Establishing a homework routine at home.

Homework!

A curse word for many but it doesn’t need to be.

I often have parents seeking help to ease the chaos of their afternoons that homework brings about. I am a firm believer in homework, not just from the academic side. Homework teaches so many vital skills in order to function in the adult world. It teaches discipline, perseverance, the importance of routine, problem solving, responsibility and self-regulation – to name just a few. In the beginning years at school, this does fall heavily onto the parent but if handled correctly, this can become an effortless task on your part, as the parent, as you watch your child grow academically through their improved independence.

Your job, as the parent, is not to teach them the concepts that the homework piece is covering. This would have been covered in school and is a mere extension of that. Let the teachers be teacher. Your job is to teach them the skills to compete the homework piece as well as the skills on how to manage a homework piece they don’t know how to complete. Through time management, problem solving and self-regulation tools, you help teach them how to execute tasks in the most productive way.

How to help:

1) Set out a workspace.     

Set out a designated work space that is theirs to work at solely for homework. If you don’t have one area then teach them how to transform one area so that it looks a particular way every time they complete homework.

2)   Set and follow a routine.

Set a routine for the afternoon that is followed consistently. Consistency is key. Routines help get our mind into the work space it needs to be at. Make this a set amount of time each day starting at the same time each day. How much they cover is irrelevant, the important part is that they are understanding that this set amount of time each day is designed for work. It is also vital to understand that this is not a target of how much work to complete as that will differ each day. For example, one day they may complete 2 worksheets on homework while the next they only manage one sentence.

3)  Have clear outcomes for each day.

Have a set outcome for that session. The outcome may be as simple as ‘know what tomorrow’s homework session will focus on’ or as advanced as completing a page of Maths equations.

4) Time management.    

The first homework session of the week should be breaking down the week’s assignment so that each day has its own focus. This way, if your child becomes stuck, they have plenty of time to manage through the problem and seek out their teacher’s assistance.

5) Limit distractions.

All equipment needed should be at the workspace already so that time is not spent finding a calculator or sharpening a pencil. Take away books, screens or any other item that could distract your child.

6) Don’t fear school consequences.

Don’t fear them getting into trouble for missing a deadline – if it was due to their actions. Sometimes you child needs to sit that detention or have their teacher ‘tell them off’ to learn that that in order to not receive that again, they should complete their homework. Consequences are there to help children learn. Of course, they are unpleasant but they are also vital tools to child development.

Homework is not all about academic achievement even though most of the emphasis is placed on that. Even with all best intentions, if you are not consistent in your approaches (whatever they may be) then that leaves a much smaller margin for success.