All of us who are parents of school-age children have gone through, or are going through, this complicated situation in which our children, little treasures, refuse to “sit down and study”, as our grandmothers used to say. They resist like soldiers in trenches to study the multiplication tables by heart; Let’s not mention the capitals and countries of the world, much less learn the dates and places of the battles for independence that all countries have fought so gloriously in their history.
Reasons why the child does not want to study
Emotional problems:
In this case, it can be from being sad or afraid because they are experiencing a bullying situation or having conflicts that they cannot solve with a certain teacher or their friends makes it a probable cause that the last thing they think about is focus on your studies.
Learning difficulties:
Some students may have more trouble than their peers in learning or retaining certain information quickly and keeping up with the pace of the class. They can occur, for example, because you do not have adequate attention for prolonged periods of time and in that case, the more information you have to retain, the more it will be difficult for you to concentrate or you may have problems understanding the information… There are many difficulties and the only way in which you will be able to solve your doubts, it will be that you go to a specialist where he can evaluate it.
Lack of autonomy and organization:
The study is the area that will be most affected if you are an overprotective parent and your child is used to doing things with you and that you tell him how and when he should start studying. Since studying is an activity that requires great planning, effort and independence. Therefore, if he is used to you doing these functions, when he grows up he will not want to study if it is not with you.
Low self-esteem:
We do not like all the subjects so much nor do we obtain the same results with the same effort. In those moments, the frustration and our limitations appear and with it the insecurities of your child. Who wants to do subjects that remind them that they are not good?
But there is no need to despair. Almost everything on this earth has a solution, and here are some tips for children to study, without hating you for it.
Television: use, but not abuse
First, limit the use of that damn silly little box called a television. What? Simple, do not share dinner watching television and select the programs and times that your child can watch his favorite programs. Also don’t let him do his homework by watching his favorite TV show; his attention can only focus on one thing.
Encourage reading
Encourage a love of reading, choosing books that they can share their reading with the family. I will always insist that reading books is a wonderful bridge to knowledge, to imagination and to good expression and spelling.
Routines, always routines
Establish a time, always the same from Monday to Friday, for your child to dedicate himself to his homework, just as there is the routine of food and personal hygiene. This will depend on the needs of each child.
The place of study is important
Whenever your child needs a place to study, find a quiet and comfortable place that has all the necessary materials, where he will not be interrupted by the games of his other siblings if he has them.
talk to your child
It is always convenient for children to explain why we make certain decisions with respect to them. This takes away the feeling of punishment and makes them value the advantages that will be obtained if they share this plan with you.
Many say that children learn more from their parents’ actions than from their words, a thought that I share. That’s why, while our little one is concentrating on his homework, try to do something quiet too, like reading, writing, checking his class notebooks, etc.
And last but not least, give our little one a reward for the effort made, which does not always have to be the most expensive toy; he shares with him some special moment or some activity in which he feels particularly interested. Seek psychological help. If everything else does not work or you suspect that your child may have a deeper problem, the best option is to go to a psychologist who can advise both him and you. In problems of this style, many times you have to change the family dynamics and start from the beginning.
