Help with Homework: A Guide for Parents
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Teenagers in the 21st century are spending twice as much time on homework as children in the 90s.
Assisting your child with homework should not be overwhelming for you. If it becomes overwhelming, it may mean that you are doing more than you should. Your goal as a parent is to be an assistant and facilitator.
If you find that homework is becoming a burden, then there are a few tricks that you can learn to give your child help with homework while offering them the ability to learn independently.
Don’t Hover
The old way of doing homework encouraged you to sit beside your child and assist whenever they needed help. The problem is that as a parent it is difficult to sit by and allow your child to make mistakes with their work.
It is easy to find yourself jumping in to give too much assistance. The best way is to be nearby should your child need you but encourage them to think on their own as much as possible. There are times when you may need to sit with your child for a while to help them.
For example, if they get math homework that involves word problems and extensive calculation, it is more effective to sit with them and assist them for at least a brief period of time. For more help, you can go to the online math question bank at https://www.derivita.com/online-math-question-bank/.
Establish a Routine
Children are used to having structure because they have it every day at school. It should be no different when they are home and have to do school work. Establish a time frame for doing homework assignments every day after school.
You and your child can figure out the best time and place to make the routine a success.
Use a Calendar
In the shuffle of everyday life, it can be easy to forget when assignments are due. The deadlines can creep up on children before they know it. Print out a calendar and place all their deadlines on it.
Put the calendar in a location where your child will see it every day. This is a great way to ensure that assignments are done on time.
If your child has a phone, then you can use an online calendar such as Google Calendar to give reminders about work.
Allow Your Child Time to Relax
After a long day at school, there’s nothing wrong with letting your child have some relaxation time before they dive into homework. Children can get overwhelmed when they don’t get a break.
Be sensitive to this but ensure that there are boundaries so that homework is done on time. It should never be that homework is still being done near bedtime.
Help With Homework
Now you know exactly how to offer your child help with homework in an effective manner. Try to be there to assist your child while allowing them to do things on their own.
This will give them confidence in their ability to complete tasks. Remember to always ensure that your child has a set time and place for doing homework.
If you would like more helpful tips, please visit the education section of the website.