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The wise management of home resources - coupled with positive, constructive, parental input regarding study habits - can greatly affect children's learning. The following areas merit attention:
Reading
Reading is vital to building stronger vocabulary and acquiring conmprehensive skills as well as a sense of self-worth that comes as a result of a child's having his or her own area of expertise. Parents should consider books as possible birthday or holiday gifts. Choose whatever fits your child's areas of interest - fiction, biographies, sports accounts, or histories.
The Telephone
The telephone is the teenager's lifeline. But it can also be a tremendous distraction during valuable study time. Consider allowing your child to select a fifteen-minute or half-hour telephone "break" in the time slot he or she wants most. This gives your child the feeling of having some say in the matter and some control over his or her life - while also reserving the rest of the evening for getting homework done.
Television
Television is an issue families need to address together. Some parents have a blanket policy of no weeknight television for their children. Others say no television until all homeowrk is done. Still others allow no more than one hour of television - a program of the child's choice.
Study Conditions
Some children concentrate best at a desk, while others feel more comfortable working at a table in the dining room or kitchen. As obvious as it may seem, we as parents need to be reminded of the importance of good lighting, a smooth writing surface, and a comfortable chair offering firm support. And no matter what the room, your child needs to be free from distractions.
General Resouces
The availability of books such as a dictionary, a thesaurus, an almanac, and an atlas can be tremendously helpful, especially as references for English, history, and govenment courses.
Word Processor/Personal Computer
Most school and over 30 percent of the households in the country already have them. A desktop PC enables a child to do several drafts of an English or history paper, thereby paying far closer attention to the vital revision process.
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