How to Help Kids with Homework Hassles
Homework – the nemesis of parents and children everywhere.
Parents coax, encourage and sometimes beg. They may ask WHY did you wait so long?” when something isn’t finished.
While a shrug of the shoulders may be the only response, there’s a lot more to it. It could be stress, other issues or feeling overwhelmed. Here’s what you can do.
Don’t Be the Hero
Parents want to rescue a child when they struggle. Solving homework hassles starts by trying to recognize what are the specifics.
Homework is not easy for many kids. The struggle could rise from many factors:
- The work is difficult or unclear
- The work is “too easy” and kids see it as unimportant busy work
- The child is exhausted from too many other activities
- The child is easily side-tracked
Parents can pause, take a deep breath and take time to find the underlying reasons. Dig for the why and don’t make assumptions.
- Consider if certain times of day are best for homework
- Work together, and don’t help too much
- Some children need more breaks
Have a conversation about it. You may learn other things such as standing at the kitchen counter is better than sitting or it’s just math and not the other subjects that are difficult.
Team Up to Overcome Obstacles
Supporting your child begins with brainstorming.
“I see this is hard for you, I am on your team,” is something you can say. Make sure they know you can work on it together.
Just like in the work world, you can have a “team meeting” with your child to discuss different ways to complete homework. Share concerns you have but be willing to hear the child’s perspective.
As you work together to organize, create systems for success and look ahead to streamline routines, you can provide a home environment that encourages school success. Ways to do that include:
- Create a space that works well for your child, be it the kitchen table or in their room.
- Make plans for regular reviews to see what is working and what isn’t working. One conversation won’t fix all the problems.
- Keep lines of communication open: seek information but don’t demand it.
Seek Help When Needed
If you have tried all that you can think of, it might be time to seek additional support. Contacting the teacher is often the first step.
Make sure to share your concerns and ask if the teacher also sees struggles in your child. It could be a physical or developmental problem, such as dyslexia or vision. Once a difficulty has been identified, it gives you, as the parent, opportunities to make it better.
You can build independence in your child by being supportive and stepping back when you should. Homework hassles don’t need to be a headache; using these strategies can help your child succeed.
By Twila Perkinson, CCLS, a Family Life Educator with Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
