For younger students, this doesn’t usually seem to be a problem. But once the teenage years start, it can seem like your teen is always tired and never gets the sleep they should.

If that’s your teen, you’re not alone.

In fact, 73% of teens report that they don’t sleep enough. That means most teens aren’t getting the zzz’s they need.

Sleep affects more than you may know. Without the right amount of sleep, teens could:

• Become more forgetful
• Develop more skin issues, like acne
• Gain weight and/or overeat
• Become more likely to get sick
• Drive poorly
• Become irritated easily

The list goes on. Sleeping is important, you know that. But sometimes it can feel near impossible to get your teen to sleep, especially if they’re waking up often in the middle of the night.

If your teen is having trouble sleeping, here are a few tips to follow.

Put their phone in another room

Let’s take a moment to talk about those smartphones. They’re more detrimental to sleep than you might think.

A study showed that turning the phone on silent isn’t enough. Small disturbances like a screen notification keeps the brain wanting to check your phone.

Even just being aware of a missed call, an unread text or another notification causes the brain to stay alert, hurting the chance of a good night’s sleep. It knows there is something else to do, and it diverts the attention.

We recommend setting all smart devices (phone, tablet, etc) in another room. If your teen is able to forget about it, they’ll hopefully be able to sleep much better.

Separate their workspace from their sleeping space

As independent study and homeschool students, your teen has the ability to study wherever they want. But, if they’re having trouble sleeping, you might want to consider not letting them study on their bed or in their room.

If they do homework in your bed where you sleep, it’s likely going to make them want to take a nap rather than do math homework. The same goes for sleep. If they’re on their bed where they also do your homework, their brain may think it’s time to study.

Exercise early in the day

Exercise certainly has its benefits. It can make you happier and healthier. Exercising releases endorphins in the brain that make you feel good and have energy.

So, if your teen exercises too late in the day, they might still have some pent up energy, making sleep a difficult feat.

If your teen has practice in the afternoons and can’t really avoid exercising late, then try some relaxing exercises, like yoga, to destress before sleeping.

Limit caffeine in the afternoon

Caffeine is generally known to keep you awake. So….don’t let your teen take it at a time when they should sleep. It takes a couple hours before it leaves the body’s system, so make sure they avoid coffee, energy drinks and other caffeinated beverages after 6 p.m.

Limit naps

Your teen is growing, which means sometimes they need a nap, and that’s OK. But frequently napping, especially in the afternoon, can really interfere with sleep. Try to limit it to a 15-minute power nap if it’s something they need during the day.

Stick to a sleep schedule

It will really help your student’s brain if it knows when it sleeps and when it’s time to be awake. Have them stick to a realistic schedule and be as consistent as possible.

Keep lighting bright in the day and low in the night

Lighting actually plays a big role for sleeping. The brain knows when it’s dark, it’s time to sleep. That means if your teen tries to study in dark room, they’ll probably be a little tired and less focused, and then a little too awake when they actually try to sleep.

Keep lighting bright during the day, and bring it down in the evening so the brain can know to wind down.

Follow a few tips to reduce stress

Stress can be a major culprit of lack of sleep. If your student is feeling anxious or stressed, their brain is going to want to stay awake.

We posted a blog a little bit ago about how to reduce stress in your life. Here are the basic tips for reducing stress:

• Be open with it. Talk with your parents, friends and doctors. All are here to help
• Breath. Breathing exercises work wonders!
• Limit negativity and toxicity in your life. Remember the positives instead.
• Exercise and eat your vegetables. It really impacts your mood.
• Get out and socialize, especially when you don’t want to.

See a doctor

And, of course, if nothing seems to be working, a doctor will be able to help your teen the most. But hopefully these tips above can help them get the sleep they need.

If we’re being honest, there’s not really an excuse needed to whip up a delicious treat.

But, it is officially Fall, and if that calls for new recipes, then hey.

Baking is not the debate. The real question is: Should you involve your Elite student in cooking? That’s always a tough call. Of course, the bonding time is great. But, it tends to come with a few eggshells in the food and flour all over the counters.

We found a few “student friendly” ideas to involve your child without compromising the quality of the recipe (hopefully).

