Help with homework: 10 tips
Help with homework is very important for some children until they have learned to work independently. We have put together 10 tips for you on how you can offer your child help with their homework in a meaningful way.
Need help with homework?
Most teachers do not want parents to do homework with their children because the children do not learn how to organize themselves. Nevertheless, you can indirectly help your child with their homework if they have problems motivating themselves. Although children are naturally inquisitive and interested in learning, many find it difficult to get excited about subjects such as arithmetic, reading or writing. After a hard day at school, there is simply a lack of motivation to do the annoying homework. How can you offer your child help with their homework in this situation and motivate them to study again? These 10 tips can help you and your child to ensure that homework does not turn into a power struggle every day.
1. Rituals and structures to help with homework
Sometimes it is a great help with homework if you set clear rules with your child as to when and where the homework should be done. A fixed workplace and a fixed schedule will help your child to make homework a ritual in the daily routine. It is also important that you help your child to create order. A clean satchel, a well-stocked pencil case or colour-coded textbooks can work wonders. The workplace should also be tidy and clean, because then your child will be less distracted.
2. The right time to help with homework
Discuss with your child when they would prefer to do their homework on their own and try to find the ideal time to do so together. Most of the time, children are too exhausted right after school or not physically busy enough to start their homework right away. However, if it is too late, your child will eventually no longer be able to concentrate properly. It is best to let your child romp around and eat something after school so that they get a break of about an hour. Then it should start with the homework.
3. Only the most necessary help with homework
So that homework does not turn into a daily power struggle between you and your child, you should make sure from the start that your child starts with the homework without help. The purpose of homework is, among other things, that your child practices independent work. If they really need your help with their homework, they should specifically ask for it. In this case, you don’t just give the solution, but try to put your child on the right path with questions and careful tips.
4. Dealing with mistakes to help with homework
It is not your job to correct your child’s mistakes. If there are small careless mistakes, you can lovingly point them out to your child and let them think about what the right solution is. However, if it has big problems with certain tasks, it is better if your child leaves the incorrect solutions so that the teacher can see where there are still gaps in knowledge or problems with understanding. Because homework also serves to ensure that your child’s teacher can check the level of your child and where it still needs help without any pressure to perform.
5. Explain the purpose of homework
It can help your child with their homework if you explain to them the meaning of this chore. Your child can practice and repeat what they have learned independently, because if you deal with the subject matter every day, you no longer have to cram for hours just before a test or class work. Problems and gaps in knowledge can be identified and eliminated in good time.
6. Showing interest to help with homework
Ask your child when they come home from school what they have been given as homework and let them know that you are interested and enthusiastic about it. This also arouses your child’s interest. “You’re supposed to practice writing the ‘F’ today? That’s great, that’s the first letter of my name!” or “Calculate again today? Excellent! If you keep practicing like this, nobody will be able to cheat you when you go shopping.” Sentences like these make it clear to your child why it makes sense to learn certain things and motivate them to keep going. You can be a great help to your child with their homework.
7. Arouse anticipation to help with homework
While writing may not have been your favorite subject at school, you shouldn’t discourage your child by whining about it with them. If you want to be a real help with homework, you should show your child bright spots. “Only two more days, then it’s the weekend!” or “If you keep practicing the alphabet, you might be able to write a card to your godmother all by yourself for Christmas.” invite ice cream.
8. Praise for helping with homework
Appropriate recognition for diligence and good work makes your child proud and is a great help with homework. Your child learns to combine work with a good feeling and learns to work independently. Note, however, that you don’t give too much praise by enthusiastically emphasizing every obvious thing; otherwise a positive statement will quickly be invalidated. Stay credible and treat your child’s genuine effort and improvement with appreciation. “It’s great that you always do your arithmetic now all by yourself!” or “Great! You really put a lot of effort into writing it. Your handwriting is getting neater and more beautiful.”
9. Be consistent to help with homework
It is important that you remain consistent and do not discuss with your child every day when and if the homework will be done. There are clear rules and your child must follow them. If you always complain about your child’s laziness, but don’t take any consequences, it doesn’t take you seriously. So if your child really doesn’t want to do their homework voluntarily, they have to face the consequences: no homework? No date with friends! If you make a threat, you should also carry it out.
10. Staying calm to help with homework
Constant bitching and scolding that your child should concentrate better is no help with homework. Stay relaxed and try to work with your child to find and eliminate the cause of their inability to concentrate. Is it too exhausted and tired? Didn’t eat or drink enough? Did you have problems with classmates or other worries? Are the tasks too difficult or too easy? Maybe a few small concentration exercises will help , but maybe you also need to talk to the teacher about whether your child is overwhelmed or whether there are other support options.