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Homework Strategies: Making it a Positive Experience

Think of homework as I like to define work, i.e., doing something we really would rather not do. But you can make it more positive for your child. I've listed 15 ideas below:

1. Provide support and praise for homework completion.
2. Be available to provide non-critical assistance.
3. Give children a choice in when, where, and how they complete homework assignments.
4. Encourage your children to complete homework well enough that they have a sense of control over their own learning and levels of competence.
5. Maintain a positive and helpful attitude: avoid criticism and anger.
6. Help children understand what types of homework they enjoy and encourage them to choose assignments accordingly. Some prefer written reports, others prefer hands-on projects.
7. Use homework preferences in developing a homework schedule. Some children prefer to get disliked homework done first, while others prefer to do their easier work first.
8. When a child dislikes subject, find ways to make it less frustrating. For example, set a goal of doing five math problems and then taking a break.
9. Encourage your children to participate in study groups with friends. Research shows that children who form study groups achieve at a much higher level than children who always study alone.
10. Encourage your child to have fun such as eating a snack, calling friends, starting an activity, or watching a favorite show when homework is finished.
11. Never use homework as a punishment.
12. Be a good listener, and encourage your child to ask questions about things that are hard to understand.
13. Set aside time for your children to share with you the skills and information they are acquiring.
14. Help children study for tests by quizzing them on the material in a friendly manner.
15. Remember how you felt about homework when you were in school. Try to be the support that maybe you did not receive.

08/04