How to Help Your Children Study Smarter, Not Longer: A Parent’s Guide

Many parents measure their children’s studying by the number of hours spent at their desk doing homework or revising lessons. The problem is that academic results often don’t reflect this effort. Experts in education and child psychiatry emphasize that the time spent studying does not necessarily mean effective learning. Academic success depends more on how children study rather than the sheer number of hours.

Here, the role of the parent—especially the mother—is to guide, remind, and encourage children to study smartly rather than just intensively. Dr. Mahdi Al-Ghaiti, a professor of child psychiatry, provides a practical guide based on three key areas: smart time management, active learning, and creating a supportive environment.

1. Smart Time Management

Time is one of the most valuable resources for students, but it’s often wasted due to random studying or unclear goals. Here’s how to help your children:

• Start with goals, not hours:
  Encourage children to measure success by what they accomplish and understand, not by the number of hours. Instead of saying, “I studied for four hours,” it’s better to say, “Today I will learn a new math rule and solve ten related exercises.” This makes studying focused and effective, giving a real sense of achievement.

• Use focused sessions with short breaks:
  Suggest breaking study time into 25-minute focused sessions followed by 5-minute breaks. This maintains concentration, prevents fatigue, and creates a comfortable rhythm for learning.

• Use spaced repetition:
  Remind children to review information over time, not cram everything the night before an exam. Reviewing today, then after three days, and then after a week helps transfer knowledge into long-term memory.

2. Active and Effective Learning

Learning isn’t just passive absorption; students need to engage actively to retain knowledge. Here’s how:

• Active recall:
  Encourage children to test themselves—close the book and ask questions about the lesson. This stimulates the brain and strengthens memory more than re-reading.

• Mind maps:
  Advise using mind maps to visually summarize key ideas and show how they connect. This is especially helpful for visual learners.

• Relate lessons to real life:
  Encourage children to link lessons to everyday situations, like using math to calculate shopping costs or manage pocket money. This makes learning meaningful and easier to remember.

3. Environment and Family Support

Even the best study techniques won’t work in a poor environment. Parents can help by:

• Organizing a dedicated study space:
  Ensure a quiet, tidy, well-lit area. Noise and clutter reduce focus significantly.

• Prioritize sleep and rest:
  Remind children that sleep isn’t optional. Studies show teens who sleep less than 8 hours struggle with focus and academic performance. Good sleep helps consolidate memory.

• Encourage smart group study:
  Group sessions can help children explain concepts to peers, reinforcing their own understanding and revealing gaps in knowledge.

• Use audio-visual tools:
  Educational videos or podcasts can support various learning styles, particularly for auditory or visual learners.

Why This Method Works

• Studying becomes active, engaging, and varied, rather than boring and passive.

• Children use their brain in multiple ways—writing, drawing, explaining, discussing, and watching—which improves retention and long-term memory.

• Parents’ role is not just monitoring homework but guiding children toward smarter, more effective study methods.

Remember: The goal isn’t long hours of study—it’s learning how to make the most of the time spent learning.