How to Help Children Handle the Stress of Schoolwork

Creating a suitable environment

A clear table with enough space for children to spread out their materials is just one part of creating a suitable study environment. A well-lit room is another basic requirement.

Contrary to what many believe, there’s no need for children to isolate themselves in their rooms to do their schoolwork. In fact, young children work better in the context of their families. For example, at the kitchen table.

Also, it’s important to know how to reduce possible distractions. Look for a calm and quiet place and avoid obvious distractions like TV and cell phones.

Find the right time

Finding just the right time is another key factor in reducing the stress of schoolwork. However, it’s often the biggest challenge. Some children perform better when they have a bit of rest and leisure time before hitting the books.

At the same time, other children prefer to get their homework and studying out of the way as soon as possible after getting home from school. That way, they’re free to enjoy the rest of their afternoon and evening without having to think about pending tests and assignments.

It doesn’t matter what time of day your children choose to do their homework. What does matter is that they establish a daily routine. According to psychologist Annie de Acevedo, this routine will depend on the amount of homework that children have.

Organization is also key in handling the stress of schoolwork

In most cases, children may feel overwhelmed because they don’t know how to handle the burden of schoolwork. In this regard, the help of adults is fundamental. Knowing how to divide tasks, prioritize them, and use materials correctly are all basic ideas that children must learn from an early age.

Resorting to the help of agendas, planners and even applications designed for this purpose are some essential planning tools – especially for older students.

Take on challenges instead of avoiding them

It’s very frustrating to find yourself facing a task that you don’t know how to complete. This is especially true for smaller children who still haven’t developed problem-solving skills. As adults, we must help children develop positive thinking in the face of challenges .

A good way for children to begin facing challenges a little at a time is to classify school tasks according to difficulty. On the one hand, you can begin with the easiest tasks in order to gain confidence for more difficult tasks. On the other hand, you can get harder tasks out of the way and leave easier tasks for when children are more tired.

Encouraging children helps relieve the stress of schoolwork

You can help children handle their school-related stress by offering your support. Providing encouragement isn’t only important when kids are doing their homework. They also need it when you’re helping them get organized or to set up a suitable study area, etc.

This also means that children need to be the ones to complete their homework. It’s important to allow children to make mistakes. While it can be frustrating for them, it’s also very beneficial for their learning.

What role do parents play in schoolwork?

According to Annie de Acevedo, the help and supervision of parents are crucial. Without a doubt, children show more interest in their schoolwork when parents are involved and supportive. 

Thanks to this motivation, children will perform better academically and learn to develop good study habits that contribute to their sense of responsibility.