Unfortunately for us Singaporeans, exams will be an essential part of our lives for a very long time, and there is simply no way of escaping it. Although kids spend hours complaining about exams, wouldn't just studying smart be time spent well? This way it could be useful, and your kids could actually ace their exams as well! If you are in the mood to get your kids to study smart, then check out these 5 tips to get started:
1. Pay attention in class
If a teacher has ever caught your child zoning out or chatting with friends during class, then yes, they are guilty of not following this golden rule. By paying attention in class, one will have less work to do at home. If your child is the sort that easily starts daydreaming during class, then get them to sit at the front of the class. When the teacher is in such close proximity, the student will definitely feel compelled to pay attention to what the teacher is saying. We know it is not easy to pay attention especially when school starts so early, but the benefits will definitely outweigh the costs!
2. Plan early
A wise man once said 'If you fail to plan, you plan to fail' and we cannot agree more with these pearls of wisdom, especially if one wants to study smart. Your child should always note down the dates of all assignments and draw up a ‘study’ timetable using them. This way, they don't have to resort to torturous last minute revision. Furthermore, by planning early, the exam period will probably be like a walk in the park while their peers, who were burning the midnight oil will probably be complaining incessantly about how they regret not starting earlier.
3. Take notes
Note-taking is an important skill to possess when trying to study smart. We often over-estimate our ability to retain information. Even if your child feels confident about remembering important points the teacher made during class, chances are they will probably forget it sometime later. So, better safe than sorry, just jot the notes down!
4. Study hard, but play hard too!
While studying hard is important, one must remember to play hard too. After all, we are all humans and not robots. As a parent, you should set aside some time for your child to enjoy leisure time as well. Maybe 1 hour a day can be set aside for television, so at least they have something to look forward to everyday. Also, plan something exciting for post-exams, so they have something to look forward to after all that intensive revision!
5. Fight off social media
One of the biggest obstacles kids have to deal with today while studying is the very distracting presence of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. The best way to rid your child of such distractions is to deactivate their account for the time being. And, what about phones? We haven’t forgotten about those either. If they are hooked on cell phones, then try setting the wallpaper of the phone to one of those memos, which reads 'You should be studying now'. This way, every time they are tempted to use the phone, the wallpaper will serve as a reminder that studying is of higher priority. There are plenty of wallpapers available on 9gag.com, you would be surprised by how well they can work.
Share your tips with us on how you helped your kids to study smart!
Watch this video for more on how to get kids to study smart: