a lot trying to fit in, keep up with their grades and be model kids. Show them compassion while enforcing the rules and setting them up for success — they’ll thank you later.
Helping Your Child Thrive This School Year
Every kid is unique and faces their own set of challenges. Be the support your child needs by simultaneously identifying their strengths and weaknesses and being their biggest cheerleader and enforcer.
