As parents we often find ourselves micromanaging our children’s planning, organizing and completion of homework. As a society, we need to get beyond looking at homework as a chore, but rather as part of the routine for a school/home connection. The purpose of homework is to reinforce skills taught in school; getting more practice at something makes it easier to complete successfully. The more you ride that bike, swing that bat, throw that football, shoot that basketball, etc the better you get. Of course, this same concept applies to academic tasks. The goal for parents should be to teach their children how to handle the homework themselves. Support them enough to let go just as you let go of the bike when your child was learning to ride.
Spend time on a computer using an internet search engine for “homework help” and you can easily find a number of websites that offer useful tips. As a school psychologist, I am always drawn to those websites that address children with special needs. I do find that the information shared on those websites is equally valuable for typically developing children without special needs. An excellent resource for parents is The National Center for Learning Disabilities. Their page for Homework Tips for Parents is concise and reader friendly (http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/homework-study-skills/homework-tips-parents. In summary, according to the NCLD, families do need to consider what would work best for them and stick with it. They suggest that families:
Parents are always encouraged to contact the teacher, school counselor, psychologist, or social worker should concerns arise.
Thanks to Lisa Tomaino, WCPSS School Psychologist, for the content of this article.
Spend time on a computer using an internet search engine for “homework help” and you can easily find a number of websites that offer useful tips. As a school psychologist, I am always drawn to those websites that address children with special needs. I do find that the information shared on those websites is equally valuable for typically developing children without special needs. An excellent resource for parents is The National Center for Learning Disabilities. Their page for Homework Tips for Parents is concise and reader friendly (http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/homework-study-skills/homework-tips-parents. In summary, according to the NCLD, families do need to consider what would work best for them and stick with it. They suggest that families:
- Use checklists
- Prioritize homework assignments
- Set a designated study space
- Set a designated study time
- Show interest in your child’s assignments
- Be a role model
- Check over homework assignments
- Meet with your child’s teachers
- Take your child’s struggles seriously
- Give praise
- Find a tutor
Parents are always encouraged to contact the teacher, school counselor, psychologist, or social worker should concerns arise.
Thanks to Lisa Tomaino, WCPSS School Psychologist, for the content of this article.