Michael Black, the founder and CEO of Success Tutoring, discussed in a recent interview on Today Show Australia the growing concern that parents face – that is, the distraction factor of learning for their children when working at home. Since the most hours of their day are spent in school followed by home, Michael talks about how setting up an ordered environment and a learning-friendly environment at home may make all the difference to a child’s success.
Distracted Learning is the New Norm
As noted by Michael Black, distractions are one of the biggest challenges students are battling currently. The appeal of apps and services like Netflix, YouTube, or social media added to the weight of extracurricular activities, etc., distract the child more readily from the schoolwork. As that distraction might be healthy sometimes, the fact remains that assisting a child to learn how to remove themselves from distractions is going to have to occur in order for the child to actually be successful academically.
“The home environment is the bedrock of a child’s educational experience,” Michael was noted to say during the interview. “Since they spend 80% of their time either at school or in the home, it is essential that the home environment allows support for learning.”
Sticking to a Systematic Schedule
One of the most hands-on tips Michael shared to parents was the creation of a routine about study time. He proposes that children under 7 years should at least begin with half an hour of study time before dinner, as they would be more attentive. Older children who have a variety of activities in the daytime may benefit from studying after dinner. This will help instil discipline and ensure constant devoted time to students’ academic development.
“Routine is really important for younger children, especially before dinner in order that they don’t get distracted when they get too tired later in the evening,” said Michael. For the older students, a balance of study time after dinner lets them make full use of themselves without being fatigued earlier as in the case of the younger children.
Promoting Extracurricular Interests
Michael states another important factor in the learning environment is the prompt and liberty of making children participate in extracurricular activities. He continues by advising parents to be free with children, to give a child freedom to choose any interest in sports, music, or any other activity. Extracurricular activity is one of the ways students develop hobbies that help them keep going in their academics.
Extracurriculars allow kids to develop their passions and find out what their call is in life. It’s not just what they do in school but what they’re excited about and what gives them purpose,” Michael said.
Creating a Personalised Learning Space
Michael added, “Every child learns differently.” Some need a quiet, organised space to study. Others would like a more relaxed environment even with background music. Michael said there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Michael suggested working with a child to find a study space best suited to their own style of learning.
“Some students like a neat, quiet space, and others thrive in what might seem clutter. What really matters is understanding what works best for your child and making sure their study space supports that, ” he said.
Vision Boards to Get Students Motivated
He talks here about how he, using his own past experience, applied a vision board during school days to keep himself motivated. He presents the importance of this tool in focusing on longer-term goals when not-so-enthusiastic periods involve selected subjects. He encourages parents to share the process with their children to set their goals and utilise similar tools to keep them inspired throughout the journey of education.
“A vision board can be a constant reminder of what you’re working towards,” Michael said. “For me, it was business and entrepreneurship, but for every child, it will be something unique.”
Getting Self-Esteem With Positive Reinforcement
Another important piece of advice Michael has is towards the development of boosting the confidence of the children. He believes that children feel great in an environment where they are praised even for small achievements. This leads them to constantly push themselves in academics.
“Building a child’s confidence is key,” Michael said. “When parents offer positive reinforcement, children feel more motivated and are likely to excel, not just in academics but in life.”
The Role of Success Tutoring in Home Learning
Success Tutoring, as headed by Michael, plays an enormous role in favour of families seeking to enhance the quality of learning experienced by their children. Customised tutoring provided by Success Tutoring ensures that every student receives the attention needed for him or her to learn and perform academically well.
Success Tutoring provides tutoring sessions which can complement a home learning setup to ensure that the child is nurtured at home as well as during the tutoring session. This has enabled Success Tutoring to gain considerable grounds across Australia where it continues to help children master their studies and fall in love with learning.
To learn more about the services offered by Success Tutoring and just how they will be able to assist your child in learning to its fullest, log into Success Tutoring.
Watch the Full Interview Here:
For more insights from Michael Black on creating productive learning environments at home, you can watch the full interview on Today Show Australia.
