At our private school in Devon, we believe homework encourages children to build on their organisational, problem-solving, and independent skills and boosts their academic learning. But what if your child is struggling to hone their self-discipline skills and isn’t able to motivate themselves to do their homework?
We explore the best ways to help motivate your child to do their homework so they can start building a healthy homework routine outside of school.
Should Parents Help Their Child With Homework?
Firstly, many parents wonder if and how much they should be helping their children with their homework. Parental encouragement is very important, but getting the right balance between supporting and taking over the work when your child is struggling can be challenging sometimes.
We know that doing homework isn’t something that you or your child looks forward to, but gently encouraging them can make a positive improvement to their assessments and general attitude to school.
Helping and encouraging your children with their homework can also teach them some valuable lessons. Learning to ask for help when they find a question or task hard helps them to improve and teaches them that it’s okay to make mistakes and ask for help from others.
How to Best Help Your Children with Their Homework
- Don’t refer to your child’s homework as their ‘job’, this will discourage them and make it less likely for them to get everything completed on time.
- Provide prompt feedback. Giving your child feedback can not only help them see and learn from their mistakes, but also, as a child, knowing that your parents will give you feedback, helps to show that you care about their learning and will more likely encourage them.
- Praise your child for their effort and performance. Attach test results and work onto the refrigerator. Tell friends and family all about their achievements.
- Help them make a plan. If your child has been sent home with a big amount of homework, help them to split up each task across the evening and encourage them to take 15 minute breaks every hour.
1. Create a Homework Schedule
Establishing a structured routine is key to fostering a positive attitude towards homework and can be really useful when your child already has a range of extracurricular activities to participate in, too.
Sit down with your child and map out a schedule that allocates specific times for homework throughout the week. This will help create consistency, encouraging them to understand the importance of prioritising their tasks and cultivating good time management skills.
2. Set Up a Homework-friendly Space
Designate a quiet, well-lit, and comfortable area in your home solely for studying and homework. Equip it with all the necessary supplies, like pens, paper, a comfortable chair, a desk, a computer, or even cushions and a bean bag! Creating a dedicated workspace signals to your child that homework is important and deserving of its own environment.
It’s crucial this space is free from distractions, such as the TV and video consoles. A homework-friendly space will also encourage your child to become more independent and self-reliant, as they’ll start to associate the space with homework, prompting them to get their work done.
3. Remove Screens & Distractions
Concentration is hard for children at the best of times let alone when they are at home with many distractions going on around them. This is why removing those distractions plays a huge part in their study time.
Although technology can be a great way for kids to express their creativity, it can also be a huge distraction, especially when it comes to homework. Keep any distractions such as TV, music, tablets, phones etc. to a minimum.
A great way to remove technology from study time is by using screen time apps. This will help you to manage your child’s screen time and will cause less distractions when completing homework.
4. Support and Motivate Your Child
Encourage your child by praising their effort and acknowledging their achievements, no matter how small. Be their cheerleader, offering words of encouragement and reminding them of their capabilities when they feel discouraged. Your unwavering support can significantly boost their confidence and motivation.
5. Set a Good Example
Lead by example by demonstrating a strong work ethic and a positive attitude towards challenges. Why not work on some of your own projects or engage in activities like reading a book while your child completes their homework? Avoid watching TV during homework time, as it can easily distract them, especially when they’re young. Show them the value of focus by immersing yourself in productive tasks alongside them. Your active involvement sets a powerful precedent for prioritising learning and concentration.
6. Help Your Child if Needed
Be available to assist your child with their homework, but resist the urge to solve problems for them. Instead, guide them through the process, asking probing questions to stimulate their critical thinking. Providing support while allowing them to work through challenges independently fosters self-reliance and resilience.
However, it is also vital to not give too much away and allow children to find a solution on their own. Offering up the answer too quickly can often lead to a lazy way of learning and won’t allow your child to develop necessary skills across their subjects.
As a child gets older, you should give them more responsibility for completing their homework and encourage their independence by not constantly monitoring them.
7. Ensure Your Child Understands Their Homework
Are they procrastinating because they don’t understand the subject? Apart from struggling to self-motivate, your child may be putting off the task of completing their homework if they don’t actually understand what they’re meant to be doing. Communication is key in identifying any misunderstandings or struggles your child may have with their homework.
Encourage them to express their concerns, and don’t hesitate to reach out to their teachers for clarification if needed. By addressing any confusion promptly, you can help alleviate anxiety and boost their confidence in tackling assignments.
8. Get Creative
Homework doesn’t have to be boring; there are plenty of ways that you can make it more exciting. For example, if the task is a simple maths addition, make it a practical task and count out sweets, cars or bricks. This makes it more interesting and more likely to capture and keep their attention. Creative play is also proven to help children retain more information.
You can apply this creativity to a wide breadth of topics, meaning that every subject can be engaging and exciting, transforming homework from a chore into something enjoyable.
9. Communicate With Teachers
If you find that your child is having recurring problems with a particular subject or task that you cannot help with, then it might be best to speak to the class teacher and develop a plan together.
Incorporating these strategies into your child’s homework routine can make a world of difference in their motivation and success. Remember, every child is unique, so be flexible and tailor your approach to suit their individual needs. By creating a supportive environment and fostering a positive attitude towards learning, you’re setting your child up for academic achievement and personal growth.
If you’re interested in learning more about our school’s approach to education and how we support students both academically and personally, why not book an open day? We look forward to welcoming you!
For more information about joining us, see our fees and bursary options.
