When it comes to my recommendations about homework and children, I am all about not reinventing the wheel. I have a book that I like to suggest to parents because I really like the advice that it gives and it is an easy read. The book is Homework Without Tears by Lee Canter. In this book, he gives some great suggestions to ease the many difficulties that can arise during that dreaded part of the evening. I will highlight a few of his ideas here and some of my own, however I strongly urge you to find a copy of this book and read it.
I believe that some of the problems that occur during homework time could be eliminated by some carefully planning to develop a good work environment. Canter makes the following recommendation when settling on a studying location: it should be a quiet location (not in the viewing line of the television), well lit, a “do not disturb” sign and a homework survival kit that includes all the supplies that your student may need while studying. The survival kit may include: several sharpened pencils, erasers, paper, scissors, crayons, calculator. Having all the supplies within reach limit’s the number of interruptions.
Setting a time aside each weekday for homework and posting that time may eliminate some of the arguing that erupts when it is time for homework. Best scenario is that it is at the same time each day, however with all the after school activities that our children are involved in this may not be practical. Set aside a daily time that fits into your schedule. Times may be different for different days of the week, but I suggest that those times stay the same from week to week. If your child doesn’t have any homework one evening, it is still important to stick with the routine of homework time. They could read or do practice math problems to fill the study time.
If your child requires your attention in every step of their homework and refuses to do any of his homework without asking what seems like a million questions, Canter suggests a fun re-enforcer for this problem. It is called the M&M game. You set a small pile of M&Ms in front of your child at homework time, letting them know that each time they ask a question you will take an M&M from the pile. Any M&Ms left at the end of study time are for your child to eat. Please note that this activity is not meant for every child, only those who will not do any of their homework on their own. With other children, it may act as a deterrent to asking you for some needed help. Use caution with this activity, although I have been told it really works.
With a little preparation, and a whole lot of patience, homework time can turn into a pleasant experience for both you and your child.
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