Homework Help

Homework

Homework can be stressful for both you and your kids! Here are some tips to help you and your child get through this without struggling.

• Find a quiet space for your child to complete their work.

• Collaborate with your child on the best place and time for them to complete their homework.

• Set a timer for how long the task should take. This is a good visual for them to see how long they have to work on the task.

• Make sure they have all of the supplies they need, including paper, sharpened pencils, charged devices, table, and chair.

• Turn off the TV, gaming systems, and any distracting noise.

• Make sure there is good lighting in the workspace.

• The homework space should be in a place that can be supervised but not the hub of the home. You want to minimize distractions and maintain supervision.

• Keep any younger siblings out of the room or provide a "homework" assignment for them as well.

• Provide a drink and snack before or during the assignment if they are hungry.

When your child is struggling with an assignment try the following ideas...

• Skip it - Tell your child to skip the problem they are struggling with and move on to the next one. Come back to the tough one later. Otherwise, they waste too much time fretting and end up with nothing completed.

• Best Guess - Have your child make their best guess. Even if it is wrong, the teacher will have some record of where they need to begin to help your child. Writing "I don't know" is not an acceptable answer and will not help any parties in this situation.

• Set a Limit - Set an amount of time to work on the assignment. If they are still struggling, write a note to the teacher to explain the difficulties. This shows the teacher that you all are working together.

• Encourage - Let them know that you understand it is hard and encourage them to try their best. Let them know you won't be mad if they get the answer wrong.

• Communicate Effort Over Perfection - Remind them that you prefer them trying their best over being perfect.

• Reflect - Tell them to reflect back to the lesson and tell you what it was about. I bet when they reflect they will be able to think about the process they need to use to find the answer.

• Alternate Activity - Find something positive for the two of you to do when the homework is over. This not only acts as positive reinforcement for completing their work but also ensures that you spend some positive time together.

• Stay Calm - I know this is often easier said than done. By staying calm, you are teaching your child how to function in life. You have to model emotional regulation when frustration arrises.

• Breathe - Have them stop for a minute and take some deep breaths. It will help their brain refocus.