By Kylee Harris
Statistics show that students can maintain attention for 10-15 minutes during traditional learning activities in class. When they are alone, the plethora of online distractions can also make focusing on their work a challenge. However, to obtain their desired grades, kids are expected to do considerable extra research and study-around two to three hours of focused study time for every hour of class time. If your child is struggling to focus on their homework or study preparation, there is plenty you can do to help them achieve their goals. Below are just a few strategies they may find useful.
Setting SMART Goals
Few things can keep a student focused more than having a specific target to achieve every time they sit down at their home study desk. Teach your child all about SMART goals. These are goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For a typical study day, your child’s SMART goals may be: “Do all of my math homework and read one chapter of the literature book within two hours”. Having clear goals boosts motivation and gives kids a reason to finish tasks within a set time so they can still enjoy leisure time and social connection once their work is done.
Choosing the Right Setting
The space your child studies in can be a real dealmaker or breaker, especially if they have siblings who can potentially distract them with noise and invitations to play. Children should have a quiet, ergonomic learning space at home with natural light and ergonomic furniture. Kids who have hours of study to prepare for big exams will benefit greatly from standing desks, swing chairs with armrests and adjustable heights, and big monitors that make reading easy on the eyes. Standing desks allow kids to move between sitting and standing positions, ensuring optimal circulation and greater comfort. Research shows that childhood inactivity can increase their risk of heart disease later in life, which is why promoting movement even while they are studying can go a long way toward guaranteeing them a healthy future. Their study space should have a comfortable temperature as well, since excessive heat or cold can make it very hard to focus on the topic at hand.
