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?

When I was that age, I could only revise with the radio or TV on. My mum, fortunately, didn't interfere. I have done the same with mine (i.e. not interfere).

My son actually listened to different genres per subject and I got used to which was which so knew what he was revising.

All my children listened to music for all their revision up to degree standard. I would have never taken their music away…cannot comprehend why you would !

I listened to music throughout all my studies, and didn't do badly. Working from home I have music on in the background. I can't actually concentrate in silence. Everyone is different - you need to trust her to know what's best for her!

I dont think I ever did any of my degree in silence, always had a podcast or music or the TV on. I can't actually believe you wouldn't let her have music on. You even said it in your OP, she really is trying to revise. It's not like she's pissing about making tiktoks rather than revising.

I know music can help some people concentrate as long as it’s something like jazz or chill.

Bloody hell, not Jazz!!! I couldn't work well to that!

After her mocks it's too late to review if what she's doing isn't working. Last year some schools formed grades partly using mock results.

Just be sensible, let her listen to music, make sure she actually is revising and not surfing the net. She's old enough to understand her GCSE results can be affected by the effort she does or doesn't put in. You should be wise enough to know her results and /or mental health can be affected by how happy and relaxed she is.

Why the hell would you take it away?

I'd be encouraging her to find the revision methods that work for her. Different things work for different people.

Music can be a great motivator- did my 'o' and 'a' level revision (showing my age there!) with background music. Now permanently WFH and play music all day long- it is muted for meetings and phone calls but other than that it is on all day- mostly rock/metal as well depending on what I'm doing. I type in tempo to the music and fire emails off in record time. She's old enough to make her own choices about how she revises so trust her and leave her to get on with it

1. It’s not controlling, it’s called parenting and everyone has different ideas of what’s best. Far more parents could actually do with being a bit more ‘strict’ with their 15 year olds IME and not just leave them to it all the time. At 15 many kids think they know best and what’s right for them but they often don’t.
2. No, music doesn’t work well for everyone. I actually find it incredibly distracting. When I was a teen though I wanted to have it on when revising, mainly becuse I found revision super full and would do anything to avoid having to do it whilst still being In my bedroom and appearing to be studying.

I think I would allow it but with the caveat that I would be testing her on what she has been learning later - giving a little quiz, and seeing how the revision is going. Ultimately though- you know your daughter. Does she want to do well and is she keen on getting good grades or is she like I was and very lazy / unmotivated

I always revised with music on. And I work best with music or even telly just chuntering away. Background noise.

If I have quiet and try to concentrate my mind wanders really quickly. Background noise helps me keep focused massively.

It's not uncommon either.

One of my DDs needs to have music and Netflix on for studying. She has OCD and needs to ignore the music and dialogue on a programme to be able to focus, otherwise her thoughts wander off, a bit like day dreaming.

Oh defo! I played Mariah Carey We Belong Together on repeat while revising all all my gcses and didnt get anything less than a B 🤣🤣 my poor family though

Both my DDs like listening to music whilst studying. Both got firsts at uni so they must have been doing something right! Whatever gets them through I say!

I listened to music with homework from Year 7, there was never any "debate"

Also there was no debate about how much revision. It was our own responsibility.

Helicopter parenting is really out of control these days.

Poor girl. Let her have the music, it can help revising!

I have a job that frequently involves 'cramming' a different specialist subject before being questioned on it, and I often use music to help me focus. I did through A-levels and both degrees too. Sometimes I do something that requires absolute silence, but other types of work require music, and sometimes I can focus better with really shitty TV turned down quite low, so it's a murmur.

People have the radio on in work (when people need to concentrate).
In the room when you have a baby (the midwife needs to concentrate).
In surgery (when the surgeon needs to concentrate).
In cockpits (where the pilot needs to concentrate).
So many other examples I can’t think of rn.

I think it’s a bit mean. It helps cognitive ability. Whenever I hear Blur I think of studying for my GCSE’s.

The op should have clear expectations in place about the amount of revision to be completed, with consequences if this doesn’t happen.

Consequences for not learning in the same way another person does. That sounds progressive and generous of spirit. Good luck.

Give her the music.
Everyone is different, some need silence, others need background noise.
If she is doing well, let her be.

She's 15, she needs to make these decisions for herself now

I can only do focused tasks with background noise. I wrote my dissertation watching the saw films. I WFH binging series after series on my iPad as I go. Im dreading returning to the office as I will no doubt have to adjust to having no noise again, be easily distracted, and find it much harder to get my head down and get stuff done. She's 15, let her do what works for her.

DD listens to music during homework/revision. During the lockdowns she listened to music whilst doing her schoolwork. Her grades are good despite all the disruption. She finds it particularly useful whilst doing her Art homework. It works for her. Not every child will find it useful, but if it's working for your daughter then let her get on with it.

When I was a teenager revising for GCSEs in the early 90s I used to have my CD Walkman on LOUD. I found it blocked out all the other distractions around me.

I think its important at 15 that she learns a way to study that works for her. In 3 years she will probably be at uni and trying to study with all the distractions of halls of residence. You won't be able to manage her studying and give her little quizes to test her then. I went off to uni at 17 with no idea how to study as school always came easy and dropped out 1 year later. When I went the second time I discovered that I was a kinesthetic learner and that my hands had to be busy before I was able to learn. So I studied while doing the ironing. I could rewrite notes all day and read over sheets and not actually take anything in which would be an absolute waste of my time.

But by taking her music away you have denied her the opportunity to find what works for her and not respected her by saying that you know better than her about how she studies well. Even though multiple people have replied saying that they also use music.

Laughing at the idea that you can force someone to concentrate to time. And have expectations of how long someone is revising for.

Sitting with a book in front of you does not mean you are concentrating on that book.
I am the master of the day dream.
You can't check on your kids day dream status - they may have been learning one fact from that page incredibly well and going for one thing well remembered over quantity.

Also a member of the working to music camp. My teacher in year 7 said that as long as it was music you knew well then it could be background noise. It doesn't matter what the genre is, just music you're familiar with so you aren't properly listening to it.

I found that I could concentrate far longer with background music on. Without the music I clock watch.

I did GSCEs, A-Levels, degree and post degree professional qualifications with music in some form - it started with ripped CDs of Sugababes, Avril Lavigne and P!nk, its now spotify and internet radio.

@negomi90

You can expect a certain amount of study/revision and it’s perfectly fair to do so.

All of my DC are expected to complete a set age-appropriate amount of study and there is no screen time if it doesn’t happen.