It seems that our kids are receiving more homework, and at a younger age, than ever. Between working parents’ own time constraints, shuffling kids to and from extracurricular activities and the pull on kids’ time from popular culture (namely video games, smart phone apps, TV, and YouTube) parents wonder how they’ll ever find time to add homework to the mix.
Chances are your child is going to have homework and having a plan for managing it will help to avoid the many frustrations that come with it. Create a time each day that’s set aside for homework. Allow a half hour of downtime after school in which the child has a healthy snack and can regroup. Then create a space for getting work done before other activities ensue. For every twenty minutes of homework, work in five minutes of activity (Simon Says, dancing to a favorite song, racing around the block, jumping jacks…) before getting back to the next twenty minute study period. Set a timer. Asking a child to sit and concentrate for more than twenty minutes will inevitably result in crabbiness, arguments, whining, and exhaustion.
Creating a routine and space for homework not only enables our kids to be more successful in school, it teaches them time management and responsibility. Reward them for their efforts with fun family time (board games, movie nights, extra reading together before bed…) and build these moments into the schedule. Homework is a part of our kids’ school culture and may be a necessary evil, but don’t neglect the importance of downtime and spending quality time together as a family.