5 Homework Tips For Parents

Every parent has battled with their children on at least one occasion to try to get them to complete their homework. Most parents fight the homework battle on a weekly, if not daily, basis. Since homework is one of the struggles that parents of school-age children often face, here are a few homework tips that parents might be interested to help alleviate that frustration.

1. Set up a homework/studying routine: Make homework time a component of every day the way you do with mealtime & bedtime. Sit down with your child and come up with a homework schedule as a family that works for everyone. When planning this, consider that it is better to do homework earlier in the day and that the younger the child is when this is established, the less resistance you will encounter.
2. Create a space for homework time: Decide where your child can most effectively complete their homework, and then provide the guidance and resources to establish this as an effective workspace. When established early, your child can enjoy this homework space for years to come.
3. How much time should be spent on homework? The rule of thumb is 10 minutes of homework per day for each grade (ex. 10 minutes for grade 1 and 80 minutes for grade 8) This can include reading time although additional reading time is beneficial and is a great way to wind down at bedtime.
4. Help your child with their homework based on need not want: By being involved in their homework, you will soon become aware of your child’s strengths and weaknesses. The goal is to foster independence and accountability. Be sure your child knows your realistic expectations
5. Model Good Work Habits: For parents who bring work home, try to do some at the same time that your child is completing their homework (or at least when children will witness it happening). For parents who don’t have homework themselves, balance your chequebook or catch up on some letter-writing. Most importantly, let your child see you reading for pleasure.
   

Remember that by implementing all of these homework suggestions you won’t necessarily turn your frustrated ten-year-old into a model student overnight, but by sticking to these homework guidelines you should see a positive change over time in your child’s attitude toward homework, and likely toward school in general.