Helping Your Older Child With Homework
Homework is an important part of a child’s learning process, it’s also a great way for parents to be involved and keep informed about what’s being taught in class. The best way to ensure a productive learning experience
while doing homework depends on the child. Being behind a desk, in a quiet room, is not always the best way to learn.
When your child gets home, it’s important to talk about their day and review what homework they’ve been given. This will allow you and your child to establish a plan for completing their homework.
Some children would rather jump right in and complete their homework rather than have it on their mind all afternoon. Others need a mental break from the day before they can delve into more schoolwork. Either way is great, as long as there is an agreed upon plan.
It’s very important to give your child a meal before beginning their homework.
Hunger is a major distraction, and kids are always looking for any excuse to delay getting to their homework. Remove this distraction by providing a good snack, preferably with protein. Good snacks include a peanut butter sandwich or cold cuts, and carrots or fruit. These snacks should keep their energy levels up.
Next, choose the best environment for your child to do their homework in. Any area is fine as long as it is reasonably free from distractions. Don’t permit your child to do homework with the television on, this will guarantee failure. Light background music, on the other hand is acceptable. Before your child sits down to work, be sure that all the supplies they will need are ready at the table. Also be sure that they’ve used the bathroom and that they have a glass of water ready. Avoiding these potential distractions will save your child time once they begin their homework, and prevent breaks in their concentration.
The amount of assistance you provide your child with their homework, again depends on the child. If you are concerned, consult their teacher for guidance on how much help they should be getting. In general, you should be available to answer questions but not hanging over their shoulder doing the work for them.
Don’t over-assist your child on school projects, parents tend to be too concerned about the quality of their child’s work, believe me the teacher can tell when you’ve had alot to do with it. The child loses out on a valuable learning opportunity, and you’ve negated the efforts of the teacher who created the curriculum.
The most important things to remember are; to help them stay organized, provide a comfortable work environment and answer any questions they ask without becoming too involved.
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I think it is also important to teach your child to do their homework well the first time. Take your time to get all of the answers correct. Take pride in your work. Too often, children rush through homework to be able to get to play or watch TV. I suggest setting an amount of time for them to do their homework. If they finish early, they can double check their answers. This helps to teach them to slow down.