The beginning of the new school year is an exciting time. Kids look forward to seeing old friends, meeting new teachers, getting new school supplies and clothes - the general feeling of starting fresh. However, with this also comes the dreaded homework. After years of ramping up, many school districts across the country have adopted policies in the past couple of years to reduce the amount that teachers require, especially in the elementary grades. As a parent, we’ve been happy to notice that the homework assigned has been less busy work and more effective at reinforcing the lesson plan.
So, what is the point of torturing children and their parents with homework night after night when they could be focusing on their extra-curricular activities or just helping around the house? The purpose of a good assignment is to teach kids organizational skills, practice what they’ve been taught in school, learn to read and follow directions on their own and how to manage their time. It’s also meant to give them a sense of responsibility and pride in a completed, thorough and neat job well done. Studies have shown that when children have the attention and support of their families in regards to their homework, they perform much better in school.
As a parent or caregiver there are a few quick tips to bring peace to your home when it’s time to get to work. To start with, sit down with your kids at the very beginning of the year and explain your expectations. Include your child in the conversation by having her set one or two goals. When everyone is clear on what the plan is, there can be no argument half way through the semester that he or she didn’t know they had to attain particular grades, academic achievements or classroom behavioral results.
Once the homework starts coming home, set up a consistent time each night that you all sit down for learning. It’s usually best to give them about ½ an hour after school to eat and unwind. This time shouldn’t include video games or television because it will be way to hard to pull them away. On your end, instead of chatting on the phone with friends or checking Facebook, take this time to read a book or help them with their work in order to model the importance of this specific time each day. Have them help you pick a good place that is distraction free and has the supplies they will need to get things done. Designate this the “homework spot” and keep it neat and organized. Be available to help out only if your child is asking for it. If you try to intrude or reteach what they learned in class, it can backfire on you by confusing them even more. Also, parents that do the homework for their kids take away their sense of independence and pride in their work. The student ends up less prepared for tackling obstacles on their own and generally have lower faith in their own abilities.
Lastly, focus on what the child is doing right rather than what is wrong. Catch them doing things properly and praise them for it. If you begin to notice consistent learning problems, get the teacher involved. And, most importantly make sure that your child is getting enough sleep each night! Sleep helps to improve memory and lower stress and anxiety. If you notice grades dropping and that your child is acting up or becoming more emotional and dramatic about homework, it could be correlated with a lack of enough sleep.