CHILDREN & HOMEWORK

By Sandra McKinnon, University of Missouri-Columbia, University Outreach and Extension

Parental involvement in a child's education is important to a child's success or failure in school. Here are ways to help your children finish their homework:

~ Establish good study habits like taking good notes, following directions, planning time, and setting priorities.

~ Closely monitor your child and encourage your children to let you know when they have homework.

~ Have children do homework in a place where it is easy for you to supervise and at a time when you are available.

~ Set up a specific homework schedule.

~ Stimulate study beyond doing homework. Homework is often completing a worksheet. Studying is "reading more about it" and asking questions like "how can this apply to my everyday life?" If a child is working on fractions, encourage your child to look for ways around the house that fractions are used. Having them help make a batch of cookies, for example, may help to show how what we learn in school is used in daily life.

~ Teach kids to remove distractions like the TV and telephone. Try hanging up a "do not disturb" sign that they have designed.

~ Prompt siblings to respect a quiet study time.

~ Encourage your children to reward themselves when they finish their homework. Some rewards suggested by 6th graders: making a snack, taking a walk, working on a hobby, shooting some hoops, playing with the family pet, or making a telephone call to a friend.