In a previous blog, I wrote about how some parents help too much with their kids’ homework-some going so far as to complete science fair projects themselves. In the June 2006 issue of ParentLife, eight tips are offered to help parents become better homework helpers.
Help your child with his homework but don’t do it for him. Your role is to offer assistance, if needed, not to supply them with the answers. If your child is struggling, show him how to put on his “thinking cap” and find the solutions on his own.
Officially designate a study area, one that has good lighting and is free of distractions.
Manage the time spent doing homework. Decide in advance when the best time to do homework will be. Leaving the time up in the air encourages procrastination.
Ease the level of difficulty of the homework as time passes. Start with the most difficult assignments first. Your child will be more alert when he begins his homework and getting the harder work done first works best. Then you can end the session with the easier assignments.
Work with your child’s teacher to make sure he is receiving the correct type of homework. A child should not have homework that involves new material. The article also reports that some educators recommend that the length of time it should take a child to complete his homework should equal his grade level times 10. So a child in third grade would have homework that takes 30 minutes to complete.
Organize materials needed to complete homework assignments. Keep a supply of pencils, paper and other supplies on hand to avoid delays.
Review the assignments at the beginning of the session to make sure your child understands what he is supposed to do. Then review at the end of the session to make sure the assignments were done correctly. You also want to find out if your child’s teacher wants you to correct your child’s mistakes or send them in as is. Some teachers prefer the latter because they can gauge whether students are actually learning the material.
Keep homework positive and fun and offer praise to your kids as they work.
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