Provide a Healthy Snack
If your child is hungry, he or she will have a difficult time concentrating on the task at hand. Prevent your children from zoning out or becoming cranky; give them a healthy snack before they get started. Fruit with yogurt and a piece of cheese make an ideal snack. Their bodies won’t digest that as fast as something sugary, so it will give them energy for a longer period of time.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Jones
Use a Homework Log or Agenda as a Homework Check
Many schools provide their students with a homework log / agenda; this is a handy place for your child to keep track of their homework. If your child’s school doesn’t provide one, go out and purchase a notebook or day planner.
Make it clear to the child that they are to write all of their homework in this agenda. If they frequently come home from school announcing that they have no homework, check in with their teacher. To keep them accountable, you can ask them to write down what they did in class that day if there is no homework (works well with middle school or junior high school students).
If your child is organized, he or she will feel less overwhelmed and more confident when starting an assignment.
A homework log / agenda should contain the following:
- Class subject
- Date assignment was given
- Date assignment is due
- Detailed description of assignment including page and question numbers
Establish a Homework Routine
As a parent, you know how important consistency is for a child. If a child has a daily routine he or she will have an easier time accepting that it is time to start their homework. Once the expectation is set of when and how long homework-time is, there should be less arguing. When establishing a homework routine consider the following:
- Have a specific time allotted for homework each day that will not conflict with extra-curricular activities or chores.
- Don’t allow T.V., video games or friends until their homework is finished. Use these as rewards for finishing homework without a hassle.
- Keep homework time a short as possible for younger children. Allow older children to take one 5 minute break for every half hour of work.
- Homework should be done in a set place that is relatively free of distractions.
Make Yourself Available For Homework Help
Staying close to where your child is working will help keep them on track. It is important to be there to help answer questions if they get stuck. The longer they are stuck, the greater their frustration and anxiety becomes.
Following these suggestions will make homework time go a lot more smoothly. Just make sure your children understand what is expected and that you keep the routine consistent.
