Supporting Your Child's Learning
There are several ways you can support your child’s learning. We have summarised some of the advice given by Parentzone; the Scottish Government; the BBC Learning website; the Department for Children, Schools and Families; and have added some of our own suggestions.
Asking Helpful Questions
Some examples are:
- "What is your homework about? How are you going to tackle it?"
- "What are you learning at school? What are you enjoying the most? What are you finding the most challenging?"
- "Can I help with your learning in any way?"
Remember – you can ask helpful and supportive questions without understanding the subject.
Homework Habits
- Have a homework routine so your child knows what is expected e.g. homework gets done before tea, before watching TV, before playing on the computer/internet, between 6pm and 8pm etc.
- Have a comfortable homework area free from clutter and distractions.
- Encourage your child to check their own homework diary and support them in thinking about and planning when homework needs to be done. This will help to promote independence and personal responsibility.
- Young people approach homework in different ways, so be aware of your child’s needs and preferences. Listening to music or the radio might be helpful for some young people but not for others. Having the TV on can be too distracting for some.
Giving Support & Encouragement
Regular support and encouragement is important for your child. There are lots of things that you can do to help develop their feelings of self–confidence, independence and resilience. Make sure you:
- Give your child encouraging feedback. Praise them for their hard work, rather than focusing only on the marks they get.
- Recognise their successes and remind them of how far they have come when they are finding schoolwork challenging. Encourage them to think about how they can tackle things they find hard – this will help to develop their problem solving skills.
- Get involved in your child’s school work, but avoid doing it for them. Instead, try to support them in working things out for themselves.
- Ask your child to tell you what and how they are being taught and what they are learning about, or speak to the school yourself if you are in any doubt.
- Support your child’s learning at home by doing things such as watching relevant TV programmes together, etc. Make sure your child has what they need for school, e.g. equipment, books, etc.
- Share information and knowledge with your child BUT be wary of teaching them the methods you were taught at school – they may be different to how your child is being taught.
Striking a Balance
- Ensure your child has time to themselves. Encourage them to take part in creative activities such as music, drama and sport.
- Remember that your child’s achievements include other things they do in their lives, not just the marks they get at school (see ’Wider Achievement’ setion).
Resources
- Check with school for their homework policy and any advice they may have for you to support your child’s learning.
- Check out useful websites such as Learning and Teaching Scotland, BBC Learning, and Channel 4 Learning for help and information about your child’s learning and coursework.
See also