Corn Casserole

This recipe is for a simple side dish that’s picky eater friendly. Corn casserole only calls for five ingredients (or six if you like extra flavor) and just 10 minutes of prep time.

Ingredients:

• 1 container (8 oz) of sour cream
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 can (15 oz) creamed corn
• 1 can (15 oz) whole kernel corn (drained)
• 1 box (8.5 oz) cornbread mix
• 1 can (4.5 oz) diced green chiles (optional)
• Cooking spray to prepare dish

Tools:

• Mixing bowl
• Spoon
• Quart-sized casserole dish

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350º degrees.

Step 2: Melt one stick of butter in the microwave for about two minutes.

Step 3: Combine all of the ingredients in the mixing bowl by stirring them up with the spoon.

The green chiles are entirely optional, but they add a little extra kick that us Californians have come to love in our dishes.

Step 4: Spray your quart-sized casserole dish with the cooking spray.

Step 5: Pour the contents of the bowl into prepared dish.

Step 6: Pop the dish into the oven and cook for 40 minutes.

Remove the corn casserole and top it with some shredded cheese, or enjoy as is!

Now that you have the oven on, you may as well make a dessert too. This recipe is even easier than the last; it requires two ingredients.

Two Ingredient Pumpkin Brownies

 Ingredients:

• 1 can (15 oz) of 100% pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 box (18.3 oz) brownie mix
• Cooking spray to prepare dish

Tools:

• Mixing bowl
• Spoon
• 9×13-inch baking dish

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350º degrees.

Step 2: Combine both of the ingredients in the mixing bowl by stirring them together with the spoon.

Step 3: Spray the baking dish with the cooking spray.

Step 4: Pour the contents of the bowl into the baking dish.

Step 5: Pop the baking dish in the oven and cook for 25-30 minutes.

The brownies might appear under-done, so check them by inserting a toothpick or butter knife and you’ll know they are cooked through if it comes out clean.

Pumpkin Flan

OK, this one’s a little contradictory to the others. It’s not quite as simple as two ingredients. But if you have older Elite students who are up for the task, it is relatively easy and delicious!

Ingredients for the Custard Filling 

• 1.5 cups of whole milk
• 1 cup of pumpkin puree
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs

Tools:

• Small sauce pan
• Medium sauce pan
• Oven-safe bowl OR mold of choice

Directions

Step 1: Start by mixing the spices into the pumpkin puree

Step 2: Make the caramel

Heat the water and granulated sugar in a saucepan (stainless steel works best) over a medium heat. Once it starts to bubble and change color, give the pan a shake or a quick stir. Let it cook and turn golden brown, but be careful it doesn’t turn dark brown and burn.

Step 3: Pour the caramel into the baking pan

Once golden brown, quickly pour into a 4.5 cup baking mold (it can be one that is specifically for flan, or any baking dish with that capacity).

Quickly make sure that the caramel coats the bottom and sides of the mold, by swirling around to drag the caramel around the sides of the mold before it hardens.

You might be a homeschool mom, a traditional school mom or an online school mom. No matter what type of mom you are, there’s one thing you have in common: the homework struggle. And it’s real.

It happens every day. There’s the ever-piling list of things to do, usually accompanied by the not-so-willing student who needs help staying motivated.

As a parent, you know too well that every decision in school impacts your student’s future. Better grades mean more opportunities, after high school and even in elementary school.

Getting your child to focus on homework can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. There are a few easy changes you can implement now to start seeing improvements today. Check out the tips below.

Tips to Help Your Child Focus on Homework

Tip 1: Start With a Small Exercise

Studies show that cardio-based exercises boost memory and thinking skills. Cardio based means doing something that accelerates the heart rate.

If you get your child moving before starting schoolwork, it will get the blood flowing. This will help the brain become more active and ready to focus on homework.

Some exercises could be jogging, riding a bike, playing a sport or even just dancing a bit to some fun music. Anything your student likes to do that’s fast-paced can certainly help the motivation and focus.

Tip 2: Help set a routine

In Elite’s homeschooling and virtual academies, there is the added benefit of a more flexible schedule. With that added benefit comes the need for discipline.

