How to Help Your Children Love Homework
It’s hardly a revelation to say that kids don’t like homework. In case your children hate it, you shouldn’t be too hard to them, because you need to remember that you were probably the same way when you were their age. But, that doesn’t mean you should tell them that. Making your children do homework is one of the most thankless jobs you will have as a parent. According to research done at Stanford, as much as 56% of children labeled homework as their primary source of stress. This number is even more shocking because test-related stress came in second with 43%! Does homework cause stress? You bet it does!
The results aren’t surprising because doing homework for hours every day cuts into the children’s free time, which is essential for them to relax and socialize after spending an entire day at school. We have gotten in touch with experts from HomeworkHelpDesk.org and asked if there was any way you could make children start liking their homework. Here are some of the things you can do.
1. Give Your Kids Time to Relax
Instead of reminding them that they need to do their homework as soon as they have step foot inside the house, give your children some time to relax and do some fun stuff. According to the survey done by Metlife, 45-percent of students do more than one hour of homework per evening, with that number steadily growing as they get older. That is why it’s so important to let them play outside, meet with other kids, and yes, even play video games. After they have cleared their heads, they will be more able to do homework. Plus, after playing for a few hours, they will probably be too exhausted for their attention to wander all over the place.
2. Don’t Bribe Your Children
One of the shortcuts a lot of parents use is a small bribe in order to convince their children to do their homework. This is a flawed approach because, even though the kids do the work they are asked to, the motivation is coming from an external source. They are doing their homework because they will be rewarded in the end. But, in case they don’t receive their reward, the results will be non-existent as well. As an adult, you go to work because you get paid for it so that you can make a living. In case you don’t get paid for one month, you will probably leave. It is exactly the same with children and motivation through the bribe.
3. Praise Them Verbally
The best way to motivate your children would be to take notice of what they are doing and to acknowledge the effort they have put into something. This doesn’t just apply to homework. It works on everything else, too. At a young age, children are interested in pleasing their parents, even if it means doing homework. However, in case they are struggling, you should still be there to jump in and provide homework help. But, when praising them, you should always be specific and genuine. Children have the ability to tell when you are being less than truthful, so don’t give out praise in case it’s not warranted. Also, being specific will show them that you’ve taken the time to familiarize yourself with the topic and that you are there to support them.
4. Break up Long Sessions
Children are horrible when it comes to focusing for longer periods of time, especially in this day and age, where there are so many distractions around them at any given moment. But, instead of coming up with a complex homework planner or pressuring them to work until they are finished, try and break up those long homework sessions into smaller intervals. For example, have them work for 30 minutes, after which they can take a short break of 5 or 10 minutes. After they have done four of those cycles, they should be entitled to one longer break. That way, they will make the most out of their focus and be more productive.
5. Work Together
Can you do my homework for me? You have probably been asked this at some point. Needless to say, you should never give into this demand. But, there will be times when your child will be too swamped or the material itself would prove to be too challenging. Some teachers, especially those which are inexperienced, usually give children more homework, without giving much thought about the whether they can handle it or not.
6. Set Up a Separate Space for It
Allow your children to choose a spot where they are comfortable doing this homework. If you have more than one child, enable them to choose their own study areas. Some children are comfortable sitting at a desk, while others prefer to do it while lying on their belly, for example. Also, the ideal spot should feature very little in terms of distractions. Of course, if the assignment requires it, allow your children to use the computer, so they can visit a homework website and find all the information they need.
As you can see, there are no magic tricks or shortcuts that can make your children start loving their homework. It is all about you being there for them, being involved, providing support, as well as help when they need it.
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