It’s fine when your children are preschool age – you can sing nursery rhymes in the car and say the alphabet together while on your travels.
But when they’re school age and have homework to do – and need your help – that’s when the real fun starts.
Do a morning switch
After a long day’s graft, you’ve just about scraped together enough energy for picking your child up from the childminders or an after-school club of some sort, and the thought of homework might not be welcome. For you or your child…
One potential fix is to sleep early and wake an hour or half an hour earlier in the morning to do homework. An early night can help to recharge those batteries and will take some of the resentment out of homework time.
Ask for help
If you have older children, they may be able to assist their younger siblings with their homework or reading. That’s the benefit of getting it right the first time. At the very least, they could get the ball rolling and you can check the work afterwards.
Choose after-school clubs wisely
If your child’s school has a homework club, it’s probably a good idea to let them attend it so they can at least complete their homework with assistance before going home. All you’ll need to do is a quick check when you get home to make sure you’re still in the loop with the work your child is doing.
Whatever you do, don’t make homework appear to be a low priority to your child. It will only create problems later on. There is a solution for even the most hectic of schedules. If you find that you still can’t provide the amount of support your child needs, then perhaps it’s time to consider a tutor?
