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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Do you let your teens do homework/revision with loud music on?

23 replies

sandyballs · 26/01/2014 22:40

Maybe I'm an old gimmer but I don't see how she can revise on the industrial revolution with 1D blasting. DH is just grateful she's doing any homework and I should back off.

OP posts:
Gimmiestrength1 · 26/01/2014 23:30

Had this argument with DD tonight.
She cannot possibly concentrate with loud music on.
BUT she was so busy arguing with me over homework, once that track had finished she forgot all about the music and struggled on in silence.

ravenAK · 26/01/2014 23:34

I wouldn't let her listen to 1D at all. Ghastly tripe. Wink.

People are different; if I listen to music I can't focus on anything else, whereas dh uses Motorhead turned up to 11 to help him concentrate.

Lots of the kids I teach reckon they can focus on a lengthy task (eg. an exam practice question) much more closely if I allow them to listen to music through headphones - & they do genuinely then crack on with it with increased concentration.

Innogen · 27/01/2014 00:53

People absolutely can revise to loud music.

Im an academic and can only write to music. The rhythm helps me.

I'd definitely leave her be. What works for her isn't what works for you. Don't make her hate her work, let her get on with it in the most enjoyable way possible for her.

Do you want her to hate learning?

TheDoctorsNewKidneys · 27/01/2014 08:53

I can't write essays in silence. When I was at university, I'd take my headphones and laptop to the library, put on some music and just go for it. It helped.

Leave her be. Luckily DP is the same as me and needs something on in the background to concentrate. Unfortunately, we don't like the same music! Hmm

Starballbunny · 27/01/2014 09:26

Don't know, DD1 often works with headphones on. Don't know if it's loud or what on earth she's listening to. Pop, classical, folky stuff, radio 4 pod cast she has very eclectic tastes.

It's that you can't possibly revise, do HW (except for your art felting) watching Sherlock or Dr Who, we have words about.

mumeeee · 27/01/2014 09:30

Yes we did, I was a bit surprised when DD1 did this. and at first wanted her to turn it off. Then as she was doing her work left her to it. She is now 26 and head of. science department.

MothratheMighty · 27/01/2014 09:35

Different people focus in different ways, some need music, or a view, or to work at odd times, and some don't. Some need absolute silence.
Instead of making her follow your preferred method, which works for you,look at the results and see if working with music on is effective for her.

adeucalione · 27/01/2014 14:23

I recently had this conversation with DS.

He revised in his room for about three hours, but when I tested him it was obvious that there were big gaps.

So I asked him to just try revising at the kitchen table for half an hour, without music or other distractions, just to humour me.

He admitted afterwards that he learnt more in 30 minutes at the table than he had in 3 hrs in his room.

Obviously, some people will find that switching the music off doesn't make any difference, or makes it worse, but it's easy enough to try both options for efficacy if DC are amenable.

TeenAndTween · 27/01/2014 14:48

raven Do you not worry that if the children can't do an exam question without music they will struggle when it comes to the actual exams when they're not allowed it?

imo I think if they are really concentrating they won't hear it anyway. I can work on a PC and complelley not hear the TV, DH or anything. If they can hear it then they're not concentrating on their work!

yourlittlesecret · 27/01/2014 14:55

Well I do remember having this argument with my dad 40 years ago.....
DS1 has loud noise refuses to call it music on all the time but gets A* grades so I guess it's possible.

bigTillyMint · 27/01/2014 15:39

DD does all her homework in her room with music on. However, she decided she would rather stay late at school with her friends to revise for her exams as she can focus better thereWink

DS does his homework downstairs, usually music-less, although he does occasionally put some on.

Neither have it on particularly loud!

amumthatcares · 27/01/2014 21:51

My DD also did all her homework/coursework/revision to loud music and got mostly A's in her GCSE's and A levels, so it didn't hinder her. It depends on the individual Smile

MrsBobHale · 27/01/2014 22:05

I always listened to music when I revised and I did alright.

On the other hand, DD claims she can do her homework while watching The Simpsons. I am unconvinced Smile

mathanxiety · 28/01/2014 05:05

They have to keep their headphones on in my house but this is how they create their own little bubble where they wont be disturbed by random noises from everyone else.

mrsjay · 28/01/2014 09:43

buy her better music earphones dd always has her ears in I can still here it sometimes though Hmm

Original poster
sandyballs · 28/01/2014 13:13

Forgot I started this, was a bit tiddly Sun evening Grin. Interesting how many kids listen to music when studying. Maybe I should just let her get on with it. The stuff she produced on Sun seemed pretty good, despite the din. Headphones def the way to go though.

OP posts:
ravenAK · 28/01/2014 19:25

TeenAndTween Nope, because the problem is that they can't focus so well in a day-to-day classroom situation, which is always noisier than an exam hall - people wandering in & out with pointless messages, somebody being sent in on Time Out from another lesson, corridor noise, etc etc.

Also, there's not much pressure in a practice question, so they're busy thinking about lunch/the girl in the row in front/the Maths hw they're going to get bollocked for not having next lesson - music seems to blot all the mental distractions out.

It wouldn't work for me, & it doesn't for lots of kids, but seems very effective for about half of them, right across the ability range.

Once they're actually IN an exam hall, the exam adrenalin has the same effect of putting them 'in the zone'.

BackforGood · 30/01/2014 23:41

Mine usually listen through headphones so it doesn't disturb others on house, but they all listen to music when working - as indeed, I like to.

Eggsiseggs · 03/02/2014 13:45

Oh definitely leave her be!
It really annoyed me when my parents used to do this. When there is no music - it meant I could hear every little distracting noise in the house, and it just felt like a horrible, oppressive silence which still puts me off!

Now I am a teacher and always play (classical!) music when students are working independently. Works well. Different folks, different strokes.

Oh, and - pick your battles Wink

hellokittymania · 03/02/2014 14:14

I live in Vietnam and am studying to be an interpreter. Vietnam is noisy, people are curious about my disability, glasses phone, etc. So I can study in toufg environments with lots of noise.

However, I do use people as a dictionary though Grin

Olivegirl · 03/02/2014 14:26

I have never stopped my dds watching tv or listening to music when revising / homework..
When they first went into yr 7 I remember the head teacher addressing the parents saying there is no evidence to show kids/ teenagers cannot concentrate on both so make it relaxed and leave them be.
Both my dds now in sixth form got mostly A&A* in gcses
And are remaining consistent in their A levels.
Think I might be an age thing co I know I have to have peace and quiet if I have to concentrate

AMumInScotland · 03/02/2014 14:49

I always revised with music on - I found a cassette (...showing my age...) that I knew quite well was the best 'white noise' to drown out all the other household noises that were more tempting distractions. But not the radio, as I ended up listening to the inane chatter, and wondering what they'd play next.

As long as you are reasonably confident that she is working, then I don't think you need to worry about the music.

MoreBeta · 03/02/2014 14:57

Like many of you it seems, I had this conversation with DS last week.

He is banned form any electronic device in bedrooms. He went to do homework in bedroom and sneaked phone up there while doing homework. It is distracting s he has multiple friend texts every hour and of course music on there.

I am an old gimmer but no music or distractions during homework is our rule. Work and play stay separate.

bigTilly - we also encourage DSs to stay late at school and do homework in library where there is a supervised area, peer pressure and no distractions. It works because then they know they can play/chill once they get home.

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