Secrets to building good homework habits for your child

MagazineParentsHere are seven ways to help you build a homework habit in your child.

1. Fixed study corner

You should arrange a fixed study corner for your child at home, where he/she regularly completes assigned homework. This location should have enough light, be quiet, not be distracted by TV, not have noise from other children playing, no one talking on the phone. This helps your child concentrate better.

2. Daily homework time

Some children do best if they get their homework done right after school in the afternoon. Others like to relax and have fun after school and do their homework in the evening. And some children do best when they get a promise like, "You can watch cartoons only after you finish your homework."

As a parent, you need to figure out the best time for your child to help them get into the habit of doing homework at a certain time every day.

3. Let children have a say in setting rules

When arranging your child's study space at home and homework time, you must explain and ask for his or her opinion to make sure that both of you agree on the set time and place.This can eliminate some of the homework-related disagreements between you and them.

4. Observe your child's homework habits

Does your child get stuck on a task or is he easily distracted? Does he understand the instructions? Is he interrupted by TV, phone calls, or conversations with other family members? If so, you may need to rethink how you set up homework and discuss with the teacher the difficulties your child is having in completing the task.

5. Don't do homework for your child.

It's all well and good to help your child focus, teach them how to approach things, and delegate tasks, but you need to make sure they do their own work. Sometimes you may need to explain the instructions for an assignment. In that case, let them think it through before offering help.

6. Give positive feedback

Look over your child’s homework and praise what they do right. If you find mistakes, don’t criticize. Look at the work carefully and try to identify areas of difficulty so you can help them overcome them.

7. Stay in touch with your child's teachers

If your child is having trouble with homework, such as not understanding what the assignment is asking, how to complete it, or finding the assignment too easy, let the teacher know. The teacher can adjust the assignment to make it more consistent and appropriate to your child's abilities.