First of all, find a good place for your child to work. Ideally it will be quiet and uncluttered, well-lit and free from unnecessary interruptions! Together with your child, draw up a revision timetable – this is very important. The odd sporadic hour here and there isn’t enough to make a real difference. Perhaps you could even incorporate a treat for your child on completion of the study timetable on a weekly basis.
Your child needs a revision plan that is realistic, easy to stick to and includes breaks and meal times, getting the balance is crucial to your child’s success. Use monthly, weekly and daily planners to help plan out the days systematically, as it can help prevent your child feeling overwhelmed.
When you are are planning the study schedule and timetable, mix up your child’s weaker subjects amongst their stronger subjects so your child does not attempt all the difficult topics at once –it’s really easy for them to lose confidence when revising, especially if they are focusing on consecutive difficult subjects.
Set achievable targets each day and have your child tick them off as they reach them - this makes your child feel a sense of accomplishment which is an important factor is successful revision. It also helps them move forward in small, baby steps towards the bigger goal in each subject.Encourage your child to make revision notes as they listen and learn, as they write their notes they are subconsciously learning at the same time.
Your child’s notes should be short and sharp – clearly identifying the main points, and by putting notes on one side of the paper it makes them easier to remember. Get your child to write key facts on post-it notes and pop them on the walls in your kitchen or bedroom to promote learning.
Even something as simple as a colourful ‘Times-Table’ poster on their bedroom wall will boost their multiplication skills effortlessly. Together, you and your child can make up make up funny clues or rhymes to help them remember important dates, words or facts. I.E – I before E, except after C, when spelling, (although there are some exceptions to this rule)!
With your child you can test them, where your child is not permitted to look at their notes, this can help identify areas which could benefit from more learning and revision.
Do not allow your child to overdo the amount of time they spend studying, to do this you could allow a regular time for physical exercise, a walk with the dog, a bike ride, listening to music or something they like, to change their environment and give their brain and eyes a break. A break like this gives a feeling of refreshment and helps make them ready to absorb information again.
Until you have reached the optimum level of studying techniques you and your child can experiment with different styles of revision, to see what works best, as every child is different.
Remember to instil a setting so your child always gets a proper night sleep, ensure the same non-negotiable bedtimes are adhered to on school nights – proper sleep is really important for your child in school, to help them get through the day with good energy levels and no feelings of tiredness. Sleep is very important to a child’s wellbeing, and although there is no set amount of hours per night a child should be sleeping, the NHS state that between 9.5 and 10.5 hours per night is ideal for a child aged 7-11.
And remember…… have fun!
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