Studying sometimes becomes a common area that causes tension between kids and parents.
The last thing a parent wants is for their child to receive a bad grade for not completing a homework assignment.
But homework can be quite a chore for both the child and the parent, who often find themselves having to nag. Motivating and urging your kids to complete their homework can be a real challenge.
Don’t make it a war
Observe when the situation is turning into a power war : you know those situations where you are trying to get control as a parent and make the kid do the work, while your child starts fighting to have more control over the choices in their life.
This is your cue to take a step back and get some space.
The hard truth for parents is that you cannot make your children do anything fruitfully unless they find it engaging , let alone homework.
What you can do though to get the things done is to set limits, respect the kid’s individual choices, and motivate them for the work in context.
With a few thoughtful tactics and a well planned routine, homework can become a positive experience for both kids and parents.
Continue reading to know how!
1.Make a routine –
Kids thrive on routine and consistency.
Set a daily homework time.
It’s best to schedule it after the nap and follow it with a snack and then a game session.
2.Create a homework station :
Make sure your kid has a dedicated study setup for their homework sessions.
Find and purchase a small desk organiser, and fill it with the things that your child may need for homework.
It’s best to have the study shelf and book rack all at the same place too.
3.Give them some choices
Within the structure you set up, your child needs to have some choices and freedom.
You can let them choose what they want to do first.
They most probably will pick something fun and easy and it’s okay to get started with them
4.Gamify it
It may take some time before your kid starts finding studying fun.
Till then, the best way to make the study sessions interesting is to introduce some games to them.
- You can set a timer for five – fifteen minutes and have your child work as quickly and steadily as they can until the timer goes off.
- You can also Take help of educational game kits and apps available. They can be very helpful for your kids to learn the concepts without much hassle.
5.Keep positive feedback coming
It’s okay for parents to correct mistakes but ensure to follow this up with specific praise about what your child has done well.
6. Changing up your kid’s workspace can boost their motivation as well.
If your child has been working alone at a desk, perhaps they’d be more comfortable doing their homework in a public area, like the kitchen table while you’re preparing dinner.
Conversely, if they’ve been working in a high-traffic part of the house, they might need a more private space in which to focus.
7. Connect with them : If your child is throwing tantrums or worse tearing up over home workout in frustration — soothe any pent-up worries by letting them complain.
Listen, empathise , and state their feelings back to them .
Once your child feels understood, they’ll be more likely to accept your suggestions, — and better able to focus on what needs to be done
8. Don’t force perfectionism.
Your kids’ homework may not look good but it’s done.
Now if you ask them to erase it and do it all again, they will be unhappy, thinking that all of their efforts were a waste.
If this happens, again and again, they may not want to do the homework altogether.
9. Get all the supplies : Ensure all the supplies are kept in one place before starting to do the homework
When the child’s pencil is out of ink and the child needs to look around to find another pencil, they may lose their concentration and time.
10. Keep it collaborative
It’s okay to help your kid with their homework but make sure your kid doesn’t get into the habit of taking help from you immediately and stop trying.
If a situation like this repeats, the child will become lazy and move away from the sense of responsibility.
The best you can do is to encourage them to do research and learn themselves while you show them which sources can be useful.
11. Love and appreciation goes a long way
Research shows that students are more sensitive about the demands coming from their favourite teachers.
In the same way, parents should show enough love, attention and appreciation to their children.
12. Take breaks
If the time session increases more than 45 minutes, introduce a 15 minute break to have some snacks and refreshment.
Don’t give them mobile or let them go for a high energy play in the break though.
13.Rewards & Restrictions: Make it a rule that there won’t be any game time unless the homework is completed.
You can also try having a daily after homework ritual like going for walk /outdoor play /having snacks.
14.Work with them: While you are sitting with them, bring your own sort of “homework” to do.
Perhaps you need to fill out your planner for the week or sort out dinners, you can do that while sitting next to your child.
When they see you working on something, they are more apt to work on their own work.
15. Get them a study buddy :
Find them a study partner of the same age group.
It can make things more fun and engaging and they may start getting more enthusiastic towards ‘homework’ time.
Hope this list helps you!
Do try these tips to make your study hour fun and struggle free. If you enjoyed this, follow my page for more on parenting and mom life hacks.