SUPPORTING CHILDREN TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK:

1. Make it clear that it is their homework, not yours!

Help your children to understand it is their homework and their responsibility to complete it. Guide them and help them and eventually they will do it themselves. It does not have to be perfect! It is their work!

2. Don’t force them to do their homework!

Don’t make it a power struggle. Nurture your relationship, it is much more important.

3. Discuss expectations and consequences with them!

Have a calm discussion with your child at the beginning of every term. This will help give them a sense of ownership. Set the time when homework will usually happen and where. Decide together which privileges will be off-limits until homework is done. Decide on the consequences together if the homework is not done. 

4. Don’t micromanage them!

It is possible for your child to do their homework on their own. As you support them in the early years, this help should become less and less. Some children are very independent and don’t need your help. They can just do it. Praise them for doing it on their own.

5. Create a distraction-free area for homework and studying!

Setting aside an area for study will help with focus. Make it an area where there is no TV or digital device distraction.

6. Acknowledge their good behaviour!

Be observant and find opportunities to praise your children for their efforts. Eg. “That’s great that you focused on your work for 20 minutes.”

7. Do your homework at the same time as them!

While your children are doing their homework, read, pay your bills, do an online study course so they see the importance of completing homework.

Homework is important, but there are other things that are even more important: Responsibility, persistence, commitment, curiosity, a love for learning. Homework is just one tool to reach these higher goals.

https://www.daniel-wong.com/2015/03/16/homework-without-nagging/