Most children dread homework. Yet, homework is a vital part of school life. Proponents of homework for children believe that homework encourages good study habits, time management skills and the ability to work independently.
Stay-at-home parents have more time to monitor and help their children where homework is concerned. Here are some practical approaches that parents can use to provide homework help for kids.
Develop a Homework Routine
It’s important that parents develop a homework routine for children to get used to the idea of doing homework. Set a timetable for daily reading and doing school assignments. Dr. Brent Waters, co-author of Every Kid [Doubleday, 2001], suggests that parents keep the length of homework time the same for most days. “It is also best to try to pick a time to do homework which is least likely to conflict with other activities,” he adds.
Some parents find it helpful if the children are given a short break after coming home from school. They may change and have some snacks first before doing their homework.
Set a Homework Area
It’s also a good idea to have a designated homework area for kids at home. While many mums like having their kids doing their homework on the kitchen table while they prepare dinner, there are too many distractions there – noise from the food processor, tempting cookies and snacks, Mum chatting with someone on the phone, etc.
Some families have a study room for paperwork and homework. Make use of that room. Ensure that writing supplies and other stationery are within easy reach. A room with good lighting is also ideal. Alternatively, if the child’s room is big enough, set up a desk for homework purposes there. Also, there should be no TV in the room.
Encourage Children to do Homework Independently
While early learners will benefit with constant parent supervision while they do their daily reading or basic writing, the same approach should not be used for older children. Dr. Waters says this is because children need to learn to complete their homework independently rather than depending on their parents for homework help all the time.
Tell the child to try to do as much as he can without any help first, moving on to the next task if he has difficulty with one particular task. Set a few minutes at the end of the homework time to help the child with the task he found difficult earlier.
Maintain Good Parent-Teacher Communication
Parents who genuinely believe their children are given too much homework should discuss the problem with the child’s teacher. This is where having good parent-teacher communication will come in handy. Make full use of all communication channels between parents and teachers to support children’s learning.
Children are also likely to view school and homework more positively if their parents are actively involved in school, says Michael Grose, author of One Step Ahead: Raising 3-12 Year Olds [Random House Australia, 2000].
“You may assist with the preparation of learning materials, assist with small groups in the classroom, help with excursions and camps and be a resource person if you have specialized skill or knowledge,” suggests Grose.
Most children will need some help with homework. Parents can assist with school assignments by developing a homework routine, setting a homework area, encouraging children to do homework independently and maintaining good parent-teacher communication.
Found this article useful? Read also Coping with Homework Anxiety.
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