How to teach the child to study on his own?

One of the most valuable gifts that parents can offer their child is his education. In addition to the role that the school plays in this area, parents, in order to contribute to the best possible education, are actively involved in the teaching process through homework, which is considered, under certain conditions, very important. Their involvement, however, raises many questions, such as the following, and they require answers:

Why is homework important?

It is a bridge of communication between family and school:
It gives parents and other adults the opportunity to know what their child is learning at school,
It gives them a chance to talk to their child about what's going on at school,
It gives teachers a chance to hear from parents about their children's learning level.

What is the purpose of home study?
Helps children:
To consolidate knowledge and skills that have already been acquired in the classroom. Practice and repetition are essential for learning.
Learn to use sources (eg encyclopedia)
Develop personalized study strategies
To develop self-organization and time management skills. These skills are useful not only in school, but also in all aspects of life.
To discover themselves more deeply. They learn their strengths and weaknesses, struggle with their difficulties and derive satisfaction from their achievements.
With the autonomous study the children gain independence, self-discipline and a sense of responsibility. This is perhaps the most important benefit of the study, equal to the knowledge gained through it.
To give meaning to their free time, dedicating it to their individual study or to a hobby. A life full of play and fun would be boring!
Build a bridge between school and home. It is an occasion for the cultivation of communication ties between the parent and the teacher, who are the main supporters of the child in his learning process.

Do the high expectations of parents and teachers for the positive results of homework really come true?
Research shows that the effect of homework on a child's performance in primary school is minimal, in high school it has some positive results, while it was clear that in high school it has positive results.
So, as far as the Primary School is concerned, and to a large extent the Gymnasium, there is no question of the student's academic improvement, since his improvement is negligible.
However, there is research that has shown that parents' interest in schoolwork is positively related to school performance and homework can cultivate this interest.

So should homework be abolished?
No, homework should not be abolished, as it can make a real difference in improving a student's other skills, which may be useful throughout his or her life, such as:

the taking of responsibilities by the child himself,
its gradual independence,
the development of study, planning and organization skills of the study process, and
the proper management of his time.

Why do parents decide to get involved in their child's homework?
Research shows that parents choose to get involved in their child's homework for a number of reasons:

Because they think they should be involved,
They believe that their involvement will have a positive effect on their child's learning.
They realize that their involvement is requested, expected and positively assessed by teachers.

What are the dangers of parents getting involved in their child's study?

Confuse the child if the teaching techniques they follow differ from those followed in the classroom.
The parent interferes too much in the study of his child as a result to the point that he completes tasks that the child would be able to complete on his own.
The child develops addiction and loses the sense of self-sufficiency and initiative.
Many times the parent does not have the pedagogical knowledge, composure and patience that a teacher has. Thus, reading becomes a field of controversy and conflict, with the result that homework greatly disrupts family relationships, creating tensions and negative attitudes towards reading and school.
The parent's stay on the child's side throughout the study relieves the child of the responsibility of his work.
It delays its maturation, it threatens its self-confidence, its self-esteem.
It delays its performance in the classroom (since the child who studies only with the support of the parent, finds it difficult to cope and complete the school work on his own).
It often increases reading time (as mediated by discussions, "negotiations", toilets, food and other time-consuming procedures that children usually devise to avoid reading for a while).

How long should the study at home last?
The time of homework depends on the class the student attends and on his learning level.

Depending on the child's class (from 15-20 minutes in the 60nd grade, to 120-XNUMX minutes in the XNUMXth grade). Keep in mind that there is so much time that children can stay focused on their work.

If the child is devoting more or less time, we discuss it with the class teacher.

At what age can a child read on his own?
The child can read on his own from the first grade of primary school. It goes without saying that he needs the full support of his parents in the early stages of his integration into school life, who will support and guide him.

However, this support should be oriented towards the gradual autonomy of the study. The child must learn to organize his time and complete the tasks he can accomplish without assistance. The parent should be close in order to control the end result of the effort, to help correct the mistakes and to guide them to avoid them in the future.

All children can learn to complete some, if not all, of their homework on their own. Understandably, children with speech and learning difficulties need extra support. At a first level, this support can be provided by the parent, under the guidance of the class teacher.

