Should Parents Be Involved in Their Child’s Homework?

Even though students spend eight hours in school, parents are no less a part of their learning process. It is sometimes more difficult to deal with children at home because they are already tired from an entire day of school. But there are ways to overcome certain boundaries and encourage students to be more proactive about assignments.

The main mentors for most students at a young age are their parents. Parental advice and actions set the pace for how young learners cope, understand, and function when given a set of responsibilities. Students never enjoy their homework, but with the cooperation of parents and teachers, a student can optimize her time and effort to make the most of her homework.

How can you help your child with homework?

1. Be a good role model:

• Parents are the primary role models that children follow. There are numerous ways in which unbeknownst to you, you affect your children.
• They follow your lead in most aspects of life, so if you encourage them to respect their teachers and make school work a priority, they will follow your lead.
• Take your own work seriously and when you come home from work and check your emails, instruct them to go over their homework. That way they will grow up understanding the importance of homework.

2. Make homework a bonding experience:

• While students spend most of their learning time at school, homework is the common ground between students, teachers and their parents.
• You can use homework to bond with your child.
• Every evening when you sit down to help your child to complete her homework it becomes a bonding exercise where you get to understand what she is being taught at school.
• Have a small study or learning area in the house where you spend time with your children and help them with their work.
• This may be a desk with a decorated soft board or a simple dining table. Just ensure that it is warm, comfortable and inviting so that you both enjoy working there.

3. Guide your children:

• Do not do your children’s homework for them. Guide them, but do not smother them with help.
• Homework encourages them to study independently and your role is to encourage it and facilitate their learning. A hands-off, supervisory approach yields the best results.
• Be supportive of their efforts and keep an eye on their progress.
• If you find them falling behind, you may need to coach them a little at home. You may hire a tutor for the purpose or do it yourself, but be involved.
• Don’t try to help children when they can manage their work by themselves. This is not a place you ought to exhibit your helicopter parenting tendencies.
• Do not make homework a stressful issue every evening. Beyond a point, let your child deal with the consequences of not doing his work.
• There are many issues that can crop up while studying, read up on problems faced by students while writing assignments and how to overcome it in order to find a solution.
• At the same time, don’t be afraid of your children. You may not scold them, but you are well within your rights to withdraw TV and internet privileges if your child repeatedly refuses to do his homework.

4. Take an interest:

• Children always respond better when they know that you are invested in their progress.
• Don’t nag them but ensure that you keep an eye on them because they are often reticent about sharing their problems.
• If your child is repeatedly leaving work undone, try to sit down and speak to him to understand why he is behaving in that manner.
• Children ordinarily work very hard to please their teachers and parents, so if they behave to the contrary, there is often a very legitimate reason behind their behaviour.
• Sometimes children have trouble understanding specific concepts or are being bullied in school by their peers or by a particular teacher. You will never come across this information if you don’t speak to your children.

5. Punishment is not the solution:

• While fear is a remarkably effective motivator for a lot of children, it is not a long term solution.
• Children grow out of their fear and using a punishment or repercussion based approach will likely traumatize your child.
• Instead be supportive and encouraging. Ensure that your child knows that your relationship does not depend on his progress at school.
• Children with supportive and encouraging parents are normally confident and independent. These students are a lot better at their homework and other school work because they feel secure.

6. Plan your work:

• Children work well on a schedule. So ensure that you work with them in a consistent and timely fashion.
• Keep up with their progress at school by speaking to their teachers and following their homework schedule.
• Once you understand what they are being taught in class you can plan the homework schedule in a way that supplements what they are studying in class.
• If you find an approach that works best with your students, stick to it. Some students work well after a nap and others work better right before bed.
• Whatever your schedule, make sure your child is alert and responsive during your homework session. If you come home late, your child may be too tired to study, so find a way around your work schedule to ensure you’re both fresh and energetic when you sit down to work.