The secret of my success is reading. I have been reading since I was two years old and I think that has helped me a lot. Through reading, I gained a lot of knowledge.

- Natasha Nabila Muhammad Nasir, the top scorer for the 2007 Primary School Leaving Examination and her mother, Mdm Zaharah Othman

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Your child spends thirty to forty hours in school. But consider this: he spends more than 100 hours at home! So, isn't it time you thought about his learning environment at home?

Give him space to play

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. So, do set aside some playtime - but only after homework is done, of course. Time spent playing make-believe helps your child to develop the ability to control his emotions and behaviour, resist impulses, and exert self-control and discipline. Children who are ableto manage their feelings and pay attention are better able to learn, say researchers.Children can be amazingly creative with just the simplest of things. You don't have to spend a lot of money. Let your child use his own creativity and imagination with everyday materials you provide for him. The more imagination he puts into a creative activity, the more learning goes on. Says mum to three kids, Sharon Tay, 32, "My kids made Iron Man masks out of shoe boxes, cutting out holes for the eyes. Another one of their bright ideas was to drag six chairs together, drape a large blanket over the chairs, and declare that it was their "boat"." If you prefer to get involved, try playing board games with your child. They're entertaining and usually educational. For instance, Scrabble and Boggle teach children about spelling and word structure while Pictionary helps children learn to conceptualize thoughts and ideas visually. 

Create a comfortable work area

When the time comes for your child to study or do his homework, make sure he isn't around distractions like a TV or his siblings. He needs a clear, bright lamp, a comfortable chair and a good, sturdy desk. Consider investing in a height-adjustable ergonomic workstation that "grows" with him through teenage years and on to adulthood.

It's important that children develop good habits in sitting, standing and theuse of their own bodies. Otherwise, they may get chronic muscle tension, back pain and headaches or poor leg circulation. - Dr David Tio from the Osteopathic Treatment Centre 

Dr Tio recommends using an inclined table top so that the child is looking upward and the neck is not bent forward.