Homework time can prove to be stressful as students must put their brains to work without their teacher’s help. It can also be a bit of a struggle to get homework time started after a long day at school. However, nagging is not the way to go. Here are some tips to help homework time run smoothly, no matter the age of your child:

Start Homework Early

Give your child a time frame to start their homework, such as between 3 and 5 p.m. This gives them a guideline to ensure that they don’t put off their assignments until right before bedtime and gives them a bit of control over the length of their break after school. Some kids may need an hour or so to unwind, while others may want to start their homework right away to get it completed while the ideas are still fresh.

Change of Scenery

If your child is having a hard time concentrating or getting motivated to do their homework, switch up their study area to a quieter place. The kitchen table may be distracting with siblings wandering through and noise from the TV floating in from the living room. If you have a home office area, let your child use the room to focus during homework time. They will likely feel more focused in an area that is designed for getting work done.

Positive Feedback

For the younger ones, typically the K-2 set, instant feedback is key. If you need to correct a mistake, do so and then emphasize what was done well. Praise specific improvements, such as their handwriting or sentence structure. Pointing out the specifics will motivate your child to improve every day.

Plan Homework Out

If a big project is assigned, work with your child to divide it up into parts and estimate how much time each part will take. Grab a planner or calendar and mark the days that each step will be worked on. Write down other activities too, like extracurriculars or reading log, so you can plan accordingly.

Set a Timer

Set a timer for the length of your choosing up to 20 minutes and ask your child to complete as much as they can during that time. If they need more time once the timer is up, allow them to take a short break if needed and then set the timer again. This will allow them to get their work done in increments rather than getting frustrated and staring at the pages for too long. They may even be motivated to beat the timer, but be sure to have them check over their work.

Walton Academy

Walton Academy is a private school located in Greenville, North Carolina. We are always striving to provide a consistent, nurturing and innovative environment for our students. We understand that early childhood education plays a large role in your child’s development. Therefore, it is our job to ensure they receive a high-quality education. With small classrooms and highly qualified teachers, you can be sure your child will receive individualized instruction, character education, and social-emotional habits.
Walton Academy firmly believes that an environment with minimal distractions is key to student success. To achieve an optimal learning environment and experience, we require each child to undergo our enrollment screening process. During our enrollment screening process, students are observed and assessed academically, behaviorally, and socially. Our enrollment screening ensures that our classroom environment remains focused. This gives each student the opportunity to excel and reach their full potential. Contact us today to learn more!