Parents are often faced with the problem of how to help their children with homework struggles. There are many ways to approach this problem, and the best way to find what works for your child is to try a variety of methods.
However you approach this situation with your child, being positive and supportive will be a big part of ensuring success. Homework should be a collaborative effort between parent and child. So, don’t be afraid to try something new, and hopefully, soon enough, you will find a method that works for both of you!
Become More Hands-on with Homework
If you feel that your child needs more assistance with their homework, start by becoming more hands-on. For younger children, take an active role in the steps necessary to complete their homework, especially if they’re in a public charter school.
This is because their teachers might not be able to spend as much time with them since they have other children to look after. So, if your child is having trouble completing their homework on their own, consider looking over the work with them to show them exactly where they might be going wrong.
For example, if your child is learning addition, write down each equation as they solve it and check their work when they are finished. If your child needs more help than that, consider hiring a tutor to come to your house. This way, there won’t be any distractions and your child will be able to focus on their studies.
Set a Regular Homework Routine
The biggest benefit of the traditional school setup is that it trains children to get used to a set routine. Because they have the same schedule every day, the kids can predict what their day looks like since there is a definite structure.
You could use the same practice with routine homework. Set a certain time each day to do your child’s homework, and stick with it as much as possible. Even if something comes up and you have to do it the next night, you should still try to enforce the homework routine.
This way, your child knows when their homework will be done and can learn to manage their time better. And if you are too busy to take care of it every day, try setting aside a certain day of the week for homework on which you will maintain this regular time. Although it might be hard to stick with every day at first, this will be much easier as your child gets older and more mature.
Break Down Large Assignments Into Smaller Tasks
A common reason why students struggle with homework is that they are overwhelmed by how much work there is to do. If your child comes home with a large assignment, try breaking it down into smaller tasks.
For example, if they have a big report that needs to be done over the week, have them write down all the steps they need to take to complete the assignment. Then, assign a certain number of small tasks each day until it is finished.
Through this method, the student will get a better sense of what needs to be done and how long it will take them. Also, this makes the homework seem less overwhelming, so they are more likely to approach it with the right attitude.
Help Your Child Organize Their Workspace
A cluttered workspace can be a distraction and cause a student to waste time looking for their materials. To avoid this problem, try helping your child organize their workspace properly. First, make sure they know the importance of keeping their work area neat and tidy.
Then, help them come up with a system for storing their materials. A good general rule of thumb is that more frequently used items should be close to the student, and less often used ones further away. For example, pencils should be within their reach, while textbooks should be stored further away.
You might need to go over this with your child a few times and might even have to do a little clean-up yourself. But in the end, your child’s workspace will be much more organized, and they will waste less time looking for their materials.
Above all, homework should be a collaborative effort between parent and child because they might still be too young to do it alone, at least for the time being. So, don’t be afraid to try something new. Soon enough, you will find a method that works for your child and makes it easier to get homework done!
