When it comes to teaching study skills, we often focus on what happens in the classroom. But sometimes the most impactful learning happens at home. For example, the beliefs parents and guardians hold about study techniques can significantly shape their children’s study habits, showing that familial influence goes far beyond encouragement or moral support.
In this blog, we’ll dive into:
- Practical ways to build effective study habits at home.
- What research says about how parents’ beliefs impact their children’s learning approaches
What does the research say?
One fascinating study examined how parents’ opinions about specific study strategies influence their child’s likelihood of using them. The researchers surveyed 200 pairs of parents and their teenage children. Both parents and students were asked to rate their perceived effectiveness of 21 learning strategies. These strategies included techniques such as solving unsolved problems, analysing mistakes, and creating practice questions. The children also reported how often they used these methods in their own study routines.
The findings revealed a clear and lasting impact of parental beliefs on children’s study habits. Strategies that parents rated as effective were significantly more likely to be adopted by their children a year later. Among the strategies, problem-solving approaches such as reattempting unsolved problems and reflecting on mistakes were used the most frequently.
These methods were popular with both parents and children, probably because they align with what’s widely emphasised: digging deeper into the material rather than just surface-level memorisation. We encourage this same approach here at InnerDrive, highlighting techniques like Retrieval Practice and Generative Learning which foster deeper understanding and more meaningful learning.
How does this affect students’ revision and learning?
One thing that’s particularly compelling about the findings is that parents’ beliefs had a strong influence, regardless of the child’s starting point. In other words, even if a child originally had different preferences for studying, their parent’s belief in certain strategies could eventually influence them to adopt those methods.
Interestingly, this influence isn’t just a matter of children copying their parents. The researchers identified a key mechanism behind this, referred to as a “mediation effect.” Parents’ views on the usefulness of specific strategies affected their children’s perceptions of these strategies, which in turn guided the children’s study behaviours. For example, if a parent highlighted the importance of analysing mistakes to learn from them, then their child was more likely to view this approach as valuable and incorporate it into their routine.
This indirect but powerful influence highlights how parents’ beliefs act as a lens through which children view learning strategies. As the researchers noted, “Parents not only influence what their children think about academic subjects but also how they approach the process of learning itself.” By valuing and encouraging effective study strategies, parents and guardians can equip their children with the tools for academic success.
How can we help children study more effectively at home?
As a parent, you have a significant influence on how your child approaches studying, often more than you might realise. Here are two ways to help foster effective study habits outside of the classroom:
1. Learn about effective study techniques
Retrieval Practice techniques like using flashcards and self-quizzing have been shown to help retain information over the long term. Have a look at our guide to understanding Retrieval Practice to explore this more. By learning about these strategies yourself, you can reinforce them at home and encourage your child to try different methods. Even if your child initially prefers different strategies, as you consistently endorse and model the value of more active learning techniques, your child can begin to adopt these methods.
2. Provide support specific to each subject
Each subject often requires a unique approach to studying. For instance, regular practice problems are essential in Maths, while History or English might benefit from retrieval-based techniques like flashcards or summaries. By tailoring study methods for specific subjects, your child can build more effective study routines.
Final Thoughts
Helping children build thoughtful study habits is one of the most valuable ways parents can support their academic success. By fostering effective study routines at home, parents can have a significant impact on how students study and how they feel about these techniques. For more guidance on how parents can boost their child’s educational growth, take a look at our blog on 10 ways to support your child’s learning.
