Guest Post: Getting your Kids to do their Homework without Starting World War III
Posted on Jul 16, 2011 10:05:45 PM
Below is a guest post and her opinions, you all know where I stand on the issue.
Remember back when you thought that homework was the most useless thing on the planet. Why complete homework assignments when there’s so much else to do after school, like ride your bike, play with the neighbors’ kids, watch TV, or just fiddle around? After all, one goes spends eight hours a day at school. Why prolong the torture of bringing more schoolwork home? If you are now a parent who is trying to your best to make your kids do their homework without it turning into a struggle every single time, the most important thing to remember is to approach them from their mindset. Think back to when you were a kid, and try out some of these tips:
1. Rationally explain to your kid why homework is necessary.
You’d be surprised at how smart young children can be, and they know very well when they are being talked down to. Instead of using the typical, "Because I said so" approach, try explaining why you think homework was invented in the first place. Nicely show that homework was not a tool created by evil teachers to rob students of their free time, but rather it exists as a way to reinforce lessons learned in school. Tell them that if everyone everywhere stopped doing homework, every kid would likely have to repeat the same grade throughout their lives.
2. Emphasize all the fun things they’ll be able to do when they are finished.
When kids see the light at the end of the tunnel, they usually are more motivated to accomplish something unpleasant. Of course, eventually you’ll want your kids to carry out a task for its own intrinsic rewards, but young children are still very often in the developmental stage that requires constant reinforcement. Remind them what a great time they would have if they could get their homework done first. And be adamant about not allowing them to do anything fun until all their assignments are completed.
3. Help your kids help themselves to get organized and manage their time.
The biggest obstacle to finishing work in a timely manner is disorganization and poor time management skills. Since young children often have not developed these skills as yet, it is important that you help your children so that they eventually know how to organize their lives themselves. Every day after school, sit down with them and organize their assignments in order of importance. Estimate the time necessary to complete each assignment, and incorporate short breaks to keep them from burning out. Cleaning out their backpacks and helping them put all loose papers is binders or folders is very helpful too.
4. Help only when necessary, and never ever do their homework for them.
There will be times, of course, when your child will request help from you to help complete their homework. As parents, we want to do everything we can to help our children succeed, but some parents take this desire way too far. If your child asks for help, do so only with the understanding that they must be able to complete the problem you helped explain over again, all by themselves. No matter how tempting it is, never do any part of your children’s homework for them. And don’t let a spouse or older sibling do it either.
Getting homework done will never be a stress-free process, but if you are firm and understanding, eventually they will begin doing it all by themselves, with little need for interference on your part. Just make sure to be consistent in the beginning, and your kids will be doing their homework well and efficiently in no time!
By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Barbara Jolie, who writes for online classes. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: barbara.jolie876@gmail.com.
Comments
Yup! Kids are smart. I always explain my boy (girl don’t need any speeches) what will happen with him if he study well. I tend NOT to scare him by telling what will happen if he not study well.
I must say it works! Positives are more powerful.
Scaring don’t work since it don’t bring any benefits to their imagination! Imagining being rich and riding a nice car is better !
Hope i got it good, if not someones corrects me!
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