Homework Hassle (Part one of two)

If it hasn’t started yet, it will soon…HOMEWORK!

In an ideal world, every child would race home, throw open their backpack and easily complete authentic homework assignments. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. How can parents cope with homework hassles?

The first step to successfully completing homework is routine. Children are calmer when they know what is coming. Your household must have a schedule that allows for homework. Ideally, teachers would like the homework to be number one on the list, but in the reality of everyday life, there are afterschool activities, appointments, lessons and teams. So, what should a parent do?

The answer begins with a calendar, preferably placed at eye level so the child can see it, too! Each evening or at breakfast, parents and children should discuss the day’s schedule. Including your child in the discussion brings about ownership. Children need to feel they have some control and including them in the discussion helps. Parents should state in advance when the homework block will be accomplished.

The second step is organizing your child’s homework area. While some children are not ready to sit alone at a desk or table away from a parent’s watchful eye, steps can be taken to build independence. Create a supply box where everything your child could possibly need is in one place. This could be an old shoe box or a plastic container or a basket. Fill it with pencils, erasers, scissors, glue, rulers, colored pencils, markers, etc. When it is time for homework, your child knows to grab the container/basket. This one step is a major time-saver. No more searching or stopping to look for supplies.

Once your child has the necessary supplies, they should set themselves up to work. This crucial step is often overlooked. Children must have defined space. They must view their work area as a mini office. Encourage your child to create an “in-basket” and “out basket.” They place their assignments in the order they want to complete them, giving your child control over their work. It is vital that they get into the habit of placing their homework log in front of them. This pays off in middle school and high school.

This next step can be a little tricky. Some parents want/need the homework done as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, some children need the time broken down into chunks of time. If your child’s attention tends to wander, set up a schedule that is appropriate for their age. For example, 15 minutes of work will earn a 15 minute video game break. Make sure they know in advance that if they don’t return quickly after the break, there will be no more breaks. Negotiations should be completed in advance and it even helps to write them down like a contract.

Once you’ve set up your schedule, gathered supplies, and defined your space, everything should go smoothly…right? Not necessarily! What do you do when your child becomes frustrated?
The answer will be in part 2…