For some strange reason parents have become very confused as to what their role is in helping their children with their homework. Many parents are going so far as to virtually do the homework for their children in the mistaken belief that this is helping them.
The fact is that parents should not be directly involved in their children’s homework at all. That is the teachers job. However, parents do have a role in monitoring their children to ensure that the homework process is started each night and that their kids are actively engaged in the homework process while they are supposed to be doing it.
At the start of each year, parents should establish a set time each night when homework is to be started. This helps to establish a routine that eventually becomes engrained in the student’s daily schedule. Given the distractible nature of youngsters, it will often be necessary for parents to remind their kids that it is time to start their labors. This reminding needs to be done calmly and persistently and with a little humor if possible. Otherwise it is interpreted as nagging, which will often result in an argument.
Then, parents need to ensure that work is actually being done. This involves only a periodic glance into the homework area (which should be in their room) to ensure that the books are out and the pencil is moving. If not, again the gentle reminder should be used.
And that’s it. If your child is stuck on a problem or topic, try to help briefly, but do not let yourself actually get involved in the work. Due to changes in teaching methods and curricula, parental teaching often conflicts with the way things are now done in the classroom. This can lead to arguments with your kids if you try to instruct. Instead, if you feel a conflict is starting, suggest that they call a friend for help.
Other parental duties in the homework area include ensuring that social telephone calls are not allowed during the homework period and that there is no TV on in the location. Music, on the other hand, is rarely a problem and may actually help the youngster get the work done.
Monitoring, then, is the parents’ main job when it comes to homework. If word is received from the school that the assignments are not being done, then closer monitoring will be necessary. This means that frequent contact with the school will be necessary so that parents know what assignments are due and can ensure that they are being done. Email is a great tool to maintain this contact.
It is a delicate balance that parents need to maintain, but if done right, then parents can be a great help to their kids, without actually getting deeply involved in the homework process itself.