If it sometimes seems that your child is not working or studying at their best, it may be that they need a study break. The concern that many parents have about taking study breaks is – how am I going to make sure he gets back to work?
Experience and science have shown that our brains need time to rejuvenate after doing the same type of activity over an extended time.
Helping your child know how to take effective, limited study breaks can help him work more effectively and have more free time in the end.
Here are 3 tips to help you and your child determine the most productive way to manage study break time.
- During a time when you and your child are not involved in work activities, share with your child that you recognize that planning breaks in advance can help make work time more productive which will also increase her free time.
- Have a timer available to measure the passage of time and agree who will be responsible for setting and monitoring the device.
- With your child, make a list of activities that can be done during 5-minute and 10-minute breaks. Generally, these should be activities that can be set up and available in advance (so that prep time does not take away break time). Also, these should be activities that can be easily completed during the time so as not to create the need, or temptation, to extend the break time.
Examples of activities during study breaks:
- A large puzzle that can stay out for an extended period of time
- Shooting baskets
- Playing a musical instrument
- Reading a magazine
- Talking on the phone
- A few turns on a board game
- Push-ups, sit-ups, and other exercises
- Drawing or coloring
- Solitaire card game
- Dancing to music
These work for adults too!
Some of my favorite breaks to take are going for a walk, or doing the Breath of Joy.
Take a break, your brain will thank you.
For more tips on homework, studying and productivity, click here to learn about my On-Demand eCourse, Managing Homework, Parent Edition: Tips, Tools, and Strategies for Helping Kids©
