After almost two years of ‘working from home’, our children are pretty fed up! So how do you help support them as we all look forward to getting back to normal (fingers crossed!) this September.
Here are a few things you may want to consider when supporting your child with homework.
Time to talk
Give your child a chance to talk about their school work. Even if you don’t know much about a particular subject, you can still help just by talking and listening and helping them to find their answers.
A time to suit them
Like adults – some children may want to do their homework straight after school, whereas others prefer to chill out a bit first. There’s no hard and fast rule – let your child decide – just make sure they stick to it!
Get organised
Help your child take responsibility for organising and doing their homework and use tools sent home from school. Most schools have a homework diary for parents to sign each day, show interest by signing it regularly. It will help your child know their homework is being monitored and is a great way to build up goodwill between yourself and the school.
Create the right environment
Create a suitable place where your child can do their homework, ideally somewhere with a clear work surface, good lighting and no interruptions. If you can, try to teach younger siblings not to interrupt when homework is being done. Children have different learning styles – some prefer to study alone, whereas others might work better alongside friends or family. This is especially true as they get older, so do try to accommodate if you can. If there isn’t a suitable space in your home for working, try a local library or a homework club.
Reward and praise
Always praise the journey. Encourage a growth mindset where your child isn’t afraid of getting things wrong but can learn from their mistakes. You might also want to set up some treats like staying up a bit longer or having a friend around – it’s incredible what a small reward can do for motivation!
If you need more structure and think your child might benefit from tutoring, we’re very happy to help. Get in touch and you’ll get a FREE assessment and FREE first lesson. That way you can see if our approach with work for you and your circumstances.