Parents Corner: A Tip for the Neverending Homework Struggle

As we all know, children ask questions to their parent(s) when completing their homework assignments. Before deciding to help your children, ask yourself two questions.

1.  Where else can my child find the answer?

Homework should teach children how to find facts as well as   understand the material.  When he or she asks, how do you spell Tennessee?  Instead of spelling it for them, say the first three letters begin with T-E-N, hand your child a dictionary and direct him to look it up.

2.  Is the question your child is asking you a central part of the homework assignment? 

Your child's homework should reflect what he knows not what you as a parent know.  For example, if your child is studying multiplication tables and is asking you a question not completely related to multiplication and needs your help, help him!  You may save much time and frustration by helping him find the answer; try to create less tension for both of you.

• Experts say that if we repeat an action every day for just 21 days, it's likely to become automatic.  So  for the next  21 days, encourage your kids to develop new, improved study habits. Your children will soon find they do them without even thinking; they will become more successful & responsible students.   

Reference: The Parent Institute, P.O. Box 7474, Fairfax Station, VA, 22039.