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Is your son or daughter struggling to complete their homework? You might be having trouble figuring out how to help them because you’re not sure what’s causing the problem. But some red flags can help you determine if your child is actually struggling or just being lazy, and also some techniques you can use to get them on track.
Motivate Your Child
It’s important to motivate your child to succeed in school, whether it’s helping them with their homework or being available as a sounding board when they have questions. The better they perform in school, in general, the more likely they are to be accepted into a good college. That can have ripple effects on their future career, so you must provide ample support and encouragement.
Create a Positive Learning Environment
There are a lot of reasons why kids might be struggling with their homework. In some cases, it could be that they’re not receiving enough help from parents or teachers; in others, it may be that you’re doing too much for them and taking away their intrinsic desire to learn. Create a positive learning environment by encouraging learning through play and emphasizing hands-on activities over passive practices like watching television.
Set Boundaries
If you’re someone who can’t say no, it’s time to learn. If your children need help with homework, they need to do their homework when they have time. This means that you need to be firm about not doing their work for them, even if it seems difficult at first. It may take a little while, but eventually, your kids will learn that if they want something done right (or at all), then they’ll have to do it themselves.
Don’t Take Away Rewards as Punishment
While it may seem like a good idea to take away television time, video game time, etc. as punishment for not doing homework, studies show that using negative reinforcement (like punishment) doesn’t make much of a difference in regards to motivating your child to do homework.
Communicate With Teachers
It may seem obvious, but parents should know what’s expected of their children at school. Whether it’s an assignment they need to get done or a test they should study for, kids and parents must be on the same page with homework expectations. If you aren’t sure of your child’s teacher or class schedule, reach out to his or her school directly.
Schedule a Regular Study Time
It’s important to stick to a study schedule. If you decide on 8 p.m., for example, you should be studying at 8 p.m., no matter what. Be realistic about your schedule and stick to it every time so that you can reinforce good habits as well as avoid bad ones (being late or procrastinating, which often leads to falling behind in work).
Summing Up
So how do you ensure your child gets their homework done every night? There are a few key elements that help students be successful at home with their assignments. The most important element is to sit down with your child and make a homework plan. This plan should include when, where, and what your child will do for each subject each night after school. Then, stick to it! Be present when your kids are doing their work and keep them on track by making sure they get everything finished by bedtime.