To be successful in courses, it’s best to create a daily schedule for your child. Ideally, your child would put this schedule together with your help where needed. Keep the schedule realistic, including breaks where necessary.

Once a schedule is in place, there’s less guessing. Routines can also lead to reduced stress, as some studies have shown.

1. Get a planner, or use a free online application

Some tool for your child easily view the daily schedule is important. This can be a physical planner or an app, but either way, it’ll make sticking to a schedule much simpler.

2. Think about the week; include every plan

Have your student list everything they plan to do that week. Does she like to fit in some time to skateboard? Great! Schedule it in. Besides, it might be best to do that skateboarding right before homework. 😉

3. Be Realistic

If your child is more of a night owl, you don’t have to force them to be an early bird and vice versa. Adjust free time and homework time accordingly. Your student might be one who needs frequent breaks in order to work efficiently. If that’s the case, then set a timer for 30 minutes of work with a 15-minute break immediately following.

Whatever works best with your child’s learning style will be a routine you both can stick to. You’ll be able to figure that out as you try new things and test them out.

Tip 3: Gather the necessary items before starting homework

Small disruptors go a long way (we’ll explain that more later).

If your child stops homework to grab a snack or a notebook, he’s going to get distracted.

Make sure your student has all the necessary materials ready to go before starting schoolwork.

If your student is an independent learner or homeschooler, keep a list of teacher’s and guidance counselor’s phone numbers on hand. Also having note-taking materials, the daily schedule and a glass of water will help your child be better prepared to focus.

Tip 4: Establish a workspace

We’re not saying you have to go to the store right now and drop hundreds on a desk, chair and supplies. The workspace doesn’t have to be traditional. But it should be a designated place in order to better focus on homework.

Maybe that place is an office in your home. Or perhaps your child has a fuzzy bean bag in your room that she loves. Whatever you both decide, make it a habit, and make sure it’s a place that’s comfortable to work. After all, that bean bag might be comfy to relax in, but might not be best once your student has a laptop and notebook to juggle.

It can be a good idea to incorporate some fun items to the workspace to help your child be excited to work there. These can be items like photos, music, lotion, candles or a favorite drink.

Whatever is decided, it’s a great idea to separate the workspace from sleep space.

If your child does homework in your bed where she sleeps, it’s likely going to make her want to take a nap rather than do homework. Make sure she studies somewhere you know he won’t get distracted until she finishes homework.

Tip 5: Remove all distractions

A distraction includes anything that deters your student from focusing on homework. This can range from music to a loud sibling.

Let’s take a moment to talk about those smartphones. They’re more detrimental to homework than you might think.

A study showed that having the phone on silent isn’t enough. Small disturbances like a screen notification could increase errors in your work. It also could prolong the time it takes to complete assignments. Here’s why:

As a researcher from the study stated, “Although these notifications are generally short in duration, they can prompt… mind-wandering, which has been shown to damage task performance,” (PsychCentral).

Even just being aware of a missed call, an unread text or another notification causes the brain to lose focus on homework. It knows there is something else to do, and it diverts attention.

We recommend setting all smart devices (phone, tablet, etc) in another room. If your child is able to forget about it, he will likely finish his homework quicker with fewer mistakes.

Tips to Help Your Child Stop Procrastinating

Tip 1: Create Rewards For Motivation

If you know your student has six assignments to complete in a day, then set aside a small reward for each.

Know your student’s weaknesses and turn them into rewards. If she likes to surf YouTube videos or SnapChat with friends, then allow these activities AFTER she’s completed schoolwork, but not until then.

Tip 2: If your child gets bored easily, incorporate more breaks

If your student has a hard time staying focused (like most students), it can cause stress or negative associations if she thinks he has to do his homework all in one sitting. And if your child experiences high stress before starting homework, he’s probably going to have a difficult time not procrastinating.

If that sounds like your child, then implement short breaks. Let him take a short break and color, or turn on a favorite YouTube music video and have a dance fest.

Getting the blood circulating will help your child’s brain and spirit.  Nothin’ like rockin’ out to a favorite tune!

Now this is the way to do homework, right?!

By breaking up coursework with small, fun tasks, her brain will have more positive associations. This might help your child dread starting homework less.

