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Tips to Help Your Child With Homework – Miami/Orlando Psychology

October 14th, 2014

The school year is in full swing. Children have been in school for a while and it is likely that your child has had homework almost every day since the beginning of school. Keeping up with the demands of a child’s homework can be a daunting task, not only for your child but for you as the parent, as well.

photo_33088_20140802There are a many tips provided regarding how to best monitor your child’s homework progress or assist them with the process. The U.S. Department of Education provides the following tips for helping your child with their homework:

1. Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework. Removing distractions such as the television can be beneficial for your child.

2. Make sure your child has the materials they need to complete their homework. Make sure you are aware if your child will have the need for any special materials for projects in advance.

3. Help your child with time management. Set up a specific time or amount of time for doing homework each day.

4. While your child does homework, you do homework. Let your child see you “working” on something such as reading or balancing your checkbook. Modeling positive behaviors can be beneficial for your child to see.

5. When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers. Giving answers to your child means he will not learn the material.

6. If homework is meant to be done by your child alone, stay away. Too much parent involvement in homework can prevent it from having positive effects.

7. Stay informed. Talk with your child’s teacher. Make sure you know the purpose of the homework and what your child’s classroom rules are regarding homework practices.

8. Watch your child for signs of failure and frustration. If your child is having trouble with an assignment, allow him to take a break as necessary.

9. Reward progress in homework. If your child is working hard and completing homework, reward that with a special event, such as a trip to the park.

Consistent struggling with homework is not common and could indicate a problem. Nemours recommends assisting your child with strategies such as learning to write down assignments correctly and completely as well as encouraging him to keep a daily homework notebook that may help you know exactly when assignments are due.

If your child continues to have a consistently difficult time understanding or completing homework, there might be bigger issues such as learning disabilities, hearing, vision, or other problems interfering with your child’s academic progress. Remember to keep communication lines between your child’s teacher and yourself open to discuss any learning problems that might arise in the classroom.

If your child continues to experience difficulty with homework or you would like assistance in determining how to best serve your child regarding academic concerns, seek professional help. Please contact us in Orlando or Miami and schedule an appointment today.

 

Written by Kristen Young, Ed.S., NCSP

Photo Credit: Freerange Stock

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