1. Get Involved

Helping with your child’s homework is the perfect opportunity to understand more about your child’s academic progress. You can learn what they are interested in and where they are having problems. This may in turn give you reason to speak with their teacher, in particular, to ask them what they expect from the homework they set and how they use it in their classroom. It could even be that they are setting too much homework, or that multiple teachers are setting homework for the same deadlines. To save time, you can always write notes to the teacher in the margins or homework diary.

2. Find a Homework Area

Set up a designated homework area at home for your child. This should be free from distractions, whether that is social media or meddlesome siblings. Ensure the homework area is well equipped with pens, pencils and everything else they might need.

3. Stick to a Routine

Building structure and routine is really helpful for most children and we suggest setting a regular homework time. You know when your child works best. Some need a break and playtime first, whereas others would rather tick homework off the list early. Either way, ensure you find a regular time that suits your child.

4. Planning Makes Perfect

Not all homework is due the next day so create a trusty homework diary so that both you and your child are both on top of deadlines. This will also help your child manage their time and plan longer-term projects so they don’t leave everything to last minute. This is a skill they will need for life.

5. Actively Motivate Your Child

You should never be doing your child’s homework for them. However, it’s a great idea to talk through the homework with them. Not only does the act of explaining reinforce the knowledge that they have learned in the classroom, but also by displaying engagement you actively motivate your child in their work. They will want to impress you.

6. Foster Pride in their Work

Children should be allowed to celebrate the work they do at home. If your son or daughter wrote a great poem or are particularly proud of a piece of their artwork, put it on the wall. Fostering pride in your child’s work will help to build their confidence as well as encourage them to do their homework as well as they can.

7. Be a Role Model

As the old saying goes, you live and learn. If your child sees you diligently working away, doing the accounts or even just intently reading a book, it normalises the whole process of homework for them. Often what you do will have a far greater influence than what you say.

8. Involve their Peers

Although it is important for your child to adjust to working alone, a homework club once or twice a week with other children in their class can be beneficial. Sometimes a classmate will be able to explain a tricky problem in a more relatable manner than you. It also gives you an evening off!

9. Tell the Future

In Finnish schooling, the majority of initial learning is done at home. The teacher then acts as the mentor in the classroom, helping the children to understand the complex concepts. Although this approach is uncommon in British classrooms, you can help your child to prepare for future lessons by skimming over the work in advance. Preparation of this kind is another great discipline to learn for life in general.

10. Seek Extra Help

If you find your child continues to struggle with their homework after following these top tips, they may benefit from the services of a private tutor. At Simply Learning Tuition we introduce the highest calibre of private tutors for every subject and academic level. With their support, your child can quickly restore their self-belief and get back on the track to academic success. If you are considering this option, please call one of our consultants today.