Kids who like working on their homework may lose enthusiasm during the school year. They may discover ways to slow down or even avoid it altogether. But the time spent studying after school is essential to reinforce the learning of the day and provide order to your child’s schedule.
The game of playing cop doesn’t work well -micromanaging, and nagging can make kids feel ineffective or angry. Instead, consider yourself an instructor and a cheerleader.
To help you reach your goal, we requested parents and teachers to share their tips to solve the most common problems with homework. These eight suggestions can bring order back to your homework routine, whether you have a kindergartener or fifth-grade student, a perfectionist, or a procrastinator.
1. Do It Early
Set a time for getting back to work. In your home, it could be before or after any extracurricular activities.
Begin working with your child to determine when their concentration and energy levels are at their best. This allows your child to have the ability to control their time. (Some children require more time off after school, while others need to start immediately to keep the momentum flowing.)
However, be prepared for 5 p.m. as the earliest time that they will be able to begin their work.
2. Phone a Friend
From kindergarten, children must have at least three or four friends they can contact in case they cannot complete an assignment or ask a question. Study buddies can act as a motivator to one another to get work completed.
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3. Collaborate to Build Confidence
If children don’t grasp an idea right away, they might feel that they’re not intelligent enough and begin to lose their focus, according to Sigrid Grace, an instructor in 2nd grade in Michigan.
You can short-circuit negative thinking by sitting with your child and working out the first issue in the assignment. This should stimulate their memory and help them complete the remainder. After that, give them a tremendous amount of applause: “You did a great job with this one! Do the same thing next time.”
4. Change the Scenery
A simple thing as changing the layout of their workspace can help a child’s motivation and, consequently, increase their confidence. If your child is working in a solitary desk or a designated study area, maybe they’d feel more at ease doing their work in a space open to the public, such as the kitchen table when cooking dinner.
In contrast, if you’ve been working in a crowded home area, they may require a quieter space to concentrate.
5. Keep the Positive Feedback Coming
Younger children require instant feedback, so it’s okay for parents of kids in kindergarten to correct their mistakes, according to Grace, her 2nd-grade teacher in 2nd grade. Make sure to follow this up with praise specific to the things your child did excellently.
6. Beat the Clock
Sometimes, those who are procrastinators require a kick-start. If this is the case with your child, consider this:
Set a timer to run for five minutes. Then, let your child do as fast and steadily in the time allowed until the timer is off. After that, you can stop for a moment or continue working as many children continue.
“Racing against a timer gives kids an external sense of urgency if they don’t have an internal one,” says Ann Dolin, a former teacher.
But a timed session isn’t an excuse to do sloppy work. Be sure that your child has a look at the work before sending it in.
7. Plan, Plan, Plan
To make the most of your day, write every appointment you have — from sports practice to meals to reading time on a large calendar or schedule log. You can then place it in a central location where everyone in the family can see it.
If you are aware that some evenings aren’t compatible with the homework schedule of your child If you are concerned about a particular night, you can request the assignment for the week ahead of time and collaborate with your child to determine the most appropriate time to complete the tasks.
8. Let them Vent
If your child is having trouble in their work or is crying with anger, calm any anxiety brewing by letting them talk. Take note, feel their pain (“Wow, this is quite a bit of work”) and relay your feelings to them (“You are sounding angry”).
If your child can feel understood and appreciated, they’ll be more inclined to listen to your suggestions, according to Dolin (and will focus more on the work that needs to be completed.
You could also assist by speaking to your child about the things they’ve remembered from school and guiding them toward the textbook. If they’re not understanding, then ask them to make a note to the teacher to explain why they’re not understanding.