Tip 3: Reach out to your guidance counselor

It’s often a forgotten fact that your guidance counselor’s job is to help your student with any academic struggles. If your child has trouble starting her coursework, reach out to your counselor for help. They are state-certified and dedicated to you.

Elite is also readily available to develop personalized learning plans for your child.

Helping your child stay on track with homework is never easy, we know. But by following the tips above, it can become less stressful, and your child will hopefully be able to stay more focused. Learn more about Elite’s faculty and staff here.

We’ll leave you with one last quote:

“You have the power to be as successful as you want to be. Never let others dictate who you are destined to become!” – Brent Woodard, Elite CEO

As parents, let’s be honest—

Going back to school shopping is terrible.

It might sound exciting at first, sure. You could spend some quality time with your kiddos and buy them a few new things. But then you get to the store, and there are only two scenarios:

• You’ve started your shopping early. Congratulations! Now you’re struggling through the crowd that’s nothing short of a Black Friday mob.
• You wait to do your shopping, either to avoid crowds or because you’re a procrastinator. Either way, you’re stuck with the bottom of the barrel, meaning you get to hear the whines of your children who don’t want that outdated Lisa Frank trapper keeper. But it’s all that’s left over.

It’s a much nicer thought than reality.

And that’s when online, homeschool and flex parents breathe a sigh of relief.

Whatever random supply request of Elmer’s glue or tissues on your old school list won’t be on ours. Because everything that’s absolutely needed for schooling is covered at Elite.

In our independent study academies, there is not a large school building to show up on the first day. Our students get to meet with their Elite educators over the internet, in person at an agreed upon location or in the comfort of your own home.

The school orders all the supplies needed for your child to be successful and the rest is up to you.

You certainly can have notebooks or glitter glue if you’d like. But that’s the beauty of it: It’s up to what you decide.

While your child can study wherever, a designated workspace is always a good idea. It helps their brain know it’s time to focus, but it doesn’t have to be a boring place. In fact, adding a few personal touches will make the space more enjoyable as your child studies.

According to these online, homeschool and flex students, these are the items you actually need for online school.

• A computer with internet. That one is obvious.
• A comfortable seat. Your child may prefer an office chair or maybe a bean bag. Whatever the choice, make sure they can comfortably sit for hours.
• A desk (or a bed!). Something that has room for to sit down with a notebook and some other items.
• Music to make studying enjoyable. Besides, studies say it could improve focus.
• Lighting in whatever form makes you happy. A regular lamp, lava lamp, Himalayan salt lamp, your choice.
• Something to stay cool or warm, because it’s California, and you’ll never know the current temperature.
• Artwork hanging on the walls. This could be your child’s own creations or a favorite movie poster.
• A friendly feature, like a plant or the cat, to brighten the atmosphere.
• A personal item. For our students, that meant something different. Some liked to have their camera nearby, others liked to have their favorite sports drink.

See how some students described their personal workspaces:

Summer break.

It’s the most anticipated time for students. It’s that classic movie scene showing students staring at the ever-ticking clock, just waiting. Finally, that bell rings and all hell breaks loose as kids stampede through the halls, celebrating the start of their summer.

For parents? The story’s a little different. Sure, at first it sounds great. You’ll get to maybe enjoy the sun, perhaps go on vacation and just maybe even relax a little.

And at the beginning, you might. But it only takes weeks before those glittery hopes of summer dull into dealing with bored children who are somehow still not “too bored to do chores.” And that’s when it hits you: you miss school.

It’s not that you don’t love your children, it’s that both you and your children can only enjoy so many unstructured, unproductive days. Because let’s be honest, trying to entertain your kids for months is exhausting.

Of course, you should spend some time over the summer enjoying each other’s company and vacationing however you’re able. But to keep your sanity in those last pre-fall weeks of summer, we recommend trying out some of these simple, daily activities to keep your child’s brain active and ready for school.

Read!

Studies show that students on average return from summer break one month behind in learning than they were before the break.

Helping your student becoming prepared for the upcoming school year is as simple as setting time aside for reading.

Go to a library and view their summer reading lists. They will give fun, interesting books to read that are at the right reading level for your child.

For those students who aren’t bookworms, this is much easier said than done. Your child does not have to read a book.

