Tips for learning

1. Set up a homework-friendly area for your child to work at home

Ensure you have a well set up and organised space for your child to work in with paper, pencils, glue, scissors and other supplies stocked and within reach.

2. Help your child with their homework each day

Teachers assign homework because it helps your child. It can also help you as a parent to get more involved in your child's education. It helps you to understand more about what your child is learning at school, and it also sparks your child's enthusiasm toward learning. Arrange a regular time every day to sit with your child and be engaged in what they are learning. This will also make their learning more meaningful. Some children work best in the afternoon, following a snack and play period; others may prefer to wait until after dinner.

3. Know the teachers and what they are looking for

Attend school events, such as parent-teacher conferences, to meet your child's teachers. Ask about their homework policies and how you should be involved.

4. Help them to get organised, make a plan, and to keep a diary

On heavy homework nights or when there is an especially hefty assignment to tackle, encourage your child to break up the work into manageable chunks. Create a work schedule for the night if necessary and include a 15 minute break every hour, if possible.

5. Keep distractions to a minimum

This means no TV, loud music, or phone calls (occasionally, though, a phone call to a classmate about an assignment can be helpful). If your child is easily distracted, try working in half hour blocks with no distractions, then at the end of that period allow for a 5 to 10 minute break.

The general rule with music is that if you are doing easy work it is ok, but for anything that requires concentration, particularly if there is memorisation involved, you should either switch off the music or have baroque classical music playing softly.