Homework is often a source of tension and frustration between children and parents. Starting routines and expectations around homework sooner rather than later can be beneficial for families. Here are our top 7 tips for making homework an enjoyable and valuable learning experience for all involved.
1. Modelling – Be a positive role model by accomplishing tasks you or others set for yourself, meeting deadlines and being organised.
2. Reinforcement – Provide positive, valued and desired outcomes after your child has demonstrated helpful homework behaviours such as starting tasks, staying focused, completing their work and asking for help.
3. Make a plan – Develop a clear, step-by-step and documented homework plan with your child that includes days and times when homework will be completed, exact tasks that will be attempted, due dates and materials needed.
4. Avoid digital distractions – Remove or limit access to phones and other digital devices such as video games, TV and iPads that are more likely to be distracting than helpful.
5. Have a positive attitude – State a positive attitude towards homework and promote it as an opportunity for growth in areas such as learning, responsibility, persistence, organisation and collaboration.
6. Instruct and inform – Use homework time as a collaborative learning experience by sharing knowledge, skills, task-related processes, problem solving strategies, research tactics and brainstorming techniques.
7. Ideal study environment – Ideally homework is completed in a place that has minimal distractions. Aim for minimal background noise, minimal foot traffic, a lack of distracting objects in the room and a clean and organised workspace.