Maybe they find the news comics entertaining or like a Children’s Highlights magazine. Whatever gets them reading something other than a Tweet or Snap that’s not filled with ‘texting lingo’ is incredibly productive.

Talk to them about what they read. What did they enjoy about it? What made it funny or sad or feel however they felt? This will help them better comprehend what they’re reading.

Implement math in your daily routines

Math is in everything you do. So why not make it a game?

Going to the store? Have your child see if they can accurately guess the total before the cashier rings you up. If they’re old enough, make sure they include sales tax.

When that gets easy, see if they can get the totals right if the costs were divided two ways, then three ways, then four.

Baking is another great way to implement math. Just for kicks, have them help you double a recipe.

When you play games as a family, try some card games that include math, like Yahtzee, Skip-BO or 31.

Find little ways you can implement math and be sure to include your child whenever possible over the summer.

Get out and explore whenever possible

If you take some time to get outside and engage your mind, it will do much good for everyone in your house, and make your student better prepared in the fall.

Living in Southern California means there are boundless opportunities places to explore.

Head somewhere educational every now and then. A museum, a science center an animal rehabilitation facility can all be great fun while learning something new.

Sign up for a summer learning program

Enrolling your child in a summer learning program will not only help them stay on track for fall, it makes scheduling and implementing routines much more doable.

You know when to plan your vacations based on free time available and routines are set for a couple weeks while your child is enrolled in summer courses.

Whether it’s an academic program or an athletic camp, summer tracks are a great way to keep your child active.

Elite has partnered with multiple schools and vendors throughout Southern California, so you’ll be able to find the right program that’s close by. You can learn more about our Summer Learning Track here.

Quality time makes all the difference

We know your children’s improvements are largely accredited to you.

We also want to thank you for your hard work on behalf of your students. You have changed their lives and changed their future in immeasurable ways.

During the summer, one of the most important things you can do to help your student is to spend quality time with them.

Quality time doesn’t always have to be academic, and certainly doesn’t need to be expensive.

Even if it’s just going to the park and throwing a Frisbee, that creates a child-parent bonding that’s beyond the norm of going to work, coming home, cooking dinner, watching TV and waking up to the same thing.

When you do those kinds of things, your child is more likely to follow through with the things you ask them to do.

Don’t be afraid to use those times as reinforcements. When they do well in math class or have a good behavior report, go and have a day out somewhere like the beach or ride bicycles, something to celebrate the triumphs of the child.

When you do these things, you become more than just someone who is a mom or dad. You become someone your kid appreciates and doesn’t want to let you down.

All we’re saying, really, is to keep doing what you’re doing.

Many know that homeschool and independent study is an option for elementary and junior high.

But we forget that there’s also more than one way to earn a high school diploma.

Sometimes, circumstances necessitate an alternative. Other times, you simply want another choice. Either way, earning a high school diploma from home can be a great option.

When it comes to the benefits, we could probably make a pretty hefty list. For your sake, we’ve narrowed to a few reasons.

The perks of earning a high school diploma from home

1. Sleep in (or wake up early)

Homeschool and independent learners can choose when they want to start their day.

If your student is one of those rare morning people (lucky you), they’re more than welcome to keep waking up at the crack of dawn. But if they (and you) prefer, they can start the day a little later. In other words, earning a high school diploma from home eliminates the stress of rushing to get out the door to school.

With Elite, your child can wake up early and knock out coursework, or sleep in and finish courses later in the day; it’s your choice.

2. When earning a high school diploma from home, your child learns from the comfort of, well…home

Elite’s digital classroom is wherever you have access to the internet. Whether your child’s preferred workspace is a comfy couch, a home desk or coffee shop, they can complete schoolwork in the place of their choice.

We also have an online community monitored by staff for students to join clubs and safely chat with other students online to get to know peers, so socializing won’t be a worry.

3. Teachers are a phone call away. Or email, or text, or instant message…

If your child is one who doesn’t like the burning stares from 30+ classmates that inevitably accompanies raising your hand to ask a question, we’ve got them covered.

Our teachers communicate with each student personally via phone calls, emails, texting, school announcements and instant messaging so that you can enjoy easy access to homework help from instructors.

