Parents always wish the best for their children and it is a natural phenomenon for them to relive their childhood through their prodigies…fulfill their own unfulfilled dreams and aspirations, mould their children into perfect professionals which they themselves dreamt to be. So, towards that, the first and foremost step is nurturing their children well through their schooling years. They try to get their children admitted to the best of the schools, providing the best possible coaching classes and offering a plethora of extra-curricular activities on a platter for them to choose from for their vocational upliftment. All this and more with the sole objective of seeing their children shine in the success that either they could not achieve or they dreamt for their children since their birth. There is a common line heard from most Indian parents “we will do everything for you” or “we will give you the finest, just keep on studying and deliver your best”. With new format of Board exams being introduced and study methodologies also changing, the things that parents can do to help their children are:
1. Help them plan better
As the first and foremost step, as a parent you can help your child craft a study plan that should outline the outcome of a particular learning session. Students should set goals for every session which will bring a sense of accountability in them to fulfill their target.
2. Make notes of imp points
A lot of times children can be intimidated by the magnitude of their syllabus. Revising before exams become even more daunting then. But if you can guide your child to make comprehensive notes for every lesson in the initial learning phase itself, half the battle is won.
3. Inhibition to seek clarity in class
Many students shy away from seeking clarity on their doubts in front of classmates as it might show their ignorance. This is mostly due to their own lack of confidence. Parents should instill that confidence in their wards to speak up and get all queries answered.
4. Let the child pick up his own study pattern
Some children can study, understand and retain better in the early hours of the morning. Some prefer doing it in the peace of the night when everybody else is asleep. So there should be no fixed rules for studies. Goes without saying, you need a minimum 8 hours of sleep. But beyond that, parents should be flexible and give children that space where they can be most productive.
5. Encourage your child to learn from mistakes and not give up
There is a saying that there is no end to learning and we all can learn till the last day of our lives. Similarly, students should also learn from their failures as that will only lead them to understand their own mistakes, learn from them, rectify and avoid committing them again. Help them to work on a plan to overcome their shortcomings for their next exam.
6. Befriend technology to remain updated
Technology is no more used only for games, surfing and now online classes. Educational apps and study platforms make learning easy and interesting. So, you also need to learn to be able to refer it optimally for your child.
7. Eliminate distraction at the place and time of studies
Till some years ago parents would think keeping children away from laptops and mobiles phones was good enough to avoid getting them distracted. But now with online education and everything going digital, the ideal way is to find a dedicated learning spot for your kid. Your child will be able to focus more.
8. Inculcate the habit of taking short breaks every now and then
It is absolutely essential from fitness point of view and also to keep the mind from getting bored and studies becoming mundane. Encourage your child to take shorter breaks at regular gaps to refresh his brain and feel rejuvenated for the next session.
9. Praise your child whenever required to build his confidence
Everyone loves to be appreciated and it is important for you as a parent to applaud your children to keep them motivated. Celebrating their insignificant successes is what positive parenting is all about and can contribute immensely to their success.
10. Remain involved and closely monitor to help children de-stress at the right times
Donot start asking questions at the nth moment as that might not go down well with your kid. If you show interest since beginning, you need not even monitor round the clock. The trust and the faith are mutually built. You will the notice that children reach out themselves when they need help to brave out challenges in their lives.
Indeed, it is this support of parents that will help their children perform better in their exams and their lives.
