- Homework can be a stressful time in any household. Follow these 5 simple tips for keeping homework time calm:
- Basic needs – this one seems obvious but can easily be overlooked. I’ve been caught out with this a few times resulting in meltdowns! Make sure your little one has eaten something – even a slice of toast and a banana. Keep water to hand in case they are thirsty. Are they warm or too warm? Is their uniform uncomfortable?
- Homework Policy – Every school will have a homework policy – this will outline what is expected for each year group – for example, a 2nd class student might just have 20 minutes homework a night – if your child is taking longer to do homework than this, it is time to get in touch with the teacher and see where the problems lies.
- Always have a complete set of homework stationery to hand just for homework – saves so much hassle looking for missing pencils, erasers etc.
- Ideally the house would be screen-free during homework time. Even just knowing a cartoon is on TV in the other room can be a distraction.
- Consistency is key! Agree upon a time that suits your family and stick to this. The routine and structure will help your child to know that homework time happens every day (usually just Monday to Thursday!).
- Note: If your child is finding homework too difficult consistently, contact their teacher as soon as you can. Homework anxiety is awful for a child and there is no need for it.