I Hate Homework!

With elementary age children, often some of our biggest battles (and concerns, big-picture goals, and top-of-mind topics) revolve around both studying and homework habits. We know that the skills associated with homework and studying are critical - and yes, critical far beyond the years of elementary school. How do we solidify good habits? How do we keep our kids motivated? What’s the balance?

10 Essential Tips to Managing Homework Successfully in your House:

1. Location, location, location. Find a public place in the home (the kitchen table or counter is a great place to start) where you can be nearby, but not on top of your child. Stay close, but occupied with something else.

2. Time. Figure out when the best time for homework is for your child. Maybe it’s right after school when they are still focused, or perhaps after a little rest and recharge. Find a time that can be consistent to help your child to adjust to homework on a daily basis.

3. Snacks. Make sure your child is well fed during homework time. Slide a snack over on the counter and help refuel that brain power.

4. Keep it clean and organized. A clean space can help to declutter your child’s mind! Make sure homework supplies are organized in a caddy or drawer, use colored file folders for different subjects/assignments, and create a clean space for text/workbook storage.

5. Breakdown homework into small and manageable chunks. This is important for teaching children time-management strategies and avoiding procrastination, and can make large assignments more approachable.

6. Let them be the teacher. Give your child a chance to teach you about what they’re learning at school and reinforce their own knowledge at the same time.

7. Encourage your child to “double-check” their work. Ask them to take a moment and “review it like your teacher would.” Help them to notice mistakes, re-read directions, and take a pause to make sure they are done.

8. Don’t jump in to rescue. If you see mistakes in your child’s work, start by asking them if they would like a suggestion. If so, give just one hint like, “I think this problem may need another look,” or provide one nugget of information like, “I think a good topic sentence might be…” 

9. Consider a homework contract if you’re meeting a lot of resistance. Contracts outline your child’s responsibilities (and yours) and some of the privileges that are associated with meeting expectations.

10. Communicate with your child’s teacher. If you notice your child struggling with homework, that’s important for them to be aware of. It can help signal what they're missing in class, or how they are understanding material.