5 Smart Ways To Make Studying Fun For Children
By Ritu Sharma — a caring mother blessed with 2 kids.
Me: “Stop playing, its study time now!”
My 5 year old: “Why is playing so wrong? (With a sulking face and innocent eyes)”
Until then I had no idea that my words can fill dread and irritation in my child. I have only wanted my kid to be serious about studies! It does mean that I don’t want him to play? I just want him to play in a way that does not compromise on his studies.
Children usually lack the motivation to study and more often than not it’s our fault. Children can definitely look forward to studies provided we teach them the way they learn the best: in the FUN WAY. The trick is to engage the child in the best possible way and here are a few things that made my life much simpler!
Turn It into a Game
You must think I am crazy, I mean how feasible is it to convert everything into a game? Well Technology can make anything possible!
All I did was go to Google Playstore on my phone and download apps and rhymes that I thought supported my child’s classroom learning. Your child will study and grasp a number of concepts without even knowing it! This is mainly because he won’t realize he is studying at all! A problem with this technique was that at times the content got haphazard and it got difficult for me to keep a track. That’s when I found something that was of incredible help. CG slate: a tablet based holistic learning ecosystem for children to learn from the latest digital content available out there.
Use Study Cards
Study cards are handy in many different situations. For example you could use them while travelling or on picnics etc. You can make interesting study cards yourself or search for study cards online and get them printed and let him enjoy the pictures and Graffiti. Once he is done, you can ask him to create a fictional story around those cards. You will be surprised how creative your child can get with these cards. You could also make cards for simple maths, facts (science and social) and English (vocabulary).
Real life application
Children also grasp better when they know that the lesson or topic can be applied in real life.
A simple example is teaching your children about measurements while you bake a cake for them or teach him about numbers by counting real objects with him. The key here is to keep it interactive because kids learn better that way. They feel a connection to the lesson when they see it take shape. Such concepts also stay with them longer and they are less likely to forget them.
Allow Your Child to Take Breaks
It is unfair to expect a child to sit and learn when we ourselves need timely breaks. He won’t be able to concentrate and he’ll end up frustrated. Experts say that a 5-minute break after every 20 mins does more good than harm.
What seems even better in my experience is planning a playing activity planned for those 5 minutes. I let my kid fiddle with my phone or plan an activity that will engage his energy in a physical game. This really helps him focus better for the next sitting.
Use the Rewarding System
This one is fool proof! I am sure you remember being bribed by your parents into studying.
Do the same with your kid, except make the rewards small and engaging. If he studies well today, he can have his favorite dessert after dinner! OR on completing a chapter, you could let her play with her Barbie doll. These simple rewards can really encourage your kid to study well because the end result attracts them to do so. CG Slate believes in the concept of rewarding too and I think that’s the best way mothers and even teachers can engage their students for long time success.
Getting your child to study does not have to be a war in the house anymore. It is always the simple, obvious things that do the trick. Try these strategies and you’ll see that your kid is not just studying everyday but is also having fun in the process.
