Getting to grips with Homework

Homework Homework Homework

Children as young as four years old are now routinely given school homework to complete on a nightly basis and it can add up to a lot of pressure both on parents and the child.  None of us wants our child to lag behind their peers (never mind the rest of the world) but the more we worry about this, the more stressful the situation can become. It’s a recipe for homework disaster.

Here are my tips for ending homework battles and getting a plan in place:

1. Develop a regular routine:

   Work out the best time of day and also the best place for it. Some children are unable to focus until they’ve had something to eat and drink and a bit of time to unwind. For others, it’s best to knuckle down straight away and chill later.
   
   By definition, a routine is something that is done routinely - it needs to be pretty much the same every day. And every week thereafter. 
   

2. Be consistent:

   Children who don’t have anywhere in particular for homework, doing it on the kitchen table one night, then on the floor in front of the TV the next, and maybe up in the bedroom the night after that, will not do as well as those who have a dedicated space.
   Likewise, doing it before the evening meal one night and after it the next, will make it harder for homework to seem like a natural, automatic part of the day.
   
   There will be fewer objections to doing it if your child knows what to expect and when.
   

3. Eliminate distractions:

   Such as pets, TV, phones, and siblings. Don’t be afraid to put rules in place such as keeping mobile phones away from the homework table. But do be aware that a child that constantly jumps up and keeps running back to check their phone, is not simply being ‘naughty’, but is more likely to be struggling to do the homework and in need of extra help. Rather than punishing them for the unwanted behaviour, take a closer look at what’s preventing them from completing it.

Don’t overlook the fact that your child might be:

• Hungry 

• Thirsty 

• Hot 

• Cold 

or need some time to re-connect with you, his siblings or the family pet after a busy day at school.

Address these needs first and you’ll find homework sessions will run more smoothly.

What kind of learner is your child?

We use all our senses to absorb information from our environment and our senses form the basis of our learning preference or style. Take a few moments to observe your child to figure which learning methods suit them best - this may help to avoid a whole lot of homework angst.

Your child may favour any of the following learning styles:

• Visual. These children prefer to learn by seeing information. They like reading, pictures or diagrams, flashcards, demonstrations, and watching videos. Colour coding and chunking down information that needs to be learned off by heart, such as a foreign language, will help them. One day they’ll learn the ‘red paragraph’ and the next day the ‘green one’. 

• Auditory. Some kids prefer to learn by hearing or saying it. They enjoy listening to audio downloads, lectures, debates, discussions and verbal instructions. They may ask you to repeat a set of instructions over and over again: they like hearing it being said. They may benefit from talking to you about what they have been learning, or even teaching it to you.

• Kinesthetic. Children with this preference learn best by getting a ‘feel’ for it. They enjoy physical involvement, hands-on work, moving around, and touching.

Homework Tip

If your child struggles to sit still and look down at their work, buy a few rolls of plain lining wallpaper and stick large pieces of it to the bedroom wall with some tape or pins.  

Now you have a blank canvas and using some pencils or felt-tipped pens, (taking care to make sure the pens do not mark the wall behind it!) your child can test their ideas out and see if the answer comes more easily.

Don’t be surprised if they need to stand back on the other side of the room to think about things before writing anything down.

This is an ideal activity for children who fidget a lot - big brush strokes and lots of movement will suit them better. Once they’ve figured out their answers, they’ll be happy to sit back down at their desk and ‘copy’ the answers across.

About the Author

Alicia Eaton is a Harley Street based Psychotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist and the author of four best-selling books. She’s also a Winner in the latest ‘Global Health & Pharma’ Mental Health Awards 2023. For more details of appointments see here: Consultations.