HOMEWORK: HASSLES & STRATEGIES

Homework: a Three-Way Battle
A parent may think the teacher is assigning work that is
too difficult or boring, or the material isn't explained clearly.
The student feels it's unfair to have to do anything academic
once he gets home. And parents can rarely avoid getting
emotionally involved!

There is often a mental or emotional block getting in the
way of studying. It is our job as parents to help our children
understand how their minds function, so they can do their
homework using the most efficient methods possible.
Ways to do this are:

1. Get rid of negative feelings
2. Schedule a regular homework time
3. Be a consultant to your child school supplies
   and look at all assignments
4. Break down assignment into manageable tasks
5. Provide a regular study space and necessary
6. Tune into you child's feelings

Parent/child power struggles can be resolved:
Judy liked to talk on the phone throughout the evening and she wasn't doing well in school. Her parents made an agreement
with her that she would unplug her phone during homework time,
but they would let her leave her answering machine on
so when she had finished her homework she could return the calls. It
worked nicely for both Judy and her parents.

Be aware of how much time is spent on homework. If a child is struggling to complete the work in a reasonable time, schedule a
conference with the teacher and talk about the problem.
There may be a simple solution. When checking homework, catch the
child in the middle so that if he is doing something wrong, you can help him get on the right track. Don't wait to check the homework
until after the child has completed it, when he may have to go back and redo the whole assignment. Any child hates that!
For a young child, a spot at the dining room table while you are cooking dinner, sewing, or reading near by may just be the
ticket. You are there if your child gets off task or needs assistance. Television should be off during homework, but studies have
shown some children do better with music, as opposed to complete silence.

Homework: Hassles & Strategies Revised 08/2006
When helping children with homework, each parent has individual skills, tolerance levels, patience, and personality traits.
One may be more successful working with a particular
child's needs, learning style and personality than the
other. One might be able to explain a particular subject matter
more clearly. Time available is another factor.

Homework can help Children:
~Practice what they have learned in school
~Get ready for the next day's classes
~Use resources, such as libraries and encyclopedias and computer resources
~Learn things they don't have time to learn in school

Homework doesn't have to be a battle. With the right support, parents can help children aid themselves in learning how to study and take responsibility for their daily assignments. Homework develops children's initiative and responsibility, and they will grow up to be more responsible, disciplined adults. Homework can also help children
learn good habits and attitudes. It also gives the parents a
chance to become involved in their child's education, which in turn shows the child that education is important.

Provide guidance - but don't do the homework for your child:
It can be difficult for parents to let children work through problems
themselves and learn from their mistakes. It's also hard to know where to draw the line between supporting and doing. One of the first rules to remember is that "It is not your homework - it is your child's homework."

Doing assignments for your child won't help him understand and use
information, and it won't help him become confident in his own abilities.

Remember you are your child's first teacher. You know your child better
than anyone else. The one most important thing you can do for your child is to read, read, read to your child until he is ready to read to you and then take turns reading.

After children have been away from the school routine for some time, it is good to ease them back on schedule a week or more before school starts with a regular bedtime, getting up, dressing and eating breakfast as if they were going to school.

Planning some special activities for those last days before school starts can make children more enthusiastic about school. Talk with your child about reasons for homework. Homework offers valuable practice, improves skills and grades, and encourages responsibility.