In what area should the child study?
Make sure your child has a comfortable, quiet, well-lit place to do their homework, free of disruptive elements (TV on or places with other distractions, such as people coming in and out).

This space can be his own room, or if this is not possible, he can have his own office in another part of the house. That is, a fixed point that will not change every day. Even the kitchen table can be used.

Make sure that this space is equipped with the appropriate study tools (dictionary, pencils, line, eraser).

When should a child start reading?
Your child should get into the habit of doing homework at about the same time each day.

The start time of the reading may differ depending on each child.

Some children need a break after lunch.

Others ask to start immediately after eating, since they still have fresh school work in mind.

In general, the earlier the homework starts, the better, because the more tired the child is, the more inefficient the time of homework becomes.

What if they do not have homework?
Homework is not only written work, but it is also reading, repetition, engaging in a hobby such as painting, reading a novel, etc.

The parent opens his child's suitcase, looks at his notebooks, talks to him about what his day was like, what things they talked about in class, puts him to read to him something of what we did.

How can we help the child to manage his time properly?

It is very important that children learn from an early age to manage their time properly and to fulfill their responsibilities. This can be achieved by helping the child:

To start his work early and not to leave it for a while before bed.
Develop a daily schedule of work at home, as well as other activities.
Calculate how much time it will take to complete each lesson and plan accordingly. This will help him to learn to properly allocate the time he has at his disposal.
To prepare his daily schedule (food, rest, study, play, walk, etc).
To compile a weekly program of activities (dance, piano, painting, swimming, etc)
If you include in the program enjoyable activities, which can be used as a reward.

What study skills can parents develop in their children?

Emphasize organization and help the child in this area, especially in the first grades.
Encourage the child to establish a consistent routine, time and place of study, which he will adhere to. When there is a clear and stable schedule, procrastination is reduced.
Stay with the child at the beginning of the study and work out a work plan together.
Make a list of lessons together. Guide the child to start with the most demanding, while having a relaxed mind.
Instruct the child to identify the important thing from each paragraph they read and take notes.
Help the child make visual aids (blueprints or maps) of the material he / she has to study, underline or mark in the margin, for better understanding.
Encourage the child to organize his thinking before writing a report or work, and always make a draft.
Teach the child to always check what he writes after completing it, with the criterion of success or failure in the task of the task, its degree of readability (graphic character, class), spelling mistakes, stress, punctuation, writing.
Try to relate the study to your child's daily life and experiences. The learning that is connected to what concerns us and goes through the experience is the most powerful. For example, concepts related to fractions or units of measurement can be taught in practice when preparing a meal in the kitchen.

In general, what should parents be aware of when it comes to homework?

Explain to the children that daily study is one of the obligations of their age, but promise them that you will be by their side if they need you.
You do not do the homework for your child.
Avoid excessive corrections because they reduce motivation and self-esteem. In addition, the teacher must have a realistic picture of his abilities.
Avoid counterproductive comments and disparaging the child with offensive expressions.
Whatever problem the child encounters in his / her classroom, it is not right for the parents to make negative comments in front of him / her about his / her teacher. This is not constructive, it undermines the child's confidence in the teacher with negative consequences for his / her progress. It is wiser for the parent to visit the teacher and clarify the situation.
Have a positive attitude about homework. If the attitude you hold is positive, this will be the attitude that your child will acquire.
When your child asks for help, offer guidance, not answers. Giving you the answers does not mean that your child acquires this knowledge. Excessive help teaches the child that when he finds them dark, someone else will do the work for it.
When your teacher asks you to play a role in your homework, do it. Collaborate with the teacher. It shows that home and school are a "team".
Talk to your child's teacher. Take advantage of the schedule to visit the teacher and be aware of his progress, his presence in the classroom and the level of his work.
Teach your child to distinguish what is difficult at home and what is easy. Instruct him to do the hard work first, while he has a relaxed mind. Easy work seems to go faster when fatigue starts.
Watch your child for signs of failure or frustration. Let the child take a break if he / she finds it difficult to stay focused on his / her work.
Reward progress on schedules, timely completion of work and hard work to strengthen and consolidate the right attitude towards life. You need to show your children how much you appreciate their effort and give positive messages when they finish their work.