Top tips for getting
your child to do their homework
We often get parents
asking us how they should use the 10ticks Online Learning System. Below is a
guide on how to formulate a structured homework routine that is effective but
also easy to implement. Using 10ticks alongside this routine will be great for
your child’s maths and will really help them excel. Enjoy the article J
It is often a struggle to get kids to do their homework and
can often lead to a shouting match and become a daily frustration. However it doesn't have to be like this. In this article the aim is to outline some ways
you can help motivate your child to do their homework on a daily basis. Not
only will it make your life as the parent easier, because you won’t have to be
constantly nagging, but it will also help get your child to the top of the
class and really help them reach their full potential.
There are some key areas that can make a big difference to
get your child to do their homework. These are simple and not that hard to
implement. You just need to be consistent and establish a routine. The first
place to start is by setting how long
homework should take. Eventually you will want your child to be working
from 1 to 2 hours a night on homework by the time they reach secondary school.
But to start with you will want to build them up, so 30 minutes to an hour is a
good place to start. Once you have set this time it is important to be strict
with it. This includes not going over that limit even if you know your child
has just been staring at the work sullenly for a big chunk of that time. The
reason for this is because even if they haven’t done the work, children will
need a rest and it is important they feel they are not doing school work all
the time, as they will become even more reluctant to do homework in the future.
Also some children that lack confidence and are sensitive will become
perfectionists and will actually try and spend longer on their homework if
allowed. This is not good for them as all children need down time.
Another really important rule is to eliminate distractions. This means you as the parent have to make
sure before your child starts that all distractions are removed. This includes
screens that are on, toys and even pets. They all need to be out of sight so
your child can really focus.
After school your child will have had a long day and need to
reenergise and refresh. So it is
important that they get something to eat, preferably a healthy snack, and have
a chance to play and get some exercise. Ideally you want them outside getting
some fresh air and exercise. So playing football or going on the trampoline or
something similar would be ideal, this will reenergise them and get them ready
to start work again.
Break up homework
into three stages. First spend up to five minutes going over what your
child has to do. This will make it clear for them, and for you, what they are doing
and it will make it easier to get started. The second stage is to let your
child do the homework without any help. This is important as homework should be
on-going training in self-reliance. It is important to let them make their own
mistakes, so don’t frown or give any indication that it is the wrong or right
answer. The third stage is where you can comment on the work. It is important
to first point out the things they have done well and for both of you to point
out 1 or 2 mistakes or improvements that can be made. It is important not to
point out too many mistakes even if there are a lot, because your child will
become demotivated and will be less willing to do homework next time.
Don’t overdo it Let your child take breaks every 15 – 30 minutes. This will allow your child to
absorb what they have learnt and come back refreshed for the next task.
Do the hardest task
first. This is when the brain is at its freshest and will take in a lot
more information. It will also stop the nagging feeling that there is still
worse to come. If you get the worst over and done with first, it will only get
easier from then on in.
During holidays, especially the summer, children can actually
go backwards. This is often referred to as the summer slide. So make sure your
child is still doing work regularly. This will stop the backwards slide and put
them in good stead when it comes to the new school year. In the 6 weeks off in
the summer a child can actually go backwards by a few months or more, so it is
important to do regular work in the
holidays.
Positive
reinforcement is a much better way of motivating your child then just
telling them off. So even if it is a struggle when it comes to homework pick up
on the good things when possible. Even the most reluctant child will
occasionally be proactive and may get out their workbook without being asked. It
is really important to recognise this and praise it.
Another way to motivate your child is to give little rewards and encouragement such as a hug or a thumbs up or even a high five.
Give these when they have made small steps in the right direction, even when
the result is still not quite what you want.
With these homework tips you will hopefully see your child’s
attitude towards homework change, making your life easier and helping them
reach their full potential.
Thank you for reading,
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