Time for homework
Now that school is well underway, the homework has started to trickle home. For students in the earlier grades homework can be fun and children take pride in having real homework to do, just like their older brothers and sisters. But it doesn’t take long for the thrill to wear thin and for homework to become a chore.
Setting up some parameters around homework can help set the stage for a more organized routine. Some kids can come home and get started on their homework almost immediately, getting it “over with?, while others need some down time after school before buckling down to the books again.
Get to know what works best for your child and support his natural clock. Putting homework off until later in the evening, however, can often be a mistake. By then, many kids are exhausted and a tired child is an easily frustrated child.
Having a quiet spot to concentrate on homework is a big help. For many youngsters, the kitchen table works best. They don’t feel isolated, you’re available for help and they can be monitored, more or less, if necessary to remain on task.
Some children who are self-motivated and disciplined may prefer doing their homework in their rooms, especially when they are older. Homework in front of the TV is a no-no. It’s difficult to concentrate on math when The Simpsons are on the screen.
When to help and when not to help? There was a comic in the newspaper one day that showed a mom and a dad sitting on the couch, looking at their son’s report card together. Mom says to Dad, “How did you do on that science assignment?? Then Dad says to Mom, “I got A+. What mark did you get on that math quiz?? And so on.
The point is, let the kids do their own work. By all means, help them when they need help, but don’t do it for them. You’re not doing your child a service by doing their work just so they get it right. If they don’t understand the concepts at home, they won’t understand them the next day at school either.
Take the time to help your child understand the directions then give her the time to work independently. Check the work frequently to make sure she “gets it,? then let her do it on her own.
Once your child reaches junior high or high school, he should be working fairly independently. If your teen needs help on a regular basis, it may be advisable for him to seek extra help from his teacher. Most teachers offer extra help to students during designated times at lunch hour or after school.
If your child still needs extra help, consider hiring a tutor, even for a few weeks, to get your child back on track and help him to keep up and stay on top of the subject.
If your teen comes home and says he has already done all his homework, ask if you can take a peek. Just to be sure that he’s staying on top of it and doing what has to be done.
Helping your child with homework is an excellent way to stay in tune with what your child is learning at school. Take an interest in your child’s projects and assignments. Support them without doing the job for them. Boost your child’s self-esteem by giving the message that he can do it. Watch the pride that your child feels in his work, and wait until he comes home and shows you the sticker and mark he received.
Homework doesn’t have to be such a chore. It can be a time for you to show a special interest in your child and his accomplishments. And it can be the link between home and school.
Lila Hope-Simpson is the Director of the Home and Heart Nursery School in Wolfville
