Work 

Teenagers, homework and studying

1. These rules rule

2. Help make the study space work for them

3. An A+ for time management

4. Give them a break

5. When the going gets tough, offer to help

6. Food for thought and action

7. Invest a few minutes in revision

8. Keep their eyes on the prize

In the final years of high school, your teenager may have to do heaps of homework as well as study for end-of-year exams. He or she will need your support and encouragement, especially if they’ve got too much on their plate, or they’re losing enthusiasm, or they’re being pulled in too many directions.

You can play a big part in helping them stay focused, while encouraging them to have a balanced life outside of schoolwork. Here are some tips to get you and your child through these hardcore years without either of you going into meltdown.

These rules rule

Success and achievement stem from discipline – the discipline to start something and work at it until it is finished. Enforcing discipline may be hard work but laying down the law is what parenthood is all about - even it does feel weird to be turning into your parents.

So while the kids may moan at first, setting a few homework rules early on will help them get themselves sorted and pave the way to good habits and a solid work ethic. Left to their own devices and timetables, most kids would be opening fridges instead of books, so they need your help to get motivated.

The key message you want to send is that homework is a top priority and must be done. Many kids respond well to the idea that once they’ve done their homework, the rest of the evening is theirs.

Here are some basic rules to help your teenagers manage their time better and get on top of that pile of homework each night:

• TV only at certain times. Decide together when study time will be and agree that there will be no TVs turned on during that time. If you have an older student who is easily distracted by TV and some younger kids, this may mean that the younger ones need to do something else instead of watching telly so the older child can get their work done.  This rule may be hugely unpopular but it’s your home and you make the rules – and this is one of the best ones because TV can be a real distraction for children of all ages.  Perhaps the younger ones could tidy their toys, do some housework, bake some muffins, or fold the laundry? In your dreams?

• No phones during homework time. Tell the kids that their mobile phones will be turned off and the landline will be answered by Mum or Dad and messages taken. If phone calls are necessary during study time at least keep them short. And definitely no TXT’ing. After homework is done they’ll have oodles of time to chat and TXT.

• No Facebook, messaging or Skype This could be hard to monitor but make it a rule and remove privileges if the rule is broken. Remind them it’s against the rules at work and at school to do social networking, so it should be no biggie applying the same rule at home. Also, remind the kids that doing it during homework time will only drag out the time spent at their desk.

• Music on or off while they work?  Many people work well to music, especially with headphones, while others find it drives them nuts. Discuss this with your child and come up with a music rule that favours getting the homework done as efficiently as possible.

Help make the study space work for them

Having a good place to study will make heaps of difference to your teenager’s mindset.  If you have the cash, give them a budget to fit out and decorate a study area in their bedroom or somewhere else quiet and comfortable, such as a disused guest room, basement, attic, or even partition off a part of the garage or undercover deck. 

Offer to give them a hand with the décor, and help with assembling kitset items such as a desk and shelves. Make sure the power points and cabling are in working order. You don’t need to spend lots of money – kids can be very creative and resourceful when given the opportunity.

An A+ for time management

Even primary school kids can benefit from using a diary, wall-planner, whiteboard or blackboard to give them a big picture of their workload and to keep track of deadlines and other important dates for school projects, extra-curricular activities, homework assignments and tests.

Time management is an important life and work skill, so take the time to show your child how to plan each day, prioritise tasks, create timelines for projects and work towards deadlines.

Give them a break

No one works well on a rumbling tum so give your child something nourishing to eat and a drink before  they hunker down to tackle that major essay or maths assignment. Dehydration and low blood sugar causes foggy thinking and poor concentration, so remind them to refuel with healthy snacks like cheese and crackers, fruit, or even a bowl of wheatbix.

Tell them to leave the desk for 5 minutes every hour to stretch their arms and legs and give their eyes a break from the screen. Sitting for long periods is not good for anyone’s physical or mental health.

When the going gets tough, offer to help

Many children have problems adjusting to the growing mountain of homework. These tips might help:

• At the start of the evening's homework, help them plan their tasks and make a note of things that need to be done over a period of time

• If they get frustrated or upset, suggest they take a short break. Then try again later, with your assistance. If it doesn’t go smoothly, get them to switch to a new task. Perhaps write a note in their diary explaining the problem and if it continues, have a chat with the teacher about your child’s difficulties

• If your child’s workload is exhausting them and threatening to overwhelm them, then you must talk to the school’s Principal or main classroom teacher

Teenagers have a lot going on. Not only are their bodies growing and changing, but they are juggling school, homework, family life, friends, social lives, hobbies or extra-curricular activities and, for some, after-school jobs and romances.

All that activity should be fuelled by fresh fruits and vegetables, lean red and white meat, fish, wholemeal carbohydrates, low fat dairy and healthy treats such as nuts and rice crackers.

Encourage your children to drink water and ensure that their meals are healthy and filling. Try to keep a lid on their intake of junk foods, processed foods and foods that contain preservatives, artificial colours and flavours (as these can have an adverse effect on some children's ability to concentrate).

If you think your kid is going short on vitamins and minerals, dose them daily with a multivitamin and mineral tablet, and maybe an omega-3 capsule. Fish oil is a great source of omega-3, comes in capsule form and is reasonably priced. There are studies being done in Australia at the moment to find out if fish oil helps kids learn better and retain information more easily. Stay tuned!

Invest a few minutes in revision

This idea is worth introducing even before they reach their first year of high school. Once homework is done, and if they’re still fresh, suggest they get into the habit of spending just ten minutes each night reviewing something they have already learnt. This may seem a little over-the-top, but it's a great way to get your child familiar with revising information – a skill that will come in handy when they’re studying for tests or exams.

You could help get this habit started by asking them to take a few minutes to explain something to you. Later you can show them how to summarise information in their own words, in bullet points (one bullet point for each important piece of information), or one or two paragraphs.

Keep their eyes on the prize

Every now and again it doesn’t hurt to remind kids that doing their homework and putting in the hours of study will pay off one day.  It doesn’t have to be about earning oodles of money (although who’d say no to that?) but about having the freedom to choose a trade or profession they’d enjoy and be good at.

Back to top