How can I make homework time calm and productive?
With a clear routine, a good space and just the right amount of help, homework time can stop being the worst moment of the afternoon.
For many families, homework is a source of daily arguments. Often the problem is not the work itself, but how and when it gets done.
Prepare the ground
- Same time and same place every day, after a snack and a short break.
- A space without distractions. A clear table, the television off, phones out of reach.
- Everything they need at hand before they start.
During homework
- Go over what there is and make a plan. What they will do first and what next.
- Break the work into chunks with short breaks.
- Stay close without sitting next to them. Be available for questions rather than acting as a private tutor.
- Let them make mistakes. Mistakes are information for the teacher.
- Recognise effort. “You kept trying even though it was hard”.
What to avoid
Doing it for them, correcting everything so that it is perfect, telling them off for mistakes or dragging the session out until they are exhausted.
If every day is a battle
If homework takes much longer than is reasonable or often ends in tears, it is worth talking to the school. Sometimes the amount needs adjusting, or it is worth checking whether there is a difficulty behind it.