4. Earning your high school diploma from home means you wear what you want

Dress code? We don’t know that word.

OK, you might not want them sitting in pajamas all day.

But the point is, there’s more freedom studying from home. Your student can  wear a hat, chew gum, have mermaid hair, whatever you as the parent approves of. As long as they’re working hard to earn their diploma, it doesn’t matter to us what they decide to wear at home!

5. School is set to your schedule

If you’re at a traditional high school right now, we can probably guess what your student’s schedule looks like:

Anxiety is real. In fact, 1 in 20 children ages 6–17 years old frequently experience severe levels of anxiety.

For a student facing anxiety, traditional school can become overwhelming. There are facing crowds, dealing with drama, dreading tests, fearing to ask for help, the list goes on.

While it’s by no means a cure, homeschool and independent study could be a good solution for these teens.

Here’s why.

Studying from the comfort of home

Sometimes, anxiety is debilitating enough that it causes teens not to be able to leave the house. With Elite, staying at home doesn’t impact a student’s ability to learn. So, if the student is having a bad day, there is a potential for them to still do work. If they can’t, they have the ability to work with teachers to catch back up within the week.

Personalized support from teachers, counselors and advisors

Asking a teacher for help can be intimidating. There’s the fear of looking dumb or even just having to talk in front of a classroom.

Independent study and homeschool students find the lack of a physical classroom much appealing because they ask questions through email, phone calls and instant messaging. If they need extra support, the teacher can hold a 1-1 online session.

Socializing with classmates looks different

Digital natives are most comfortable connecting with friends online. Social media is integrated with their lives.

So clearly, if there is a safe way for these students to connect, wouldn’t that be their preferred method?

Students at Elite come from different walks of life. That opens opportunities to meet people. They also connect through digital class discussions, staff-monitored chats and student clubs. If they’d like, there are school events to attend in-person as well.

It’s quite a different method of making friends that we believe alleviates a lot of the traditional high school drama.

How to help your child manage anxieties with school

Be open with it

Talk to teachers and school counselors. They can’t help if they don’t know. Maybe math makes your child anxious, let them know! Maybe it’s the synchronous sessions, communicate that. Together, you can create baby steps to start accomplishing goals.

Modify your life

Oftentimes, an anxious student will want to limit themselves. Don’t let them limit, simply modify. If you were to take, say, your non-service dog out, you probably wouldn’t go to a fancy restaurant. That doesn’t mean you have to be confined. There are several places you can go with your furry friend: dog park, walks, even some food places.

Anxiety is similar. There will be things that feel like limitations, but you can help your student find ways to modify their life to manage anxiety. If you’re unsure, you have guidance counselors  who can help.

Don’t isolate yourself or stop engaging

There might be days where your child can’t leave home, and that’s OK. Just try not to let that be a constant thing. Isolating yourself can lead to depression. It’s going to be difficult, but try and find ways where they can engage with others.

Maybe all your student can do is log in to synchronous sessions and type one message for the class to see. That’s OK; baby steps are key.

There are student clubs available at Elite as well. Have them try joining one of those, talk with students online and then work into meeting students in person.

Remember, you both have an opportunity to start fresh. Start with Elite.

Let it simply be a part of you that you manage daily

It’s truly OK to be anxious or to have anxiety. We all feel that from time to time. If your child is someone who frequently experiences high levels of anxiety, just treat it as something you have to manage daily.

We can help you overcome barriers

Elite has several students who came in order to overcome obstacles. Don’t let them stop you from earning your high school diploma. Whether you have to work, have a medical illness, are a teen parent or you went through trials that forced you to drop out, we can help. Don’t just take it from us; see the stories of some of our students below.

One Elite student who overcame barriers

“I have severe social anxiety and it makes it really hard for me to be in crowds, full classrooms, and full hallways. It’s hard for me to focus in class when there is so much going on around me and I get severely nervous. I became interested in homeschool because I felt my home was the best place for me since I know my family and they know what I’m struggling with.” – Samantha Q.

Please note: this article is not a medical diagnosis, nor are the tips provided above a cure. If you feel your child is experiencing signs or symptoms of anxiety, seek the help of a medical professional.