by Hades2k
Does it ever cross your mind how glad you are that some of the aspects of your school life are over? Not having to revise for or sit exams, not having to do cross-country, and not having to do homework! Sure, there may be times when you have to bring work home – or maybe you work from home – but at least when you’re working, you’re getting paid to do it.
For our kids, though, homework is something that they will doing a lot of in the next few years, whether you’ve got a pre-schooler who’s about to start the journey of learning to read, or if you’ve got a teen sitting their first major exams this year, homework is a big thing in the life of a child.
So how can we as parents help our kids with their homework? The cardinal rule, of course, is not to do it for them – this isn’t helpful in the long run, even if it means getting it over and done with more quickly today! But what we can do is help our children approach their homework in the most positive way possible, so that, even though it may sometimes be a chore to get through, for the main part it’s as fun as it can possibly be.
Preparing The Proper Workspace for Productivity
A good work space is essential once your child starts doing maths or writing work at home. It may have been ok to learn to read on the sofa, but they’ll need a desk for written work. This article shows nice desks for kids, with a range of great accessories to go with them. Buying a desk for your child shows them that you want them to take their homework seriously, and also provides them with a dedicated work space for the job. It will also help them develop their organisational skills if you tell them it’s their space to manage and keep tidy.
As well as providing your child with the space to work, you also have to help them deal with homework mentally. Most primary school children will have a few days to complete their homework. Try and instil in them the principle that they shouldn’t leave it to the last minute. It’s often more effective for them to do a little each night than all in one fell swoop. If they understand this in primary school, it’ll make managing their homework through the secondary school years a lot easier.
Although you may want to get homework off the list the moment the kids walk through the door, this isn’t when they’ll be at their best, and homework might become the cause of an argument if you don’t let them have some down time first. Make sure the kids have a snack and a drink and have a chance to tell you about their day before you suggest they make a start on their homework.
Homework needn’t be a chore and if children develop a positive attitude towards it (with our help); then maybe it won’t be something they’re relieved is over when they’re grown-up!
