Homework Tips For Parents: Suggestions From Experts
Many of the time you will see your little one struggling with homework. You want to be able to help them but you don’t always know how best to do that. There are some ways that you can make the situation a whole lot worse and ways to make it better. The main focus has to be on building their confidence to the point where they feel confident that they can complete the problem later without you sitting there with them or directing them step by step. Here are some of the dos and don’ts when it comes to helping your child with their homework.
Do’s
- Be there for support
- Talk calmly
- Follow the teacher’s methods
- Let them work it out themselves
- Check their work
Let your child know that you are there for them. You may not seem like you are because you have to cook dinner and do the laundry and tend to the baby, but you need to let them know that you have time to answer their questions and they should feel confident that they can turn to you.
Sometimes it is hard to understand why your child is not grasping something that you find so easy. Just remember to talk to them calmly. If you start to get uptight, they will get uptight and it will be even harder for them to understand.
Try to complete the work using the teacher’s methods so that you don’t confuse your child. Contact the teacher if you are unsure how to use the methods that your child was taught.
Let the child work through the problems. Many parents see their little ones struggling and want to save them. Let them squirm a little.
Always check their work so that you can correct them right away. Waiting until a week later when they get it back from the teacher is too late.
Don’ts
- Get frustrated
- Reteach them
- Procrastinate
- Do it for them
- Give up on them
This is not always easy to do but you will only make it worse if you get frustrated and it will hurt their feelings too.
Don’t reteach them the way that you learned. This will cause a lot of unnecessary confusion and frustration.
Don’t put homework time off. Have them get it done when they get home so that they can enjoy the rest of their night.
Never do the work for them. You are not helping your child if you just give them the answers.
They will get it. Don’t give up on them. Let them work through the process so that they really learn how to do it and be there to support and encourage them and give them praise once they have finished.