It’s easy as parents to fall into the trap of becoming your child’s personal assistant. You suddenly find yourself ensuring that homework is done, school bags are packed and unpacked, uniforms are put in the wash etc. But it’s not your job to assume the mental load of homework and school life once your children reach high school.
Read our Help Kids with Homework story here.
Quick and Simple Ways to Help Kids Organise Homework
1. Don't Micro-Manage / Do Create Systems
It’s not your job to ensure that their homework is done. It’s not your job to decide what they do on each day. When it comes to homework management, it’s not your job to be their manager, personal assistant or boss.
It’s your job to parent. It’s your job to help them to find ways of working that suit them and helps them to keep track of their work. By helping them to find a simple system to organise their homework, you will find that everybody’s stress levels reduce.
2. Don't go Complicated / Do Keep it Simple
You don’t need to make homework organisation complicated. You don’t need expensive technology or a synchronised calendar.
A simple visual paper chart that both you and your child can see is a simple, yet very effective tool for marking when homework is due and when your child is planning to do the work. All you need is the days of the next few weeks or half term marked out and some different coloured pens and you’re good to go.
It also is a great way to mark off homework free days or weekends to ensure that everybody is getting the rest and relaxation they need as well.
3. Don't Add Obstacles / Do Find a Clear Work Space
High school has the potential to bring more clutter in your home. And it’s tempting to put it altogether in one storage and work space. But as every parent of teenagers knows, a desk is another surface for them to dump everything on.
So try and create a clear space for homework. This could be a table in the living room rather than their bedroom. Somewhere visible that they are not tempted to just chuck their books on. So, that when they need to do homework, they don’t have to add in the extra chore of tidying up first.
4. Don't Stress / Do Take a Break
Homework apps or websites mean that children are connected to school all the time. They can be set homework virtually and at any time. This can add a layer of stress to kids and some can struggle to switch off.
The home life / work life balance is a life skill that will serve them well for the future. Help your child to create homework, school free times where they can fully switch off from their list of tasks that is always waiting for them. It’s just as important that they also take a break from the mental load of school learning.
5. Share your story
You might be finding that how your child does homework is very different to homework in ‘your day’. The rules of how much schoolwork can impact home life has changed. So, be sure to be taking the time to listen to your child to understand the pressures that they are under.
A Guide to Help Kids Organise Homework
For a more specific guide to help teenagers with homework, read this article.
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