How to Help Your Kids with Their Homework

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If you think your kids have more homework than you ever did, you're right. Research shows that homework has doubled in the past twenty years. Here's what you can do to lessen their burden—and yours.

Step 1:
Help them prioritize Help your child finish special projects in a timely manner by encouraging him to outline the assignment and break it down into manageable parts.

Step 2:
Quiz them Familiarize yourself with your child’s subjects so you can design pop quizzes for him, as well as reinforce the material on car rides and while running errands. Make flash cards and run through them. Research has shown that frequent tests lead to better grades.

Step 3:
Find a tutor If your child is struggling with a subject that’s Greek to you, like calculus (or Greek), contact your local high school or college to find a gifted tutor.

Tip
If you’re a bit rusty on the topic yourself, check out online tutoring sites that will help you brush up on what you’ve forgotten.

Step 4:
Dole out praise Be generous with praise when your child works hard to tackle a difficult subject. If the only time you talk about homework is when he’s doing something wrong, you won’t provide the encouragement he needs to do things well.

Step 5:
Limit the video games Confiscate his game console during the school week. One study found that adolescents who play video games spend 30% less time reading and 34% less time doing homework than kids who don’t.

Step 6:
Be nearby Be nearby when your child is doing his homework so you can monitor his progress and answer questions. For example, set up his homework area in the kitchen, so you can oversee his work while preparing dinner.

Tip
Monitoring homework does not mean doing it. If you correct all your child’s mistakes, your child won’t learn and his teacher will have no idea when he needs help.

Step 7:
Speak to the teacher If your child consistently has trouble getting his homework done, arrange a meeting with his teacher to get input on why he’s having trouble and what can be done to resolve the problem.

Step 8:
Investigate after-school programs Investigate after-school homework programs. Some libraries—both school and public—have homework centers where children can do their work and get one-on-one assistance.

Step 9:
Speak to the teacher If your child consistently has trouble getting his homework done, arrange a meeting with his teacher to get input on why he’s having trouble and what can be done to resolve the problem.

Step 10:
Dole out praise Be generous with praise when your child works hard to tackle a difficult subject. If the only time you talk about homework is when he’s doing something wrong, you won’t provide the encouragement he needs to do things well.

Did You Know?
Seventy-four percent of parents polled in a survey said they did not feel capable of helping their children with their homework.