October 3, 2022

October 3, 2022

How To Build Healthy Homework And Study Habits

For many adults, their school years were filled with late-night cram sessions (and with making procrastination a bit of an art form). But now that you have your own children, you likely don’t want to pass on those same study habits to them.

The undeniable truth is that good study habits for students are important. With a few years of experience and wisdom under your belt, you’ll understand now that learning how to study appropriately has long-term gains. Sure, your children may moan and groan about studying, but it’s a great skill to help them cultivate.

So what are some good homework habits? And why are healthy study habits important, anyway? Read on to find out how to build healthy homework and study habits with your children. You may be surprised at how easy it can be – and how much they will appreciate it!

Good Study Habits: What Are They?
If you want to help your children to develop good study habits, you’ll need to start by defining what that means.

A habit is an action that you automatically perform in response to something specific. Setting an alarm clock to signal when it’s time to get out of bed in the morning, for example – it may not be a fun habit, but it’s a habit nonetheless.

A good habit is one that helps you to accomplish your goals, while a bad habit is often a roadblock to your goals. If you were a procrastinator and late-night crammer, you probably got things done, but these bad habits may still have impeded your success in some way. Studying and getting work done without the added pressure of procrastination is a habit that is not only academically sensible, but good for mental health too.

One tool that can be used to create good habits is homework. So how does homework create good study habits? Aside from teaching students valuable material, homework helps them practice being responsible – and if they can learn to harness the power of studying with homework, big tests should be a breeze.

Why Do Study Habits Matter?
There are a lot of reasons why it’s important to help your children cultivate good study habits. Some of the most important ones are:

Focus
When a student has good study habits, they can focus their mind and concentrate on what they’re trying to learn. They don’t have to think about how they’re going to study, because all of their practice will make studying, and the various ways they accomplish it, a habit. They’ll do what needs to be done automatically, without thinking about it – freeing up their brain for important learning!

Mental Health
A child’s mental health is almost always on their parents’ minds. The good news is that good study habits can translate to improved mental health. How? Well, no matter how smart a person is, if they have poor study habits, they will experience more stress and anxiety when they move on to learn more complex topics.

If kids establish good study habits before they start bigger educational endeavors like college, chances are they can avoid the stress that comes from procrastination. For example, starting a large research paper in plenty of time to finish it is a good study habit. If your child habitually starts the work they need to do early on in the process, they can avoid the stress that waiting until the last minute brings.

Grades
Another important factor that can’t be overlooked when it comes to good study habits is grades. If your child has big dreams, starting to develop good study habits in elementary and middle school can set them up to make better grades in high school and college. While it won’t automatically raise their grades, it can certainly improve their chances.

Good Study Habits to Create
What types of study habits tend to build a solid foundation for academic success? There are quite a few. Remember that an approach that works for one person may not for another. The key is to find what does work and do it over and over again until it becomes a solid habit.

A few good study habits you can work with your kids to create include:

  • Use a calendar – It’s a handy idea to get a calendar and fill it out with important school details and due dates. They can add what classes they have and when, and include any important deadlines such as tests or papers.
  • Create a to-do list – A homework to-do list is a great tool that’s easy to use. Your student simply need to find a timeframe that works for them. Some people like to write to-do lists for big projects for an entire semester, while others may choose to do it week to week. Whatever your student chooses, they can simply write their assignments and tasks down on a list, keep it to hand throughout the week, and enjoy the satisfaction that comes from crossing things off.
  • Create a study space – A great study space is essential. Some people need quiet while others prefer a little ambient noise. Some people need to be free from interruptions, while others can take a little chaos in the background. Work with your children to discover what type of study space works best for them, then help them to create it.
  • Make time for homework – Finding time for homework doesn’t just happen; students have to make time. Let’s face it – there are a million ways to put homework off. But if your child creates a schedule and factors in time for it, it’ll become a habit to simply sit down and do their work during that time. Don’t make homework about having the willpower to sit down and do it – instead, make it about creating time to do it and then showing up the way they would for an appointment.
  • Take breaks – Kids aren’t homework or studying machines. Make sure they take time for breaks from their work to keep their studying skills effective and their focus sharp.

Good homework and study habits can make learning and achievement much easier, so help your child to cultivate good habits and watch them bloom.

Featured image by Windows on Unsplash