12 secrets of successful students, based on science

Think your kid needs a boost when it comes to their studying? Then make sure to share with them these 20 secrets of successful students!

1. No laptops or smartphones, write notes down by hand

While laptops and smartphones might be more convenient, and are most commonly used by a lot of students nowadays, nothing still beats writing down notes by hand. Writing by hand activates more regions of the brain compared to simply typing, and can potentially help with memory recall. So make it a point to ask your child to write down their notes instead of typing it down.

2. No need for highlighters, use active recall

According to a study, highlighting, underlining, and rereading are not that efficient when it comes to learning. A better method would be to use 'active recall' or a technique where your child tries to recall information from their memory, and then testing themselves to make sure the answer is correct. This helps stimulate the memory centers of their brain, and helps them learn better than simply reading and memorizing.

3. Study groups are good for motivation

It's best to study with a group instead of letting your child study on their own. Not only does this make studying more efficient, it also helps them improve their socializing and teamwork skills. Of course, your kids should study with other kids who can motivate them, instead of kids who might influence them to not study.

4. Don't multi-task

When your child is studying, make sure that it's the only task that they're focused on. Turn off their phones, no music, and no TV while they're studying. Once they're done studying, then they can relax, watch TV, listen to music, etc. Multi-tasking makes people less productive, and focusing on one task at a time makes things more efficient, and prone to less mistakes.

5. Chew gum

Studies have shown that chewing gum helps improve concentration and memory. So if your child has trouble focusing on their studies, why not ask them to chew some gum?

6. You are what you eat

Giving your child healthy food will help their brains develop, and can thus help improve their memory. Of course, it's also important for your kids to always be healthy!

7. Take breaks

It's not smart to study for hours on end without stopping. When it comes to studying, the quality of studying trumps the length of time you spend studying. It has been shown that breaking up studying into 25-minute chunks helps in memory recall and improves focus.

8. Ask them to take walks

Instead of letting them take a nap or lie down to rest, why not ask your kid to take a leisurely walk to get some fresh air and keep them relaxed. Walking also helps them think of new ideas, and sharpens focus.

9. Posture is important

If your kid is slouching or lying down on the bed when they're studying, then it's time to fix their posture. Sitting down properly, and having the proper posture when studying helps them learn more efficiently, and improves memory retention.

10. Get a good night's sleep

Sleep is very important to learning, as it helps with memory recall and retention, and lets your brain organize your thoughts better, and also lets them focus on their schoolwork. Getting enough sleep everyday can do a lot more to improve your child's grades compared to studying for a long time and not getting enough sleep.

11. Exercise!

A sound mind goes hand in hand with a sound body! So if your child is having some trouble studying, why not ask them to exercise every morning. Even 20-30 minutes of daily exercise can do wonders to their health, and can in turn make their minds sharper.

12. Ask questions

Teach your children to not be afraid of asking questions, especially if they don't understand something. Asking so that they can learn is better than pretending to know something. It also lets them make connections to things that might not always be obvious, and fosters curiosity in them.

Source: psychologytoday.com

*Republished with permission from theAsianparent Philippines

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