School has ended, now what?

When a student first comes home from school, most parents wish that their child would head straight up to his or her room and start studying. While this may sound like a terrific idea, students often come home tired and stressed out from a long day at school. Having them start their homework right away can actually reduce their productivity, as fatigue can keep them from focusing properly. This can make them increasingly frustrated with the work and more likely to give up on it before it has been completed. 

As a result, when a student first comes home from school, he or she should, prior to starting any work, take at least a ½ to 1 hour break. During this time, the student could read a book, watch T.V., play video games, play sports, or anything else that will allow them to ‘take a break from it all’ for just a short period of time.

The key to this downtime is that it should be relaxing. Afterwards, the student will feel less stressed and ready (or at least slightly more so!) to do his or her work.

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