Homework is a part of life for someone in school, and learning how to successfully do homework from a young age is a big part of doing well academically for your whole life. The following are some of the secrets to homework success:
Make it part of the routine. If a child makes doing homework part of his or her daily routine, they won’t skip it, miss it, or rush it because it did not fit in. So, as a parent, help your child find a time where homework can be fit in to the routine. For example, they may go to school, then an extra-curricular (practice), then come home and relax for a while, then do homework. Or, maybe homework should be fit in right after school, or sometime after dinner etc. You need to review your schedule, and what time of the day is the best time to make homework part of your child’s routine.
Have adult supervision: It is always good for a child to have access to a parent for help on homework that is difficult or hard to understand, and for review of homework once it is complete. Just be sure as a parent that you offer constructive criticism combined with positive reinforcement. If they do something wrong, be careful to help them recognize the mistake without damaging their enthusiasm to learn.
Schedule homework in. Sometimes kids know what their homework will be a while in advance. For example, they may have a project that will likely take several days or weeks to complete in full. In order to be successful at homework, a child must schedule enough time for each assignment. A white board can be very useful for this, as they can use it to write out each assignment due for the month, and when it is due, this way they can prioritize their homework time, and never leave too much to do in one day.
Allow time for play or relaxation after homework. Homework is only successful if a child does not feel like it is the only thing in their life. If they start to feel that way they may end up resenting homework, and hating it, and thus doing poorly on it. In order to help reinforce the positive sides of homework, make sure that there is always time for some fun or relaxation after a child has completed their homework. Doing homework right before bed, etc. leave a negative feeling about the experience. It is not so much that they should be rewarded when homework is complete, as that all tough things, followed by good things, seem less difficult.
Always encourage them! One of the biggest secrets for homework success is that parent involvement and help is key to doing well. Children whose parents take an active interest in their academic life tend to perform better. So, ask what they have, help them make sure they do it right, and encourage them to keep at it.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to