When you were a child, you probably found homework annoying, and now that you have children, it may be just as annoying to help with it! However, at Elite Scholars STEAM Academy, we believe homework is an important aspect of education. It teaches children how to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it independently, and helps to develop their time management and organizational skills. While homework can be a frustrating experience for both of you, there are certain things you can do to make it easier. There are also certain things you should not do in order to make the most out of homework. Here are our dos and don’ts of homework help:
DO: Establish a schedule
Setting an established time each day when your child does their homework is helpful. Children thrive with consistency, and having a set time each day when homework is done will help them get into that mindset quicker, and work more efficiently. You may have to experiment with what time works best, but it is a good idea to allow your child some time to decompress after school, so give them at least half an hour between school and homework for free time.
DON’T: Be a dictator
If you are too rigid about the homework situation, your child will dread it even more. Allow them to make certain choices so they feel a greater sense of control over the situation. For example, allow them to pick a regular spot in which to do their homework, or a fun “homework pencil.”
DO: Step back
With younger children, they will naturally need more help and guidance with their homework. However, as your child gets older, it should be your goal to get them to work independently. As your child advances in school, physically distance yourself from the homework routine. While you initially sat with them and went over all the work, transition by staying in the room, but not sitting by them, and then eventually, you should leave them alone in the room to work.
DON’T: Do the work for them
When your child is very frustrated by a particular assignment, it can be tempting to just do it for them, or give them a lot of clues. This is ultimately doing a disservice to your child, because it only reinforces their dependency on you to do work. If your child is really struggling, reach out to the teacher or consider hiring a tutor.
At Elite Scholars STEAM Academy, we are about our students and their parents and want them to succeed. For more information on our programs, contact us today.