Hints for helping your child with homework

Students right throughout the country have finally returned to school. Many have been out of the classroom situation for almost two months, so the next couple of weeks will be difficult as they settle back in again.

Parents have done exceptionally well over this time, helping children with their on-line schooling and ensuring they are kept up-to-date with their homework.

This job needs to continue as research shows when parents become involved in their children’s schoolwork, the children do better in school.

Supporting and praising your child’s academic efforts and creating an atmosphere at home that encourages learning and doing homework will benefit both their schoolwork and selfesteem.

TIPS:

■ Keep in touch with teachers so you are aware of the quantity and quality of homework turned in. If homework is a battle, tell them. Some children will do anything to avoid it, others may genuinely struggle with the amount or its difficulty. Work with the teacher for a solution.

■ Set a schedule with a start and finish time. Kids need to unwind before tackling homework, but doing it too close to bedtime may be difficult due to tiredness. Fridays are good for weekend homework; assignments are still fresh and last-minute panic is avoided.

■ Encourage your child to divide the assignment into ‘What I can do myself’ and ‘What I need help with’. Only help with the part your child cannot do, to build responsibility and independence.

■ Restrict TV and fun activities until homework is done. However, an occasional study break may help children stay on task.

■ Provide a study centre with good light, few distractions and essentials, such as a dictionary, paper and pens.

■ Praise your child’s effort and success. Comment on schoolwork brought home, stick it to the refrigerator, tell other people about your child’s accomplishments.

■ Be available when your child is doing homework, so you can answer a question if there is confusion.

■ Guide, but don’t correct. If your child needs help, offer ideas but don’t give the answers. If it is too difficult, speak to the teacher or get them some outside help.

■ Look over completed homework but don’t correct it unless you have checked with the teacher; seeing the pattern of errors is often helpful to a teacher.

■ Study groups with one or two classmates can be useful. However, make sure they actually study.

■ Encourage your child to work on assignments due tomorrow before tackling tasks due later.

■ Teach them to be organised. Clean out their backpacks, put together homework folders, set up files for returned tests and school work. Remind them to pack the completed homework before bed.

■ Arrange a family activity to precede or follow homework, such as playing a game, so the child is less likely to seek attention during homework.

■ Lead by example. Do your own homework (work reports, reading, bill paying, letter writing) while your child is doing theirs. This will demonstrate the importance of completing work, while allowing them to enjoy your presence and ask questions about their assignments.

■ Children have different approaches to homework and different homework issues. If homework is a constant battleground, get to the root of the problem.

■ List the major issues. Does it take too long? Do they have trouble getting started, keeping track of assignments, turning it in? Write down what is bothering you and share it with your kids. Ask them what they think is causing the problems.

■ Draw up a homework contract to address the problems and solutions discussed. Keep it simple; just four or five rules. For example, if he has trouble getting started, one could be Mike will start his homework by 4pm.

■ Recognise and reward positive change in homework behaviour, such as doing it quickly and independently. Incentives could be as simple as watching TV after homework.

■ Sleep-deprived students can’t learn so staying up late

■ occasionally to work on a

■ project is okay, but don’t let it become a habit.