5 Tips To Create The (Near) Perfect Homework Environment

The mind of a child is like a sponge. Children absorb what is around them. Sometimes this is good, and sometimes this is not so good. When children are learning and taking in everything around them, it is understandable that they need to have a near-perfect environment to have an optimal learning experience.

I use the phrase near-perfect environment because what may be the perfect environment for one child may not be the perfect environment for another child. We are all different people with different personalities and different learning styles. The following suggestions may be used in part or in whole. I’ve found these tips to be helpful in creating the near-perfect homework environment.

• Create the atmosphere – Having a child who is very easily distracted has made us realize the importance of having an optimal homework environment. Our daughter has her own special homework space. It is a simple, well-lit area with no distractions. When she puts her head down to work, she is more inclined to “get in the zone.” There is no noise, no toys and no activities around her, which often translates into no homework problems.

• Allow for space/breaks – When my daughter gets off the bus, she is DONE. She needs a break.  And why not? She has just completed a half-hour bus ride home and has had to stay focused all day at school. Our routine is to allow her to rest before she does anything. If she is rested, she is more inclined to stay focused and more likely to enjoy her homework. A rested brain means the brain is ready to work and is in “absorption” mode, not recovery-and-spent mode.

• Make sure the child is well fed – Food is something we all need. Having a child who is well fed will help the child work better. The human body simply cannot function properly without proper nutrition. Healthy meals and snacks help a child’s learning go a long way.

• Be organized – Being well organized is a sure way to have your child succeed in his or her studies. Have a homework caddy easily accessible so when the child is ready to start working, everything is ready to go, and there is no need to search for anything, which may cause a child to become distracted.

• Be available – Children may not want an adult right next to them while they are working, but it is important for them to know that you are available if they need you. Using phrases like, “It looks like you have worked really hard on that sentence” instead of empty praise such as, “You are the best at writing sentences” will help them realize their work is important.

These are just a few tips to help you create the near-perfect homework environment for your child. Start with these tips, and then observe doing his or her homework. You may also want to spark up a casual conversation with your child about what he or she does and doesn’t like about homework. Based on the answers, try to accommodate, and make homework something your child enjoys. How do you keep your child focused on doing homework?

- Jody A

Homework Help Tips for Parents

With school in session, I have more time. That trip to the gym is easier to squeeze in around my work schedule. The days are less stressful…and then the kids come home and that means I’m on homework help duty.

*insert ominous music here*

The house that was quiet, the laundry that was folded, the email that was half answered are all now a memory because there are things that have to be done … homework! To be quite honest, I was not always a big fan of homework. I saw it as busy work the kids were required to complete at the expense of play. I have changed my mind a bit and so has my approach to getting the work done.

• Homework is the time that I can see how my child is learning. Sitting down and working through a few problems with him shows me what he has grasped and what he hasn’t grasped.That is where my approach to homework help has changed.
• I have taken control over the areas that are still a struggle.At first, I was worried I wouldn’t teach it right or confuse the issue, but jumping in and doing it has made me realize that my kids need my help, even if it isn’t exactly how the teacher would do it.
• We spend the majority of our time on the struggle areas. When it comes to homework help, I tend to have them skip the stuff they seem to have mastered. When this happens, I will often just send a note to the teacher explaining why some things were left blank. In years of writing these notes, I have never had a teacher write back saying that it isn’t OK or penalize my child with a lower homework score for empty answer spaces.
• On most days, homework help really looks like my checking in for a moment on a particularly challenging subject. Once in a while, it looks like a mini class on the kitchen table.
• By checking in, I have also been able to determine when to bring in reinforcements. I have to admit, providing my kids with homework help isn’t always easy for me. On two occasions, the teaching was beyond what I had the skill or energy to do, so the kids went to tutoring to fill in the gap. The downside of this approach is that it takes time on my part. It isn’t always the easiest thing to fit into the family schedule!
• The other issue that I have had was that my children aren’t always thrilled to have mom’s intervention.Whining about extra work and arguing that they already “know how to do it” has been a regular part of my experience.

Holly is a  mom of three boys ages 7, 9 and 12. She has found out (the hard way) that one of the secrets to raising boys is keeping them tired, which is why she writes Kids Activities Blog, an online scrapbook of family activities, learning adventures and tips for maintaining parental sanity. Holly is such a believer in nap time that when her boys stopped taking them, she started.