Parent Tips

Avoid having your child do homework with the television on or in places with other distractions, such as people coming and going. Try having all family members take part in a quiet activity during homework time. You may need to take a toddler outside or into another room to play.

Ask your child if special materials will be needed for some projects and get them in advance.

 Establish a set time each day for doing homework. Don‘t let your child leave homework until just before bedtime. Think about using a weekend morning or afternoon for working on big projects, especially if the project involves getting together with classmates.

Some children benefit from movement breaks throughout homework time. Try having the child work for 10 minutes then have them take something upstairs/get the mail/do push ups/something to get them up and moving.

Tell your child how important school is. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires. Children do better and have better feelings about going to school when parents and families take interest in their academics!

Show your child that the skills they are learning are related to things you do as an adult. If your child is reading, you read too. If your child is doing math, balance your checkbook.

Giving answers means your child will not learn the material. Too much help teaches your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him or her.

Cooperate with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are a team. Follow the directions given by the teacher.

Too much parent involvement can prevent homework from having some positive effects. Homework is a great way for kids to develop independent, lifelong learning skills.

Talk with your child‘s teacher. Make sure you know the purpose of homework and what your child‘s class rules are.

Have your child do the hard work first. This will mean he will be most alert when facing the biggest challenges. Easy material will seem to go fast when fatigue begins to set in.

Let your child take a short break if she is having trouble keeping her mind on an assignment.

If your child has been successful in homework completion and is working hard, celebrate that success with a special event (e.g., pizza, a walk, a trip to the park) to reinforce the positive effort. All ages respond to praise. Kids need encouragement from people whose opinions they value the most-their families! "Good first draft of your book report!" or "You've done a great job!" can go a long way toward motivating your child to complete assignments.