When children are inspired from a young age to love learning, their education becomes a successful foundation for everything they do. Montessori schools like ours give students strong skills that help them excel academically, and these skills can be built from a young age so children gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed in school and life.
These 7 tips taken from Montessori principles will help you instill good study habits in your child.
How Montessori Techniques Can Help Students Develop Good Study Habits
1. Create a reliable daily routine for studying.
Children benefit from a sense of safe, consistent routine, so encourage your student to study and work on academics at the same time every day. Knowing it’s “time” to study helps them develop self-control and focus.
This doesn’t mean you have to be overly regimented, though. Instead of dictating when your son or daughter will study, collaborate with them to choose a time that is best for them each day. Have them experiment with different times so they can become aware of their study habits.
2. Assign a specific place for studies.
Just as setting a regular time helps the body and mind focus, assigning a specific area of your home for studies can help your child develop a strong sense of routine for their academics. The space should be arranged to be inviting and have everything your child needs.
Make sure this study nook has cozy seating with a desk or table at a comfortable ergonomic height, and provide supplies such as colored pencils, paper, and study materials. Invite your child to help decorate it with items that inspire them, such as photos, vision boards, and more.
3. Eliminate possible distractions.
Children can often become distracted from their studies by other things that catch their attention. Academics may not always be at the top of their list. To help them develop the ability to focus and stay on track (a Montessori skill we love to instill), it can be useful to remove items from their study space that would otherwise lead them down a rabbit hole.
The study space should be free of distractions—no nearby TVs or video games, for example. And set boundaries that are clear and reasonable, such as no phone calls allowed during study time.
4. Provide guidance as needed, but don’t micromanage.
In a Montessori classroom, children are invited to study at their own pace, exploring what interests them in ways that encourage discovery. Rather than hovering over students, a Montessori instructor gives the child space to learn on their own, yet is also nearby to offer help as needed.
As a parent, you can take the same approach. Rather than immediately diving in to solve a problem, lead your child by asking great questions. You might inquire if they have any ideas they haven’t tried yet. If they seem stuck, ask if they want you to model what they’re studying, or review the instructions with them to aid their understanding.
5. Invite the use of different forms of study tools.
Children learn well when they can use different modes of discovery. In Montessori schools, a mix of learning methods are used, including individual study, partner and small groups, large groups, reading, experimenting with physical materials, going outside to explore, and more.
At home, keep in mind that your son or daughter will benefit from using a variety of tools. In addition to reviewing notes and reading, they may sometimes watch videos, listen to audio, conduct physical experiments (such as with scientific studies), and practice activities. Get creative! If you need ideas, ask our teachers. We love to suggest ways our students can use Montessori practices at home.
6. Show an interest in their studies.
One of the best ways to understand something is to explain it to someone else, and to see that others are excited about learning. In Montessori classrooms, older students mentor younger ones to provide this opportunity. You can provide it at home by inviting your children to show you what they’re working on.
This can be done in many ways. You can display your appreciation for education by having simple discussions about what your son or daughter learned that day and what they’re studying. Or, if they’ve been studying something they can demonstrate, such as cooking skills or painting, ask if they’d like to do a show-and-tell for you.
7. Encourage mastery, not just grades.
It’s easy to define academic success as getting good grades. But learning is so much broader and more valuable than that! One of our key goals in Montessori is to encourage our students to become masters of what they are studying. Mastery involves not just memorization and test scores, but also creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving.
At home, encourage your children to spend time learning about things they love—even if those skills don’t immediately map to their studies. Let them explore what intrigues them, and offer ways they can gain more understanding. If your child loves playing soccer, for example, you might invite them to read books about soccer and teach you about their favorite player’s home country. This kind of in-depth exploration encourages your child’s interests and also supports broader learning skills.
Create the Foundation for a Lifetime Love of Learning
Your child is never too young to start their journey on the path to a life filled with discovery and success—in and out of the classroom. As you help them develop a foundation of study skills now, they’ll have the building blocks they need as they grow.
At Primary Montessori our programs are designed to instill your son or daughter with the joy of learning, along with skills like focus and self-direction, as well as social graces, so they can be successful everywhere they go. Explore our Montessori program options to find the perfect fit for your child and family.