Anne-Charlotte PasseraHomework has always been regarded as a non-glamorous chore by kids for more than a century.
It’s funny though that nowadays, as adults, we are working from home more and more. So what’s so different from “home” work and work home? If we can manage to be fulfilled by staying home to work, why can’t our kids be too? As parents, we need to help our kids see homework not as a penance but as a step to help them grow.
Not all kids are alike. They don’t all have the same learning capabilities. The ideas aren’t universal. Here are some general guidelines to making homework as fun as eating at an all you can eat buffet.
As Frankie would say: relax, don’t do it
It isn’t your job as a parent to do your kids homework. While it might be tempting, and we have all given a helping hand at some point, it is a disservice to your child.
It’s hard to resist not helping out with homework when it is taking for ever. You are starting to loose your cool. Dinner is probably ready. After a long day, you just want to get the whole evening routine over with so that you can binge on a new Netflix series. I get it, been there. But stressing out about it is not going to help your child. In fact, quite the opposite. He will probably be even more frustrated.
While you shouldn’t do the work, you can supervise. You can give ideas and suggestions. Ask the right questions. But more often than not, it all comes down to timing. Would your child and you get so frustrated over homework if it wasn’t due for the next day? What if he had had more time?
Create a schedule unfit for a Prime Minister
Having a routine and a clear schedule is key to making homework seem more enjoyable than a struggle.
After a long summer break of spontaneity it can be hard finding the right balance at the start of a new school year.
That’s why as soon as you have your child’s schedule in hand you can start creating a realistic plan.
Just like you, your kids will need time to decompress. Don’t pack his schedule with too many activities. Leave room for boredom, which is great for the imagination. It also allows space for unforeseen obstacles that life or school work can bring.
Having realistic downtime is just as important as having time to do homework.
Read our article on after school activities.
Design a personal homework space
Not everyone has an empty space that they can convert into an office or a homework room. Often kids have to share rooms, leaving them with little privacy to do their homework. So hello kitchen table.
Pinterest is a great tool to use for ideas on how to create a work space in a tiny environment at a relatively low cost.
While I won’t be giving you design tips here are some general guidelines to think about:
- create a special area with no distraction.
- make sure that the area has all the supplies necessary. If your kid is not missing any tool, he won’t have any reason to leave his work space.
- if your child doesn’t like to work in total silence, create an ambient music list on spotify for homework. You can create it together.
- allow a space for healthy snacks that will fuel their productivity.
- if it’s possible, work alongside him or read. Some do like companionship.
Going to the library to do homework can also be beneficial. It’s more practical on week-ends than after school. There is plenty of space to go around and you are surrounded by helpful ressources not to mention quiet.
Visual reminders
Finally, whiteboards or chalkboards are useful for reminders.
We have a painted chalkboard column in our kitchen. It has become our reminder board. My son uses it to write down the tests for the upcoming week along with special presentations. That way, he sees it every day and so do I.
It’s much easier for me to remember what he has to work on and to make sure that he studies in advance and not last minute.
Not keen on painting a wall with whiteboard or chalkboard paint? Not problem. You can buy adhesive paper that works just the same.
Learning tools to help kids with homework
Sometimes, your kids homework is beyond what you can remember. We can’t excell in everything.
Free learning apps exist that help kids with various subjects. Personally, I have never used them.
My go to though is telling my son to do his own research on the internet. Wikipedia and Youtube are generally good places to start with for research. Obviously, it also depends on your child’s age.
Also, having a good collection of books at home your kids can dig through can also help. If not, there is always the library.
If your child is struggling with a specific subject, ask a friend or a relative for help. Alternatively, communicate with the teacher and ask for resources. No one wants to see a child fail without having at least tried.
Breathing exercises
Ok. So this might seem a little too hipster or boho , but breathing exercises can help with homework.
Breathing exercises relaxes the body and focuses the mind. Because my youngest son gets stressed out before a test, I’ve taught him to do a breathing exercise. This can also be done before starting a homework session. It’s super simple.
- Take a deep breath through the nose and lift the shoulders at the same time towards the ears.
- Hold the breath and the position a few seconds.
- Release the breath through the mouth and drop the shoulders.
- Repeat 3 times.
Learning outside the box
Sometimes assignments can be boring as hell or simply uninteresting. It’s quite understandable the lack of motivation from your child it will entail.
When your child hits a roadblock, allow a break time to unfog the head.
Ask yourself how you can turn this uninteresting assignment into something meaningful.
Perhaps there is a book or a movie that can help. Maybe, an expo happens to be in town that relates to the subject. Use your imagination and think outside the box. Sometimes the best lessons learned are not necessarily inside the school book.
Moreover, take a walk with your kid. Fresh air and walking is always good to release stress. Use this causal time to talk about an upcoming presentation, or an essay that needs to be written. It’s also a good way to review for a test in a less structured way. Learning lessons by heart doesn’t mean that your child understood the lesson. This is a good way to study in a less structured way and to see if your child understood the assignment. Regardless on how you go about teaching the ropes of doing homework with your kids, it is essential to have a positive attitude.
Encourage and create a productive time to learn.
Remember that it’s not all about having good grades, but more about learning and understanding.
