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Show Know Your Schools . . Parents Can Help Children Learn Study Habit . . If you have ever wanted to kick yourself for never ' learning how to study and who hasn't you probably hope your child will latch onto this valuable tool early in life. . You may be resigned to worrying worry-ing along with that old mirid of yoursa mind that makes you consult notes in a conference because be-cause it refuses to retain specific facts, makes you carry closely written file cards when you make a speech, makes you read at a snail's pace in order to master information. in-formation. But your child need not be so handicapped. Not, at least, if you take the trouble now to see that he learns to study. And don't think his teachers can carry the ball alone. Even though he is getting get-ting instruction on how to study at school, it doesn't follow that he will continue to practice good study habits at home. The following formula is suggested sug-gested for getting a youngster not only to open his school books but to do his homework with a mind ready "to learn, to explore, to experiment:" 1. Set him free. A child's brain needs training in independence. He cannot look to you for the naswer forever, and you should start a campaign to let him think for himself early. 2. Give him a motive. Probably many a child has the distinct impression im-pression that he is studying so his parents can be proud of his report cards, or so he can make like a quiz kid when the neighbors neigh-bors drop in. The really good reason, rea-son, which makes sense and which will appeal to a youngster, is that studying is a tool for finding out about things that interest him. 3. It takes some scheduling. When a youngster reaches junior high school, he is as busy as Santa San-ta Claus on Christmas. And the pace gets even faster in high school. . . You don't want a youngster to be a bookworm any more than you want him to be a butterfly. So sit down and help him plan his activities to suit his time. 4. Although a youngster may want to study, there is still the problem of actually getting start ed. That is why the physical setting set-ting is important. The living room is definitely not that setting. It is not fair for the rest of the family to remain quiet, and the center of the usual noisy group is not an ideal place to tackle the books. So give the youngster a place of his own where he can study regularly whether it is in his bedroom, at the dining room table, or in a corner of the attic. It is much better if he can have his own desk and his own chair (a straight-backed one). A good lamp is essential of course. If, even with these provisions, a child complains that he "just can't concentrate," a few further (Continued on Back Page) KNOW YOUR SCHOOLS . . . (Continued on Back Page) suggestions are offered: Urge the youngster to work by the job rather than by the hour. See that he studies the least interesting in-teresting subject first and saves the most interesting to the last. His reading assignments may be retined longer if he takes notes or makes outlines of what he has read. If you are going to be able to help your child study, it will take an understanding of him and his problems, a large amount of tact, and monumental patience. . . . Gqod luck! |