Homework Tips for Parents

For the most part, my kids are great about doing their homework. My daughters, who are both in the second grade, get out their homework first thing (without any prodding by me) when they get home, take it to our kitchen table and complete it. Once their math and spelling homework are done, they immediately complete the 20 minutes of that is assigned daily to them.

I can’t take all of the credit for their good work, since a lot of their earnestness about their homework comes from them. But there are a few things I do to make their homework a routine (and relatively painless) event. I’ve also done some reading up on how to make getting kids to do their homework easier. Here are some tips:

Create a place for doing homework: Kids need a well-lit and quiet space for their homework. For us, it’s at the kitchen table (under a three-light chandelier), but it could also be at a desk in a study or in their room. It’s best to screen out distractions like cell phones, music and the TV.

Set a time for homework: I’ve found that completing homework as soon as the kids get home from school works best for us, but what works best for your family will depend on your schedules. I have found, however, that pushing homework to later in the evening (e.g., after a sports practice or another scheduled event) can be problematic, at least for younger children. If a child runs into a problem with his or her homework and is tired, he or she will have more difficulty with it. (We once had tears from both girls when we tried to tackle math homework late in the evening after a soccer practice – not a good scene.)

Have supplies on the ready: Keep what your child will need to complete his or her homework on hand. For example, in our kitchen, we have a cup of pencils and a ruler always on hand, since my daughters have been assigned a lot of measuring and drawing of perimeters and shapes for their math homework this year.

Be in the know: Make sure you are aware of what’s expected of your child and what his or her homework is. If you have any questions about the homework, contact your child’s teacher. (Most teachers are available through e-mail; some teachers also keep parents in the loop through a classroom page on the school’s website.) Parental involvement is crucial to a student’s success.

Be ready to help: Be on hand to provide guidance if a child needs it, but let him or her complete the homework independently. You want to empower your kid and help him or her learn, not supply them with the answers. Also, look over your child’s homework when they are finished, but don’t correct it for them, unless the teacher has given you permission to do so. Seeing the errors your child makes will help their teacher know the progress they're making. Quiz your child on spelling, math facts, etc., to test their knowledge.

Do your homework: While your child is working on homework, it may be helpful if you do your “homework” nearby. For example, while my children are doing their homework, I often use the time to get some writing done, or I might work on paying and organizing bills.

Prepare for the next school day: Once your child completes his or her homework, by all means make sure that it makes its way into your child’s book bag, so it's ready to hand in by its due date.

Reward kids for a job well done: Once your child has finished their homework, you may want to reward them for a job well done by providing a healthy snack or a fun activity.