Studying is important for educational development and reducing anxiety around exams - but did you know that progress can be influenced by the time of day children learn?
Recent research by edtech specialists Atom Learning found that primary school children learn better when they study in the morning.
In fact, children aged between seven and 11 who engaged in learning activities earlier in the day made 59 percent more progress than those who studied in the evening.
Data from 1,000 primary school pupils in years 3 to 6 was analysed over one month to compare the performance of children who answered questions mainly in the morning (pre-11am) with those who answered questions mainly in the evening (post-5pm).
Researchers found that the cohort who studied in the morning saw an average improvement of 81 points (based on an attainment score with a range of 0 - 4000).
Meanwhile, those who studied in the evening for the same amount of time advanced at a slower rate, averaging a 51 point attainment increase.
The results highlighted that both morning and evening learners improved, but studying during earlier hours were more conducive to making rapid progress.
Anna Masterson, head of education at Atom Learning, said: “All families will have their own preferred hours for learning, but it’s important to remember that many children simply learn better in the morning.
“The evenings can be stressful, and children and parents may be exhausted by time spent at school or work. Evening study also creeps closely towards KS2 children’s bedtime, making concentrating difficult and impacting their sleep - which is vital for ensuring information is retained.”
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The education expert explained that parents should encourage children to study in the morning to work towards a fun reward later in the day.
“This can be a powerful motivator for learning and takes advantage of children’s early morning energy,” she explained.
Anna added: “With important entrance exams around the corner, parents should think strategically about how to optimise their child’s learning. Half an hour of learning in the morning could be far more impactful than several in the evening.
“Online learning platforms can be a useful tool for gauging the working styles and routines that best support individual learning needs. Finding what works best for your child is central to creating a sustainable learning environment.”
With pupils heading back to school this week and many preparing to take formal tests over the coming months - the data suggests that the time of day children study can affect their progress.
