Establishing homework habits at an early age is important for both you and your child. Consistency will make your child feel more comfortable and confident while working. Here are some homework tips that will help you maintain your sanity and keep your child on-task:
CREATE A SET HOMEWORK SPOT FOR YOUR CHILD. This special spot could be his or her own desk or the kitchen table.
KEEP IT QUIET. Although some children do well with soft background music, most do their best when televisions are off and other family members are not too loud.
ENSURE THAT SUPPLIES ARE WITHIN REACH. Try keeping things like paper, pencils, erasers, crayons, etc. in a box or basket.
SET A TIME. Your child should know that homework needs to be done before television or the computer or the phone. Give your child 15-30 minutes to unwind and then homework is expected to begin.
MONITOR PROGRESS. Younger children may need help understanding directions. Older children may need time reminders in order to organize their assignments.
OFFER GUIDANCE, BUT DON'T DO THE WORK FOR YOUR CHILD. Instead, point out small ways to improve the work - "Count how many times you used the word 'good'. Think about other words to use or check the thesaurus."
ENCOURAGE. Let your child know when you see effort and improvement. Don't look for perfection.
Finally, be consistent. If you set up a homework plan and stick to it, you and your child will be more relaxed. Then homework can be seen for what it's meant to be: a time to practice skills and develop strong study habits. So start the year by jumping right back into that homework routine. Happy learning!
The above information was taken from the August/September 2003 issue, page 42 of Teaching K-8 magazine.
