Getting children to do their homework can be a daily battle for many parents. With the right strategies and support from parents, children can develop successful homework habits. Here are some effective tips for parents on how to get their child to do homework.
Set Up a Designated Homework Space
One of the most important things you can do is set up a quiet, well-lit space for your child to do homework. This dedicated workspace should be free of distractions like TVs, phones, and video games. It’s best if this area is away from high-traffic areas of your home and has good lighting. Stock the space with supplies like pencils, erasers, a calculator, dictionary, and other materials they’ll need. Having a consistent, distraction-free workspace can help kids focus when it’s time for homework.
Set a Routine and Schedule Time Daily
Establishing a solid routine and schedule for homework is crucial. Sit down with your child and determine the best time of day for them to work on homework based on their schedule and energy levels. Many experts recommend completing homework immediately after school before kids have a chance to get distracted by activities or friends. Set an alarm so they know exactly when homework time starts and ends. Maintaining a routine makes homework a regular, expected part of each day and prevents procrastination.
Check Assignment Sheets and Planners
At the beginning of each week, have your child show you their assignment sheet or online calendar so you know what’s expected for each subject and day. Go through it together and help them transfer due dates and tasks to a paper or digital calendar. This enables you to check that assignments are completed and ask about any you haven’t seen. Checking sheets proactively can uncover issues before they become late assignments or lower grades.
Break Up Assignments into Chunks
Nobody can concentrate for hours at a time. Take a cue from the Pomodoro Technique and help your child break their homework into time-boxed chunks. They may do 30 minutes of one subject followed by a short 5-minute break before diving into the next 30 minutes of a different subject. This prevents sustained periods of intense focus that can cause burnout in kids. Taking mini-breaks reinforces positive momentum.
Provide Encouragement and Positive Reinforcement
Catch your child doing homework right and praise their effort. Let them know you recognize when they’re focused on or finishing assignments. Consider rewarding progress and completion to keep motivation high. Some incentives could be a small treat, extra free time, or a special activity. Positive reinforcement nurtures a child’s desire to try hard and stay engaged with homework. Catch them doing well rather than waiting for mistakes.
Be Available for Questions
Designate some homework help time nightly where you’re present in case your child has questions that stump them. Resist the urge to dive in and do assignments for them. Ask guiding questions to help point them in the right direction rather than giving direct answers. But make sure to give clarity if they’re truly stuck on a concept. Your visible availability and support can encourage independence while still providing needed assistance to solve problems.
Check for Understanding, not just Completion
Don’t just focus on whether or not homework is finished. Discuss assignments and have your child explain their work and answers. Ask them to re-explain the concepts or lessons to you to gauge comprehension. Homework is less about completion and more about reinforcement of skills and topics from class. Take some extra time for any assignments, questions or concepts that seemed unclear. Identify and address gaps to maximize learning from homework.
Incorporate Learning Tools
Khan Academy, textbooks with online supplements, educational websites and video lessons can boost subject mastery when used to complement homework and traditional instruction. Before a test, have your child explain what they learned from certain online videos or tutoring services. Tech tools open up new avenues for kids to engage with topics in fun, interactive ways outside of the four walls of the classroom.
Limit Non-Academic Screen Time
Your kids likely stare at screens all day at school then come home to stare at more screens in their free time. Fight homework resistance by enforcing judicious limits on recreational screen use while homework remains unfinished. No TVs, video games or non-educational websites until school tasks are completed to school standards. Extra free time with media or friends can be a powerful motivator for students to fully focus and finish daily assignments.
Don’t Let Frustration Take Over
Making homework into a big battle regularly will only breed resentment. Use a calm, patient tone and avoid disciplinary threats, nagging remarks and escalating frustration. Stay optimistic and in control of your emotions. If tensions mount, take a break and revisit assignments later when minds have cleared. End each homework session on a positive note of encouragement and praise to retain momentum for the next day.
Involve Teachers for Severe Struggles
If all your encouragement and strategies fail to get a consistently struggling child started or keep them focused on homework, it may be time for a parent-teacher conference. Discuss very specific issues like lack of comprehension, subject difficulties, motivational challenges or potential learning obstacles. Collaborate on a plan involving extra tutoring, adjusted workloads, behavioral incentives or other tailored solutions. A united home-school effort can often alleviate severe homework resistance that parents can’t remedy alone.
The key is consistency in establishing positive routines and an environment where homework is a non-negotiable part of each school day. With patience and the proper support structure, most children can develop successful habits for staying on track and completing assignments to learn and grow academically. Don’t let homework hamper progress – enlist these tips to get and keep your child focused and successful with schoolwork at home.
Andrew Stroud