By At the end of each day, you find your child stalling and not doing the homework. Why do you think? We are not surprised to know that you are in the same boat as many other parents whose kids believe homework to be intimidating. However, as per countless studies, after-school study time is crucial for reinforcing the day’s learning and lending structure to your child’s day.
According to Karen Burke, SVP of Data Analysis and Academic Planning of Scholastic Education Solutions, “Homework isn’t just about academics. It can enable students to create routines and build responsible behaviours. Generally, homework should help students set goals, build independence, and practice applying the knowledge they are gaining.”
Now, most parents like to take on the role of a cop and make their child sit at the edge of a gun to complete their homework. However, sadly, this strategy fails big time in a matter of a few days. Hence, it is wise to compose yourself and help your child get their enthusiasm back to make their homework routine as seamless as possible.
If you practically have little to no clue about how to metamorphose your child from a procrastinator to a winner, then this comprehensive post is for you. Here, we have compiled exclusive strategies shared by educators and parents for solving the most common homework struggles. These hacks and strategies are sure to bring harmony back into your child’s homework routine, regardless of whether they’re a kindergartner or in 6th grade, perfectionist or procrastinator.
Let’s get started!
Strategies For Tackling Homework Effectively
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Plan The Homework
Most children jump right into the first thing that’s on their mind or the first assignment that they pull out of their bad and work their way through the rest of their papers. However, we have a better way around it.
You can ask your child to ‘do my homework‘ start by listing everything that needs to be done that day. That is everything from re-reading notes to preparing for the next day’s classes.
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Do It Early
Provide your child with a time frame in which they should get down to business. In your household, this can be before or after extracurriculars.
Work with your child to determine when their concentration and energy are at their peak. This provides your children with some control over their schedule. However, try to ensure 5 pm is the latest they can start their homework.
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Assimilate All You Need
According to the best minds associated with science homework help services, ask your child to keep everything you need ready- like a laptop for research, a textbook for reference, a pen and pencils for writing, a calculator for problems, graphs if needed, and so on.
This is crucial as forgetting supplies and getting up between homework will take them off the course and make it challenging to get back to their homework effectively.
But, if they have planned their homework from the beginning, they will be able to figure out everything they will need and get each item ready before getting started with the actual work.
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Have A Comfortable Study Environment
When your child sits down to do his/her homework, where do they prefer to do it- in front of the TV? Well, that can be the biggest distraction that will slow them down and make the homework seem longer than it is. Or do they like to do it on the bed? In that case, that will make your child feel sleepier and distracted and lead to lower productivity.
It is significant to find a quiet place with fewer distractions so that your child can get their homework done faster and more effectively. It is also better to sit in a desk area with a comfortable chair in a well-lit environment, so they won’t need to strain themselves, especially their eyes.
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Eliminate All Distractions
We understand that this is next to impossible, but you must make sure your child puts away electronics, including their cell phones, during homework.
This will be worth it, as every time they get a notification and check their phone, it will break their focus and require them to work harder to get back on track. If they need to use their laptop while doing homework, install website-blocking apps like ‘stay focused’ and chrome extensions like ‘strict flow’ to keep them away from distractions and pop-ups.
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Collaborate To Develop Confidence
When children don’t understand a concept right away, they can feel like they’re not clever enough and start to shut down.
Try to short-circuit negative thinking by having a word with your child and figuring out the first issue in the homework together. This should enable them to jog their memory to complete the rest. Then, make sure to heap on the praise ‘You did a great job on that one! Why don’t you try the next one now!’
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Beat The Clock
Often, procrastinators require just need a jump-start. If that stands true for your child, try this- set a ten-minute timer and have your child work as swiftly as they can until the timer goes off. At that point, they can opt to take a short break or keep going.
Ann Dolin, a former educator, believes ‘Racing against a timer gives kids an external sense of urgency if they don’t have an internal one’. But a timed work session is not an excuse for sloppy work. Ensure your child reviews their homework before turning them in.
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Hardest Problems Come First
It will be easier for your child to start with simple stuff and get it out of the way, but when you start, you will have the most energy and focus.
You can ask your child to use this mental power and superior focus on the most challenging subjects. In this way, they work on the simpler and easier stuff when they’re tired and less focused.
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Listen To Classical Music While Studying
We know what you’re thinking right now…. Classical music? Seriously?
However, most educators believe classic music is excellent for background audio. There aren’t any beats or lyrics to distract your child’s focus. And research has shown that countless students who listen to classic music tend to score higher on tests than those who listen to other genres of music. So, ask them to find some remarkable classic playlists on Spotify and celebrate with them when they’re done.
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Take Short Breaks In Between Tasks
If you think your child has a lot to do, understand they will feel the pressure to just work straight through hours and hours of homework. But, this will likely end up slowing them down, prolonging the entire session.
In such a scenario, encourage them to work in short sprints. Advise them to go hard at a task and then take a quick break to stretch and walk around. It will also re-energise their mind and body to keep them going.
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Praise Their Work and Efforts
Especially for younger students, instant feedback is required. It is okay to correct mistakes unless a teacher asks you not to do them. However, ensure to praise your child for her efforts and emphasise what she has done well. She will be more inclined to do a good job the first time if she knows she will get your praise.
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Keep Some Healthy Snacks At Hand
As we all know, a hungry child is a distracted child! To keep your kids motivated on the task at hand, ensure they’ve got a couple of healthy and brain-boosting snacks nearby, as they won’t be in the mood to tackle homework if they’re hungry.
Things like chopped fruit, nuts, and vegetables are a quick and easy way to stave off the post-school hunger pangs until dinner time. So, make sure to focus firmly on those homework fractions. This is certainly a handy hunger homework hack!
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Reward Them After They’re Finished
Homework isn’t always fun for your child. However, negativity can slow them down. As a parent, it is vital to understand a child’s brain tends to work off reward systems. So, giving them a reward every time they finish their homework will make it a lot easier for them to start the homework the next time, and they will get through it faster.
Rewards could be like letting them watch their favourite show, play their favourite games, or go out together and do something fun.
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Let Them Vent
If your child is resisting doing their homework or tearing up in frustration, try to soothe any pent-up worries by letting them complain. Listen, empathise and state their feelings back to them. Say something like- ‘Wow, that is a lot of work. You sound upset.’
Once your child feels understood, they’ll be more likely to accept your suggestions. Also, they can focus remarkably on what needs to be done.
You can also help by speaking with your child about what they remember from class and steering them to the textbook. If they’re still lost, have them write a note to the educator explaining that they don’t understand.
Wrapping Up,
The wish to see your child complete homework effectively is a universal feeling. Now that you have all these strategies at hand implement them to see your child finish their homework easily and effectively.
One last piece of advice? Keep patience. The more you use our strategies, the easier it will become. You’ll be surprised by how much time your child can shave off homework simply by focusing and committing to our distraction-free plan. Here’s wishing you all the best!
