The mounting pressure of increasing curriculum added with homework and extra-curricular classes is making childhood very stressful for kids and parents. Gone are the days when kids played in the building compound for hours, breaking glasses, eating munchies at some friend's place, fighting over who won and who cheated. Parents usually complain there is so much to study and homework to be done too; where is the time to play? How do we make learning a fun activity for the child? How can they enjoy their childhood and stays atop competition as well?
Set weekly targets: Parents should set weekly targets as per topics and subjects covered in school and decide a day when they should be prepared with the weekly portion. Don't panic if, on a particular day, much hasn't been done. Encourage the child to cover up until the target day. Of course, make realistic targets, considering daily homework, recreation time, and other activities. You can get kids to set targets themselves. It would be a fantastic lesson in planning and execution.
Make a study group: Make a group of 3-4 children- child's classmates, the ones they are super comfortable with. All should have the same study target. On the scheduled day-say Friday afternoon, make it a point to meet at someone's house/coffee shop, prepare a questionnaire/ quiz for all related to the weekly target. After the examination, they can be given a small treat and then take to a movie/park/beach as a reward for completing their weekly target. Having your best friends in the same target zone encourages the child to study regularly, and they might even fare better in tests; it will effectively reduce stress during exams.
Playtime: A couple of hours of free play/sport should be scheduled every day, irrespective of homework, extra classes, and study. After all, academics aren't everything in the world. Having a calm and balanced child will ensure his good health and happiness for the future.
Beware: Big study group may not be a good idea. It will be like school and classes, taking the fun element away. Do not compare the kids ever. Remember, you want to make study fun and not make your child or anyone else look small. Refrain from marking or ranking; otherwise, it will be another stress to deal with every week.
Remember you are doing this to make study fun and take off the pressure and stress of the present education system.
Create a reward system with your child so that they have something to look forward to when the study period is over - the key to staying motivated while studying. Rewards can be as simple as watching TV when homework is done or collecting ‘points’ after each lesson you can use for something unique.
Instead of focusing too much on grades, celebrate the big stones associated with learning - both big and small.
This could be when your child successfully solves a tricky math problem or when they finish writing the first draft of an article. When you shift your focus from reading to learning, your child will find more joy in accomplishing the task, helping them to develop motivation.
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