Better Parent Blog
Parenting advice, study tips and everything in between!
9 Ways to Motivate Your Child to Study
Parents can motivate a child to study by building a close relationship, involving them in decisions, setting realistic goals and praising effort over results. Let children learn from mistakes, read together daily, identify their learning style, check their basic reading, Mathematics and listening skills, model a positive attitude to education and provide a peaceful study space.
11 Things to Tell Your Child on Exam Day
On exam day, tell your child to eat a slow-release breakfast, arrive early, use the toilet beforehand and avoid negative people. In the exam, they should breathe deeply, skim the paper, underline key words, answer easier questions first and focus on their own pace. Most importantly, remind them your love does not depend on their marks.
Why Sleep and Healthy Eating is Essential for Exams
Sleep and healthy eating are essential for exams because the brain processes studied material during sleep, and well-rested children are more alert. School-age children need 9 to 11 hours of sleep and teenagers 8 to 10. During exams, avoid fast food and offer regular, smaller meals with whole grains, fruit, vegetables, healthy fats and lean protein.
Tips to Make Homework Less Stressful
Parents can make homework less stressful by setting up a suitable homework space, limiting television, keeping a consistent routine and displaying a visible homework schedule. Guide your child but never do the homework for them, start early, with Grade R children spending 10 to 15 minutes a day, and talk to the teacher about any concerns.
7 Simple Ways to Prepare for the June Exams
To prepare for the June exams, set up a quiet study space, start a study plan early to avoid cramming and study in 15 to 30 minute sessions with 5 to 10 minute breaks. Encourage homework, class participation and study methods that suit your child’s learning style, and use revision techniques such as diagrams, past papers and practice testing.
When Extra Mural Activities Become Bad
Extra-mural activities become too much when a child can no longer do their homework, sleep 8 or more hours, spend time with family or see friends. Choose activities your child genuinely enjoys, check that they are valuable, fun and confidence-building, watch for mood swings or exhaustion, and consider the full costs before committing.
Is Your Child Being Bullied? Read These Warning Signs
Warning signs that a child is being bullied include lost or damaged belongings, unexplained injuries, frequent headaches or stomach aches, changes in sleep or eating, fear of school, declining marks, withdrawal from friends, low self-esteem and mood swings. Not every bullied child shows signs. If you suspect bullying, seek help immediately from teachers, counsellors or psychologists.
8 Violence-free Ways to Fight a Bully
A bullied child can respond without violence by firmly telling the bully to stop, ignoring them and walking away, and never fighting back physically. They should talk to a trusted adult, stay with friends, avoid places where the bully corners them and keep a diary of incidents. Activities such as sport, art or martial arts can build confidence.
The Art of Reading with Your Child
Reading with your child works best when the focus is on understanding rather than how much is read. Keep reading pieces short and discuss them in a relaxed, distraction-free setting, create mind maps and summaries for school subjects, use poems and pictures to explore language, look up words in a dictionary and keep a word bank of interesting phrases.