6 Tactics to Encourage Children to Study at Home

Children and teenagers are tired after school and don't feel like doing more school work. In that sense, parents play a very important role in motivating their kids to study at home.

Written and verified by the psychologist Mara Amor López.

Last update: 27 December, 2022

Doing homework after a full day in class can be unpleasant for children and teenagers. All they want to do is play or go out with their friends. That’s why the role of parents in encouraging children to study at home is important. Here are some helpful strategies.

From the time they’re small, it’s important that you give children a solid foundation to build on and look for study techniques that work for them. Parents must help children in this search so that, when they start to study, it’ll be easier.

As parents, it’s essential that you accompany your children – guide them, encourage them, and offer them recommendations, both in bad times and in good times, and especially in times that are particularly difficult and complex.

Encouraging children to study at home: Why is it so difficult for them?

Most children find it difficult to get home and start doing their homework and studying right away. Parents often struggle to get them to sit down and spend some time reviewing what they learned in class.

Now, this already difficult situation has become more intense due to the health crisis we’ve been experiencing. Many children have to study over the internet from home and this can be really challenging.

We mustn’t forget that they’re in their own environment, so distractions increase. These distractions hinder their ability to concentrate and pay attention, both of which are essential to study.

Good motivation will facilitate the process of having to study at home. Being motivated plays an important role in a person’s predisposition to learn, as well as their emotions, because they’re crucial for good learning.

Being sad, tired, anxious or stressed will make children not want to sit down to study. However, a happy, content, calm, and well-rested child will be able to do so.

Strategies to encourage children to study at home

Promoting concentration and motivating children to study at home can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Here are some tactics that can help your child study at home.

Set small, specific goals

To motivate children to study at home, it’s important that the goals you set aren’t too ambitious. To do this, sit down with your child and, together, determine the goals they should achieve in the short- and medium-term.

It’s very important that these goals be achievable and possible because, that way, they’ll feel even more motivated by achieving them. On the contrary, if you set very ambitious goals, your child might not reach them and may end up feeling frustrated and demotivated. This, in turn, will only make them less likely to keep trying.

Some examples might be getting a B in English, doing homework every day of the week, underlining or highlighting their class notes, every day, etc.

You can write them on a blackboard or on sticky notes on their agenda so they can cross them out as they achieve their goals. This way, seeing their achievements will increase their motivation.

Reward their effort

You shouldn’t yell at or scold your child when they don’t finish their homework on time or prepare well for a test. Rather, what you should do is highlight the times when they do well so that they feel important and fulfilled. Use phrases such as: “Congratulations, you did very well” or “Good work!”

Set a schedule for home

Just as you have a schedule in class, it’s important that you also establish a schedule for home – of course, including free time to play or do whatever they want.

One recommendation is to organize each day according to your child’s class schedule. For example, if they’ve had math on a given day, then you’ll set aside some time in their schedule to do homework or review.

In this way, you’ll help them organize their time and you’ll motivate them to keep their schedule. What’s more, they’ll have some free time left to do whatever they feel like doing.

Encourage children to study at home and promote their concentration

Depending on the possibilities of your home and family, you can try to give the children a specific space where they can study without any distractions around.

If a child has their own isolated space away from the rest of the house and family members, their concentration levels will be greater. It’s also important that they have whatever they need to study on hand so they don’t have to get up and look for anything.

Adapt to your child

It’s always important to take into account that each child’s needs, interests and learning styles are different. If you keep this in mind, it’ll be easier to motivate them.

There are children who need background noise to concentrate. Others, however, need absolute silence. In the same way, some study by moving around the room, while others remain seated at their dest, etc.

Therefore, parents shouldn’t impose a strict way of studying. Rather, they should adapt to the needs of their children because everyone has a different way of learning.

Show an interest in their schoolwork

Get involved in your child’s studies… Ask them about their classes, their favorite subjects, and know when they have exams. Find out whether they have any questions about their homework to help them come up with solutions… In short, accompany them if they need it and always show an interest in their things.

In short, these are some ideas that you can apply so that your child feels motivated to carry out their schoolwork at home.

Don’t forget that a motivated, happy and content child will find it easier to learn and study. Therefore, a pleasant atmosphere at home will also play an important role. Now it’s your turn to implement some of these strategies to help your child study at home.