“She can’t sit still for ten minutes.” “He rushes through homework.” “My child only reads if it’s about cricket or cartoons.” We hear these lines from parents every week. The good news: most of this is normal, and a few small changes at home make a big difference.
Every child is different — boys and girls alike. But children between ages 6 and 14 often share some patterns worth knowing.
What we often see in children
- Many need to move. Plenty of children think better when their body is active. Long, still sitting drains their focus fast.
- They like clear goals. “Finish these 10 sums” works better than “study for an hour.”
- They read what interests them. Sports, animals, space, stories, comics, facts — if the topic grabs them, they will read.
- They copy what they see. A child who sees a parent or older sibling reading is far more likely to read too.
- Short bursts beat long sessions. 20 focused minutes gives more than 60 distracted ones.
How your child should sit
- A fixed study spot — same table, same chair, every day. Not the bed, not in front of the TV.
- Feet flat on the floor (use a small stool if the chair is high). Back supported.
- Table at elbow height. Book or notebook about one forearm’s length away from the eyes.
- Good light from the side, not from behind the head. Natural daylight is best.
- Phone and TV out of the room. Not face-down on the table — out.
- It is fine to stand. Some children focus better standing at a high counter, or reading while walking slowly. Let them.
A simple homework routine
- Snack and play first. 30–45 minutes of free play or outdoor time after school. A tired, hungry child cannot focus.
- Same start time daily. Routine removes the daily argument.
- Plan in 2 minutes. Look at the diary together: what’s due, what’s hardest.
- Hardest subject first, while energy is high.
- Work 20–25 minutes, then a 5-minute movement break — stretches, a glass of water, a walk to the balcony. Then back.
- Tick it off. Let your child mark each finished task. Children love visible progress.
- Check, don’t do. Look over the work, point to the mistake, and let them fix it themselves.
Building the reading habit
- Let them choose. Story books, comics, magazines, fact books, graphic novels — all count as reading.
- 15 minutes a day, every day, is better than two hours on Sunday.
- Read aloud together, even with older children. Take turns — you read a page, they read a page.
- Both parents, read too. When children see mum and dad reading a newspaper or book, reading becomes a normal part of family life.
- Talk about it. Ask “What happened next?” or “Which part was funny?” — not “Did you finish?”
- Bedtime reading with a small lamp is one of the easiest habits to build.
What to avoid
- Sitting beside your child and pointing out every error.
- Comparing them with a brother, sister, cousin or classmate.
- Using homework as punishment, or screen time as the only reward.
- Doing their project for them. Teachers can tell, and the child loses the learning.
- Shouting when they fidget. For many children, fidgeting is how they concentrate.
What Athena Global Schools does
At Athena, we work with parents on the same goals in school:
- Active classrooms. Teachers build in movement, group work and hands-on tasks so every learner stays engaged.
- Athena LEAP (Leadership, Expression And Personality) — our year-round programme across all three campuses, bringing together Club Activities, InsightX and Vox@Athena.
- Vox@Athena — TEDx-style talks where students speak before students and parents. Children who prepare a talk read, research and write with real purpose.
- Reading beyond the textbook — library time and encouragement to read on topics each child loves.
- Parent partnership — teachers share concerns early, and parents can reach the school through the parent portal and app.
One thing to try this week
Pick one fixed homework time and one fixed spot. Add a 5-minute movement break every 25 minutes. Watch what changes in seven days.
If you have concerns about your child’s focus, reading or homework, speak to the class teacher. We are in this together.
— Athena Global Schools, Chennai · Chengalpattu · Chidambaram