Your children spend the majority of their day at school so when they come home with work, it’s not surprising they might not want to do it. ...

How To Help Your Child With Their Homework

By September 06, 2024

Your children spend the majority of their day at school so when they come home with work, it’s not surprising they might not want to do it. They could be the most academic-minded individual, but even those who are good at schoolwork can get fatigued and not fancy doing more work outside of school. As a parent or guardian, you’ll want to do what you can to help your child out with their homework, but also help equip them with the tools needed for them to succeed. Whether their homework is making inferences anchor charts, writing an assignment or creating a science project, it’s important to do what you can to support them. In this article we take a look at some top tips that can ensure they get their homework done effectively and efficiently without too much headache in between!


Photo by Jena Backus from Pexels:  


Why is homework so important? 

While it might seem that homework is just extra work for your children to do after an already busy day, there are a myriad of proven benefits and reasons why it’s recommended for them to do it. This includes:


It reinforces what they’ve learnt in class

One of the most important things that homework does is allow students to practise and reinforce what they learnt in class. This can help them to get a better understanding of the topics and subjects they’re currently working on as well as explore topics more thoroughly than they might have had the chance to when they were in class. By developing their understanding, it helps them to solidify concepts and skills and enable them to apply this in future scenarios.


It helps them develop good work habits

Having positive work habits are vital for raising a well-rounded and intelligent child. By having them do homework it teaches them integral skills such as how to manage their time effectively, enabling them to balance their work with their other activities. It can also help them to develop a sense of responsibility and teach them the importance of taking charge of their assignments. Homework can also enable you to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential when you grow up and work in the real world. 


It prepares them for future academic challenges

School is just the start of the academic life for your children and homework is ideal for preparing them for what’s to come further down the line. By doing homework they’ll be ready for things such as quizzes, tests and exams in further education and can help them know how to deal with it better. It can also help them to build the skills needed for higher education where things like independent study and self-discipline are crucial. By knowing how to deal with this ahead of time, they will do better once it comes. 


It enables parents to be involved in their kids education

When it comes to knowing what’s going on in your child’s education, homework provides you with the perfect opportunity to do this. It provides an opportunity for you to have a look at the topics they’re studying, find more about what they’re doing and how they are performing and see what sense of understanding they have of the work. It can enable you to offer support when it’s needed and make the most of the bridge between home and school. It could be you notice an area that needs improving and can speak to the teacher about it, or vice versa. Your child’s teacher could recommend an area that you should work on with your child more at home to help them perfect a skill or get over a challenge they might currently be experiencing with their schoolwork. 


It can encourage a love of learning

The more your child loves learning and has an interest in education, the better. Homework can help them to explore different topics and do research which in turn can spark their interest in a subject. This can help them to love learning and the array of topics there to be discovered, extending their knowledge base beyond the classroom. This love of learning can also assist with developing personal skills such as hard work, perseverance and researching, all of which can be important life skills that they can utilize in many areas in their lives.


How can you help your child with their homework:

There are a myriad of ways you can help your child with their homework. Whether they’re going through a reluctant phase or you just want to assist with their work and be kept in the loop with what they’re doing, there are many things you can do. Some of the best ways to help include:


Create a routine

Children thrive off of having a routine, so it’s a good idea to create one for their homework. Try and have it the same or similar every day, so they come in from school, get changed, have a snack and a drink then spend a certain amount of time on their work. The routine can change depending on your specific child and the best time they work, but make sure it’s established and consistent so your child knows when it’s time to knuckle down, focus and get the work done. Some people find it works best having their child do their work after dinner, while others prefer straight away as they get in from school. It’s down to you to find something that works for all of you as a household and where they are the most productive and get the most out of the time spent that they possibly can.


Have a dedicated study space

If your child is trying to do homework sitting on your dining table surrounded by family chaos such as dinner being cooked, siblings being loud and other distractions, it can make it near impossible for them to get anything done. If you can, carve out a dedicated study space where they know it is for them to work. This should be free from distractions and clutter, be well lit and have all the items needed for them to work hard. Ensure there are things like pens, paper, charging sockets and more so they can just put their head down and focus when the time is needed. 


Be involved

Being a parent, it’s your role to be involved with the work they bring home and check they’re on track. It’s a good idea to keep track of your child’s assignments and chase them up if they’re falling behind or slacking with what needs to be done. Some schools have online portals where you can monitor any work your child has that’s outstanding as well as any upcoming tests they might need to prepare for. Stay in touch with your child’s teachers and find out if they need any extra help in any areas or if there is anything you can do to help improve their learning experience. You should also always ask your child about their day, finding out about what they’ve learned, their homework and anything interesting that might have happened. 


Encourage them to be independent

While you want to help out as a parent, you also need to encourage them to be independent and know how to problem solve on their own. Instead of just giving the answers which would mean they don’t need to learn the theory or apply any knowledge, guide them with questions and encourage them to solve problems on their own. You can also help them to break down large assignments into manageable tasks and be sure to praise the good work they’re doing and how hard they’re working.


Foster a positive attitude for learning

As a parent, you want to foster a positive environment for your child to learn. Consider reading books with them from a young age so they learn a love for reading, discuss current events and hobbies together and encourage them to always ask questions. Always try and speak positively about school and education - if your child feels you value these in life, they’re more likely to as well. They can be greatly influenced by what you think and feel so being a positive role model can really help.


Celebrate their achievements

One of the most important things you can do as a parent is celebrate the achievements of your child, both big and small. It’s vital you let them know how proud of them you are and support what they’re doing. You should also acknowledge the time and effort they put in, even if they don’t necessarily get top grades.


These are just a few things you can do that can help your child with their homework. Whether they are someone that loves to work and just needs a bit of extra motivation or if they’re someone that struggles with working outside of a school environment, these tips should help. What are some top tips you have for helping your child with their homework? Let usk know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.

You Might Also Like

0 comments