How's the homework going?

Homework can be a heavy load.

Have you ever wondered how some children are able to complete their homework assignments quickly while others seem to spend hours of time reaching the finish line?  The answers to these questions may not be what you think.  Both instances may indicate some degree of difficulty your child is experiencing.  Do not be fooled by your expectations, perceptions or child's explanations. Just because one child completes his homework rather quickly does not mean it is accurate.  He may have rushed through the material to get it over with.  As a result, he has not gained any knowledge or acquired any of the intended skill.  On the other end of the spectrum, the child who spends a tremendous amount of time may need additional support to complete his assignments.  Let's not forget the child who never wants his parent to review his homework.  This is clearly a warning sign to heed.  But, why is this happening?

The parent whose child completes the homework without an apparent hitch may be under the impression that their child is performing at a high achievement level.  Well, sorry to break it to you, but, this may not be the case at all.  What may be happening is the child is rushing through his homework in order to engage in other activities that he finds more interesting.  Surfing the net, texting, chatting, socializing with friends or playing outside may be more appealing to him after spending about 7 hours in school.  It may also be the case he simply does not understand the material and jots anything down to appease you and have something to turn-in to the teacher.  The reason for his rushing may also be stressed-related.  The child may feel stress while in school for any number of reasons (i.e. lack of support from the teacher, peer pressure, bullying, lack of confidence, etc).  No matter what the reason or any combination of reasons, the issue needs to be addressed and resolved.

Let's turn to the flip side of the matter.  The parent whose child takes more than time than is  reasonable (some experts quote time of no more than 1 hour) to complete his homework may believe their child is meticulous and dedicated to his studies.  It is likely the parent also believes the extra time is well-spent and will result in greater student performance.  Again, this is not necessarily the case.  The child may not understand his assignments and is struggling as a result.  This child, too, will need additional support if he is to become confident and academically successful.

In either situation, look for patterns of behavior which may be an indicator to the true problem for your child.  Discuss the situation with your child to hear his thoughts and feelings.  Speak to the teacher to gain more insight into the issue and asks for suggestions.  Talk to other parents who may offer helpful ideas.  Your friends may recall a situation they faced as a student and recommend a solution.  Research almost always offers something valuable but the warning with this is to curtail it to your child and his situation.

As a final thought, know that the warning signs are always there when children encounter difficulty.  As parents, we must be willing to see what is directly before our eyes and deal with it.

We welcome your comments, suggestions and related-experiences.  Should you wish to contact Kelly, a mother of 4 children, please email her at kellybedford4@yahoo.com.  You may also "Subscribe" by clicking the tab above the article.

For more parent-related articles by this author please click and read:

1. What should parents expect during the first weeks of school?
2. The "H" word... Tackling homework sessions with your child.
3. Flunking the easy stuff.