Should I let my child listen to music whilst doing revision?

[skz5]

My girl is 15. Her mocks are coming up in November so she's currently trying her hardest to revise. I found her listening to music whilst revising so I took it off her so she could concentrate. About 15 minutes later she came into the living room looking really deflated and she explained how listening to music makes her want to do her revision and it makes it enjoyable. I took it off her because I wanted her to focus but she's telling me that she can't and she feels really unmotivated to carry on studying. What should I do? Should I let her listen to music which makes her actually want to do revision or was I right by taking it away from her to help her focus but makes revision a chore and makes her hate it?

Yes of course if it helps her.

Yes, it can really help memory. When I was doing GCSE's a teacher told us to wear a certain perfume and listen to classical music and to wear the same perfume on exam day. The scent of the perfume stimulates memories and so can help recall your revision notes, and classical music is known to help with revision.

However, other types of music can assist with revision and we were told to play the same music we were revising to on the day of the exam (before leaving for school obviously, not during the exam). People differ obviously and it can be a distraction, but if she is saying it helps then let her listen to music.

Some people concentrate better with music, so yes if it helps leave her be.

Gosh, let her listen to it. She's 15. Old enough to make her own decisions about that sort of stuff! Lots of people work better with music!

Sound when revising for some is really helpful, it facilitates and encourages learning. Definitely give it her back! In fact it's often a recommended tactic depending on how people best learn.

I can’t believe you took it away from her! That may have been done with good intentions but was very controlling.

I revised for GCSEs, A Levels, degree and post grad exams with the telly on!

I could only study with background noise; music, TV, anything. Definitely let her have music of it helps her concentration.

Let her have her music. My DDs have always revised to music. I find it difficult to imagine taking music away from a teenager.

Many people find that music is actually an aid to concentration, so I'd say give it back to her!

Christ, just be happy she’s revising

I'm 45 and even back when I was doing exams it was common knowledge that music can aid revision

I used to revise while listening to music and watching TV at the same time.

@Howshouldibehave

I can’t believe you took it away from her! That may have been done with good intentions but was very controlling.

I revised for GCSEs, A Levels, degree and post grad exams with the telly on!

I'm also finding it incredibly odd that you took it away.

I know my parenting standards are lax compared to others on MN, but seriously? Unclench.

She is 15, there really does come a time that you have to allow your teens to have independent thinking. If she wants to revise standing on her head whilst whistling a jaunty tune, or any other way then leave her to it.

You must realise by now that If a young person wants to revise/work hard it comes from them, not from your rules.

Yes, I’ve had to get my head around this as well.

My DD listens to (mostly relaxing, classical) music doing her homework and revision, using headphones. I personally need lots of quiet whilst working so I wasn’t keen but she explained that it doesn’t put her off, and it helps keep her focussed and to put the time in. She’s a musician so I had to listen to her and ignore my own opinion! Plus her results are good so clearly it isn’t detrimental.

Don’t take it off her!

How do you know removing it helps her focus? Many people I work with (we do an oddly similar job to revising ) find it helps concentration. We even advise Learners to use music to focus.

Where is your logic coming from that she needs it removed to focus? It's not just about it being enjoyable it's a good study tactic if it works for her.

Seriously? Stop being so controlling. I can’t believe the way that some people parent their kids!

Yes, revision is shit so anything that makes it a bit more interesting is to be welcome.

Music and white noise is very helpful for studying. When there is absolute silence your brain will be alert to background sounds and will become easily distracted. When the sounds are predictable, your brain can ignore them.

My kids have both done brilliantly in GCSEs, A levels and their degrees, all listening to music. They usually listen to music with no words eg Harry Potter sound track but each to their own. Just let her be!

Seriously?? It's music! Why would you take it away?

I always listened to music when revising and have several degrees from very old universities. She's 15, let her revise the way she wants.

Really? She's fifteen fgs. What makes you think you have the right to control this?

I’m another one who couldn’t concentrate on my revision at all without music. It sounds strange, but the silence was all I could focus on. If I were you I’d apologise and give it her back.