There is no doubt a few small changes to a routine or environment can make a huge difference to anyone’s ability to learn and retain information. Here are a few tips to help both yourself, if you work in a home environment, and your kids make the learning experience more valuable and better.

1. Create a comfortable working environment. Have a particular room or part of a room in which to work. Make sure the area has a good work surface, is well lit and has plenty of room to place books and store required equipment
2. Have a study planner in clear view. This can either just be a schedule to follow or may be more interactive as a white board to mark progress or notice board to add notes and reminders
3. Sometimes adding music can be very beneficial to learning but make sure it is not a distraction! Some classical music is brain friendly including Bach, Vivaldi, Handel and Pachelbel
4. Use a calendar, alongside your study planner, to mark days for upcoming tests and organise study schedules. Here you can expand on the study planner notes. Mark specific topics that need to be studied for a future test, etc
5. Work at your best time of day. It is often good to allow children a short time (1/2 hour to 1 hour) after school to “wind down” before starting homework. However, some people actually work better in the morning and can get up early and study. Morning workers need a good routine though and must stick to it, no extra lie in!
6. Make it clear when you are studying to the rest of the family to avoid interruptions
7. Track your progress and make sure you are on track. There’s nothing worse than getting to 2 days before an exam and realising you are only half way through your curriculum revision! Work out at the beginning how long each topic should take to study and plan accordingly. Tick off topics as you reach certain levels and track this against your time left
8. Make it easy on yourself. Always over allow for time when studying – if a topic needs at least 2-3 hours to complete allow 3-4 hours. It is far better and more conducive to have extra time!
9. Be honest with yourself. If you have a test or project deadline approaching don’t kid yourself you can go out late the night before and still get it completed! Especially around exam time give up those social nights (or at least some of them) – don’t worry they’ll still be happening when the exams are over!

Follow these tips and we’ll see you at the top!

Also check out our blog post: Effective Study Tips for Exam Success

When exam season arrives, it's time to focus and dive into studying - but it’s easy to get stuck in procrastination. Where should you start? How can you retain all that information? Here are some key study tips to help you succeed.

1. Identify What to Study
   Great studiers know exactly what they need to focus on. Take time to familiarize yourself with the curriculum and identify likely exam topics. Study past exams, focus on major themes, and pay attention to your teacher’s guidance—they often hint at what's important. Make a detailed study map for each subject to stay on track.
2. Get Organized
   Once you know what to study, create a structured approach. Set up a study schedule that allocates enough time for each subject, and gather all necessary materials before you start. Keep your desk tidy and establish a clear workspace to help you concentrate.
3. Plan Ahead
   Effective studiers think both short-term and long-term. Break down your goals over the next few months, weeks, and even days. Know your assignment deadlines and exam dates, and write everything down in a planner or digital calendar. This organization will clear mental space, allowing you to focus on actual studying. You might also start thinking about post-school plans, whether that’s further education or career options.
4. Stick to a Consistent Routine
   Once you find a study system that works, keep using it. Consistency builds strong study habits, and students who regularly perform well often have a reliable routine they stick to. Whether it’s studying at the same time each day or using a specific note-taking method, a tried-and-true system will support your success.
5. Aim for Understanding, Not Just Memorization
   Don’t just memorize—seek to understand the material. If a concept doesn’t make sense, pause to review until it does. Once you grasp an idea, it becomes easier to remember and apply. Understanding the “why” and “how” behind the material makes it more intuitive and less likely to fade from memory.

Following these study tips can lead to stronger exam performance and reduced stress.

Also check out our blog post: Study Tips for Better Learning

Maintaining a consistent sleep routine is important for parents, but daylight saving time can make this tricky, especially when bedtime arrives and the sun is still shining.

For those who’ve seen Disney's Frozen, Anna’s famous line, “The sky’s awake, so I’m awake, so we have to play!” is a familiar sentiment. Although Anna was referring to the Northern Lights, many children in New Zealand feel the same way when daylight saving time begins.

Experts agree that adapting to daylight saving time is a gradual process. Not only do kids lose an hour of sleep when the clocks move forward, but the extended daylight can also disrupt their melatonin production. Melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep, is triggered by darkness. If their bedroom isn’t dark enough, melatonin levels might drop, making it harder for children to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Here are some helpful tips to ease your kids into the adjustment:

• Use blackout blinds: Create a dark environment in their room to block out the evening light. You can even make DIY blackout blinds if needed.
• Stick to your routine: Maintain the usual bedtime rituals, like bath time, reading a story, and turning off the lights.
• Limit late playtime: It may be tempting to let them play outside after dinner, but try to hold off until their bodies are fully adjusted to the new schedule.
• Gradually shift bedtime: Start moving their bedtime earlier by 15 minutes each night in the week or two before daylight saving. This small, gradual change helps their bodies adjust more easily.
• Avoid overtiring them: Tired children may actually take longer to fall asleep, so resist the urge to “wear them out” with extra activity in hopes of getting them to sleep faster.

It may take a few nights for kids to fully adjust, but most children, like adults, will typically adapt within about a week. Patience and consistency are key!