It is probable that some of our children will have to make up a class subject this summer. We were once kids as well and we know perfectly well how hard it is to sit down and study, especially when the heat saps our energy and we feel that drowsy feeling coming on. With the opportunity to go to the pool or beach with friends and family, studying also tends to take a back seat. Today in Spain, many towns are offering make up exams in July so our kids don't have to be slaves to studying for the entire summer. But what do you do if there are no options for a make up exam in a particular class subject, and you have to wait until the beginning of the next school year to catch up? Well, much of the advice that our teachers gave our parents continues to ring true today.
We must, first of all, get our children accustomed to studying: each day we can help them improve in their studies and lessons bit by bit. The important thing is to create a routine that will in turn nurture good habits. For example, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Monday to Friday can be a time that is dedicated exclusively to studying. It is important to be patient and let the little ones find their own rhythm. It is also essential to make sure that the kids do not get frustrated. This means that we shouldn't obligate them spend hours doing their homework because, ultimately, they will end up becoming bored and this feeling will work against both the child and us as the parent.
There are other ways to encourage studying in a more "indirect" manner. For example: encouraging your children to read could be treated as a form of entertainment rather than study. If you are on vacation and they get used to reading for fun, you will find that the rest of the year it will be easier for them to study independently, and their ability to learn will improve as they will pick things up more easily on their own.
Something else that can help is, for example, visiting a museum. Do they have to make up History? Why not visit an archeological museum? Did they fail Science? Well, let's go to a museum of natural history. You will often find that it is easier for them to learn if we can turn the class subject into something real, tangible and relevant that captures their imagination and revives their willingness to study.
Of course these are just a few pieces of advice that we've learned ourselves over time and by experience, but we hope that our tips have been of interest to you.