Taming Homework Hassles

Schools are in the full swing of things and this includes the piling on of homework deeper than the leaves in the backyard.

Since my school days, homework has become a fact of life. A survey released by the University of Michigan compared weekly schedules in 1981 and 1997 and found that time spent in homework has more than doubled for six to eight-year-olds.

Homework has the downside of being cited as the cause of every evil plaguing kids from acne to stomach aches. Parents often feel like a homework cop with the home front becoming a battleground of nightly confrontations with tearful resolutions.

It doesn’t take long to loose control of the situation when a child whines that you aren’t being fair or questions your love when you are tough on having homework assignments completed. The situation can deteriorate rapidly as homework gets put off even longer while you argue over matters that have nothing to do with homework.

Parents have the power to turn the homework battleground zone into one of motivating your child to succeed academically. It is a daily opportunity to have a positive impact on your child’s education and future.

Oftentimes, homework is the first time a child has a chance to demonstrate responsibility. Your child is responsible for bringing the work home, doing the work, and returning it to school. The cornerstones of helping children succeed in life are built by learning to follow directions, managing time, and beginning and completing a task.

The challenging part is developing a consistent homework approach. Some things to consider:

Set up a study area that is distraction-free. Doesn’t matter if it’s the kitchen table or a desk in their bedroom, just be sure there is no TV, radio, or accessible phone.

Schedule time for homework just as you would for soccer practice or piano lessons. Motivate your child by specifically praising what you like about their work. Reinforce this message with a hug or pat on the shoulder.

Form a closer partnership with your child’s teacher. This is especially important if you have speeders who rush through their homework or forgetters who fail to bring homework or forget they have any. Good communication between parent and teacher helps your child become more responsible for completing assignments because of the risk of being caught in a lie by the parent or teacher.

If you child is spending more than 10 minutes per grade level a night on homework, let your teacher(s) know. The National Education Association recommends the 10-minute rule as a way to gauge the homework load and your child’s ability to complete academically appropriate assignments.

If your child appears to not care or consistently produces sloppy and incomplete work, consider suspending privileges.

Developing study strategy skills now can help your child achieve better grades to get into the college of their choice. My boys know they have to complete homework before going out to play or heading to extra curricular activities. If homework is forgotten, they call a classmate. When the grades are marked below “C” level, they know my husband and I will keep a close watch over their shoulder as they complete assignments.

Be consistent and patient with your child and everyone will survive the homework hassles.