Getting your kids to do their homework doesn’t have to be painful! We are sharing our tried and tested tips and resources to help you stop fighting your kids about homework and start enjoying your evenings together (maybe playing some fun math games!)
Step 1: Have a planned out set schedule for each night.
This is something you need to spend a little time at the beginning of each day, week, or month (depending on your schedule) and help your child break up their time after school. Check out all of our FREE homework trackers, schedules, and homework planner to help you make a plan with your child. This will look different for each child. Some kids may need to have a snack first thing after school and some may prefer to start on homework first thing. This step is so important to help your child figure out what works best for them. Make sure you help your child build in some breaks too!
Step 2: Have homework assignments written down each day.
Students must know where to find their daily homework schedule and write it down each day. Reach out to their teacher and make sure you and your child understand where homework will be listed daily (sometimes it is in Google Classroom, on the teacher’s website, or simply written on the board depending on the teacher). We suggest writing the assignments down each day in an agenda book or on a homework tracker (like the ones we provide in our FREE resources.)
Step 3: Have one dedicated spot for homework with all supplies organized and easily accessible.
Set up a homework friendly area. Make sure kids have a well-lit place to work on homework. Keep supplies — paper, pencils, glue, scissors — within reach. This can be anywhere but should stay consistent. If your child has different houses they go to throughout the week make sure that each place is set up with supplies and ready to go at all locations.
Step 4: Keep distractions to a minimum.
Everything and anything that distracts your student should be off or out of sight. No television, no devices, no loud music, or social phone calls. (Sometimes a peer phone call to study or work together is encouraged!) We know with the pandemic things have been increasingly harder to keep distractions to a minimum but if you have a dedicated space and time when homework is being done hopefully other family members will also keep distractions to a minimum. We suggest having other students also do homework at the same time and younger siblings doing quiet activities or their “practice homework” at the same time (reading, coloring, puzzles).
Step 5: Be a monitor and motivator.
Encourage your student, ask questions, listen to their concerns, and support them in building these study habits at a young age. We encourage parents to be available for questions and guidance but kids need to be doing the thinking and learning. The best way to support your child is have them complete their homework completely on their own and you check over it after they are done. This builds confidence, makes your student apply the skills they are learning, and should cut down on their frustration because they know they are not doing completely on their own but will have you to check in with after they are completed.
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