Homework carries academic benefits beyond the classroom and allows students to practice skills like time management and organization. However, it can also be frustrating for children who struggle with schoolwork.
Teach your child to advocate for herself by seeking help when needed. They should know what is expected of them and be able to break projects down into smaller pieces.
1. Encourage Your Child to Ask Questions
Homework provides children a chance to learn new material, review concepts and practice skills they learned in class. It is a critical component of their education, and it can help them develop independence, accountability for success, and a sense of ownership over their learning. However, homework can also be challenging for some students. If your child’s grades or teacher comments indicate that she is having trouble completing assignments, it is important to understand how you can help without taking over.
Encourage your student to ask questions. Students who feel comfortable asking questions are more likely to fully comprehend a lesson, according to research. It’s also an effective way to determine where gaps in understanding may exist.
Be patient when responding to your student’s questions, even if you don’t know the answer. Instead of making her feel embarrassed or inadequate, try to respond matter-of-factly and with a positive attitude. This will help her to see herself as a question-asker rather than someone who doesn’t understand.
Teach your student to use “Who, what, when, where and why?” as a strategy for exploring their world. They can use these questions to gain a better understanding of the people and places they encounter in their daily lives, explore relationships, build connections and foster a love of inquiry.
When your child has a question about homework or school-related events, encourage them to look up the information on their own rather than asking you for answers. The more they take responsibility for finding out the answers, the more they will be motivated to do so on their own. This will build critical thinking skills they will use throughout their life.
2. Encourage Your Child to Ask for Help
Parents often feel compelled to help their children with homework, but this should be done only in the most limited way. Doing their child’s entire assignment for them sends the wrong message that they are incapable of doing it on their own, and this will actually hurt their ability to learn and grow in competence.
Some children have a hard time asking for help because they believe that it’s “uncool” or that they will be viewed as incompetent. These kids need to be taught that it’s okay to ask for help, especially if they have tried a few different strategies and are still struggling. They also need to learn to articulate what they don’t understand so that an adult can provide them with specific, targeted help.
Another group of students struggles with knowing when to ask for help because they believe that they should be able to solve the problem themselves. These kids need to be encouraged to recognize when they really do know something, but have a blind spot in their thinking. They need to be shown that it’s okay to step away for a few minutes, but that they should return with a fresh perspective on the problem.
All students need to practice asking for help on their own, so it’s important that parents do this as well. Children who see their parents struggle with assignments and then successfully ask for help will learn that it’s okay to do so, and they will gain confidence in their ability to do so. This will help them avoid the negative cycle that is caused by fighting with their schoolwork and avoiding it entirely. It will also help them to see that schoolwork is a part of life that they will need to learn to manage.
3. Encourage Your Child to Organize
Getting organized is an important homework skill that kids can practice throughout their schooling. Encourage them to make a list of what they need to do and keep track of deadlines by using a calendar or planner. They can also color code their work with markers, pencils and highlighters to boost memory enhancement. This can help them stay focused and organized, especially if they are working on a project that is due a few months out.
Kids can also learn to break large projects down into small parts by scheduling a time for each part of the assignment on their calendar or planner. For example, they might want to start by researching the topic, then create a rough draft, and then finish and proofread the final report. This can help them avoid stressful cramming and last minute panic that often leads to less productive work.
Homework is not always easy, and learning to cope with challenges is an essential part of the learning process. However, you may need to step in and encourage your student to use effective strategies to overcome the challenge, such as asking for a break, checking with their teacher or even calling in a tutor. Ultimately, your role is to support and nurture their confidence in their own abilities, so they can take responsibility for their own success.
It is important for parents to provide a homework-friendly environment. Help kids set up a well-lit space, organize their supplies and schedule a regular homework session. Some children prefer to study in the afternoon, after a snack and play period; others do better in the evening before bed. Whatever their preferred homework time, it’s a good idea to keep the schedule consistent so they can establish a routine and build homework habits.
4. Encourage Your Child to Think “Large to Small”
Homework helps children develop study skills, fosters independence and responsibility, teaches time management and builds a positive academic self-image. But it can also cause unnecessary frustration, keep kids from participating in extracurricular activities and lead to poor test-taking. It’s important to be proactive, instead of reactive, when it comes to homework.
Talk with your child about their homework and study habits, and create a system for them to manage assignments. Make sure they know your support is there, but it’s their responsibility to complete the work and get it done on time.
Help your child find a comfortable and quiet place to study where they won’t be distracted. It’s a good idea to make this homework zone away from distractions like TV, music and younger siblings. You can also encourage your child to study with a friend or with family if that’s what they prefer.
Ask your child what their ideal study routine looks like and help them to establish it. For example, some kids may concentrate better after school before starting homework, while others need to have a break and will be more focused after dinner.
Encourage your child to use the strategies they’ve learned in class for navigating homework, such as breaking larger assignments down into smaller parts and setting daily, weekly and monthly deadlines for each section. This will help them avoid the last-minute rush and increase their chances of success.
Help your child develop positive attitudes towards homework by demonstrating your own positive attitude. For example, if your child is struggling with math problems or writing an essay, model the appropriate positive encouragement to boost their confidence. You can also do things such as reading together, writing grocery lists or balancing the checkbook to show that these are essential life skills.
5. Encourage Your Child to Be Flexible
As kids learn to be flexible thinkers they can adapt to changes in their environment. This helps them bounce back from disappointments and go with the flow when things don’t always turn out as planned. It also allows them to take a new perspective on situations and become creative problem solvers.
Kids can practice flexible thinking skills in many ways – especially at home. It’s important to note their progress and celebrate it. For example, if you hear your child say “I’ll try something different” or “we can do this another time” instead of giving up, you should point out those positive comments and explain how important it is to be flexible.
Rigid thinking is often a response to stress and fear. When things don’t turn out as expected, kids might get stuck in their coping strategies and respond by yelling or attacking someone. They might even start to believe that this is a natural response to upsetting events in their life like their favorite shirt getting wet or finding out that someone messed with their Legos.
In these cases, it’s a good idea to help your child find alternative coping strategies by introducing them to mindfulness or other stress management techniques. You can also model flexible thinking by changing up your routines and going on adventures that involve trying new things.
In the case of homework, you can encourage flexibility by encouraging them to do more extension or integration homework that involves combining concepts they have already learned in class with other material like a science fair project. This type of homework usually takes longer and requires a lot more concentration. It’s a great way to develop flexibility while teaching your child how to focus for extended periods of time.
