Photo via Pixabay by LUM3N
Helping your children with their homework can be overwhelming even on the best of days; sometimes, the work is easy, but it’s been a long day and your brain has had enough. Other times, it’s hard to tune back into concepts you learned years ago in order to help your child understand, or maybe there are new concepts you never even studied. Some kids have a hard time concentrating when they’re at home, knowing there are video games to be played and snacks to be had, while others battle with procrastination.
There are many reasons why families have a hard time with homework, but fortunately, there are some simple solutions for both your child and yourself that will help you get through it painlessly. Whether you want to create a relaxing atmosphere that will make it easier for your child to concentrate or just find a motivation that works, you can help your child be more successful in school. Here are a few tips on how to start.
Talk to His Teacher
Keeping communication open with your child’s teacher will help immensely when it comes to staying up-to-date on homework and what will be expected of him. Check to see if his school offers communication via an app like ClassDojo, which allows teachers and parents to stay in touch with one another regarding behavior, homework, and things like field trips and class parties. If your child is having trouble relating to the concepts taught in class, ask his teacher about sending home some practice work.
Create a Workspace
Every child needs a good workspace to do their homework in. Sitting at the kitchen table is fine, but it can offer a lot of distractions, especially if you have other children. Look for a desk that will allow him to get his work done in peace; if you don’t have a lot of space, consider a corner desk – they don’t take up a lot of room, yet still provide a specific study area to help your child get the work done.
Make Learning Fun
Many kids work best when they are having fun at the same time. Allow your child to get away from pencil and paper for a few minutes and get out into nature, where he can learn while he’s having a good time. Click here for some great tips on how to help your child have a blast outdoors while he’s learning something new about nature.
Create a Routine
Routines are essential if you want your child to be successful in any venture, and that is especially true for homework. Get him on a schedule he can stick to, such as grabbing a snack once he gets home, then starting homework, doing chores, eating dinner, etc. Once he gets used to doing the same activities every day at the same time, it will be much easier for him to maintain them, and soon you won’t have to remind him anymore.
Step Back
While it may be tempting to step in and help your child as much as possible when they struggle with homework, you may actually be hindering their progress if you help too much, especially once they’re past the age of 6 or so. Kids need to do the work on their own if they’re going to learn and retain the concepts, so take a step back and let him figure it out on his own.
Helping your child with homework can be overwhelming for both of you if you don’t have a good plan in place, so talk to his teacher about the best ways you can help. Creating a positive learning environment will go a long way toward helping him focus, which means not only minimizing distractions but also cheering him on and encouraging him as much as possible. With some good preparations, you and your child can make his school year a success.
This article is written by guest blogger Emily Graham from www.mightymoms.net
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