- Problem: Your child doesn’t follow your family’s study routine.
Before you begin do the following:
Observe your child. Be as specific as possible when naming the problem.
Take notes. Write down the problem. List everything that you try and the results of your effort.
- Desired Outcome: Your child will understand and accept the family study routine.
- Possible Actions:
Read the possible actions below. Decide which ones would be most effective to use with your child. Focus on the outcome behavior.
*Make sure the degree of difficulty of the assignment is in line with your child’s ability to complete the assignment. If you have any questions about the degree of difficulty, contact your child’s teacher and ask questions. The degree of difficulty could be that the assignment is too difficult or too easy.
*Is your child on task the entire time but it’s taking longer than normal to complete the assignments. Contact your child’s teacher. Your child’s teacher can modify an assignment to meet your child’s individual needs.
Things to Do:
*Present the study routine in the most attractive and favorable manner possible.
*Make sure you have reduced any distracting stimuli etc. no tv, away from others who are talking etc. Best areas are the quietest and away from others. This is not a punishment area but a ‘grown-up’ study area.
*Talk to your child about the assignment before he/she begins. Make sure your child understands directions. Together you can make a ‘To Do’ list for your child to follow independently.
This is an example of a ” My Study To Do List”. Together you can create a To Do list to meet the needs of your child.
1. Read the story
2. Answer the questions
3. Solve the Math Problems.
4. What questions do I have for my teacher about my reading or math etc.?
*Be consistent…Maintain your daily routine. Maintaining consistency will help your child learn to follow the study routine.
*Take steps to deal with your child’s refusal to complete assignments before home study time begins.
Below are a few steps to help you accomplish this goal:
*Review your family schedule. Following the family daily schedule can be challenging for your child. Your child can get sidetracked, or just not feel like doing homework or studying. This can be a more challenging problem for children with problems with paying attention, organization, or keeping track of time.
How can you help your child in these areas?
* Work with your child’s teacher, especially if your child has more than an average difficulty in any of the above areas. You can reinforce the same strategies at home that are being used with your child at school.
*Sit down with your child and discuss his/her daily routine. Build a schedule together. Your child can be part of the decision-making process. Post your schedule so that your family can refer to it. Some people post their schedule on the refrigerator.
Talk to your child.
*Take time to explain your child’s daily routine. Show your child how to check the posted schedule. Be specific when giving directions. Instead of saying, “Today’s garbage day,” try “Today, please take the garbage out of the garbage can and put a new garbage liner in the can.” Being specific can remind your child of exactly what is expected.
*Be realistic about what you are trying to accomplish. Don’t get discouraged!
* Talk with your child and your family about the desired outcome. Make your desired outcome specific for your child. Write down the goal / desired outcome. Post the outcome where it can be easily seen.
Remember: If you don’t think ahead, your family won’t move forward.
4. Follow-up along the way:
Periodically review and reflect on your child’s progress. What is working? What is not working? Adjust your actions accordingly to meet the needs of your child. It’s important to recognize the attainment of a successful goal completed, however you will notice small achievements along the way. Recognize these smaller successes. It will encourage your child to keep trying and let your child know that he/she is on the right path. It will also motivate your child and make him/her more receptive when new goals are introduced.
5.Follow Up: What to do after you try your selected actions:
If your actions were successful, keep using them. However, continue to monitor your child. You can use these actions as preventative measures if your child has a set back.
If your child is unsuccessful, seek help from school your family doctor etc. Take your notes with you. Let those helping you know what you have tried and the results of your efforts. This record can go a long way to getting your child the help that he/she deserves.
For additional information about problems and solutions for following rules and expectations, go here.