I work. I teach. I take care of the house. I fight with my children over homework. This sums up my daily routine and the frustration that comes from having children that don’t like getting their homework done.As a teacher, I can tell you that homework is extremely important. It helps tie the knot to the learning that happened in the classroom and is a method of getting feedback from the student. If a student is able to recall the information transferred to him during the session to do his homework, the lesson is successful.

However, students don’t necessarily see it that way. Homework is their enemy because it is taking away their playtime. I struggle with the same at home; children who would rather fight with me over playtime than sit down and complete their homework.

I came out with simple strategies to encourage my kids to do their homework on time without any fights.

 1.Knowledge Gap:

The knowledge gap is the gap created in learning due to inadequate knowledge. This happens due to various reasons such as inattentiveness, lack of clarity, or level of difficulty. This is one of the main reasons why some kids don’t like to study at home as they will take exceptionally long to complete their assignment.

Parents should ask questions that will help gauge whether your child understands the topic well. A little prompting can help the child recall but if your child is not able to answer all the answers that test knowledge then there is a knowledge gap. Now is the time to re-teach the topic so that all doubts are cleared before he completes the given assignment.

 2.Easy to Difficult:

Every child’s learning and knowledge is at the different level. Some can understand complicated equations and problems in the first attempt others take a little time to understand them. If the foundation is good then you can give them a supplementary sheet to solve first that help them achieve an easy task before they move on the textbook exercises. 

 3.Consequences vs Punishment:

As a mother nagging is the last thing I want to do. I don’t want them to perceive me as a reminder clock. The responsibility of completing homework is upon the child and that is something that a child should realize early on. This can only be achieved if the child understands that every action has its consequence. For a child to understand this the parent must explain the difference between consequence and punishment.

If you touch fire, you will burn. This is a consequence. If you touch fire, you will get grounded. This is a punishment. A punishment is an order a child has to take.

A child must understand that completing homework is his responsibility and if he doesn’t do it there are real consequences that extend beyond the four walls of a home.

 4.Set Routine:

A student must have a disciplined life. There should be a fixed time for completing assignments and a fixed time for hanging out with friends. The student should be able to manage his time and prioritize tasks according to the time available to him.

5.Study Time vs Homework Time

The word homework brings a lot of negativity with it. There should be a conscious effort made to replace the word homework with study time.

6.Step Away

I hate to be remembered by my kids as a nagging mother. It is ok to remind your children about their assignment or even help them a little. However, the first step i.e to get their books and sit down to study should be theirs. Make them understand the consequences and let them take the initiative. This might sound like a cold approach or even evoke a lot of uncertainty about them completing the task. Nonetheless, with time the rhythm will set and your child will know that the primary responsibility of their homework is upon them.

Study time is an integral part of the learning cycle. If the child has the knowledge, he will not shy away from it. Understand when to encourage your child to do his homework and when to let it go.

Also Read: How to Make Kids Love Doing Home Chores

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