6 tips to help children improve their homework making them confident

Homework – the bane of every student who has ever lived. It is an interesting relationship.

While we all know that homework is an integral part of their studies, it can also be a source of stress and anxiety for kids. It’s important to help children understand how homework works so they know what to expect when they come home from school or after-school activities.

There are rare occasions when students genuinely enjoy their homework. For the vast majority, they do not. Sometimes, there is less homework, and sometimes, there are a lot. In any case, students usually need much help with that. Whether you are a sibling, parent, or tutor, it is now your job to help them with their homework. On the other hand, I will try my best to help you help them with the following suggestions.

The following six tips should make your little one more confident about their work and feeling better as soon as they walk through the door at night.

A 20-Second Summary

  • Try to limit the number of distractions
  • Try to set up a timer to create this little amount of pressure and motivation
  • Be ready to guide them instead of just telling them the answers
  • Make a tradition out of doing homework and studying on time
  • An organized setup can help a lot
  • Be their cheerleader in the appropriate way, and reward them every once in a while for a job well done

1. Limitations of Distractions

This is an extremely useful tip but is now admittedly harder to do in a generation where technology has become so fused with everyday life, especially education.

If you are at home, you are bound to be surrounded by a sea of distractions. They can be games, televisions, laptops, and mobile phones. It is super easy to check social media, text a friend or watch videos now and then. However, one of the best ways to make sure the students finish their work as fast as possible is not to allow them to do so as much as possible to have their complete focus on their work.

It is more challenging to do that these days as students require their technological devices to do their work. The best way to tackle this obstacle would be constant monitoring to make sure they are only using their devices for productivity.

2. Setting Up Timer

One thing that works is, setting a small deadline. I am not sure if this applies to you, the reader, but for me, I seem to work better under a certain amount of pressure and deadline.

If I have all the time in the world, the amount I care for and put in the effort is substantially low. However, if I have a deadline, say, a few hours, you will magically see a productivity machine in me.

This is not to say that every student is the same because they are not. However, I do think it is compelling enough for students to give it a shot. I definitely would not advise you to be too strict about it and have punishments at the end of it.

The goal is to motivate them to get their job done, not to introduce an unnecessary source of pressure. I suggest dividing up their homework and set a specific period or deadline for each of that homework.

3. Guiding, Not Telling

This is extremely important to do for both parents and tutors. As a parent, if you are busy with many things, or as a tutor, if you have many students or are under time constraints, it is easy to give them the answers and have them write them down. However, we tend to forget that homework is to give them more time and practise with the learning materials to soak the knowledge in and understand.

For this reason, I would suggest being by their side and let them do their homework by themselves for the most part. If they are stuck for too long, seem to go in the wrong direction, or are asking for help, do not hesitate in helping them. However, instead of just telling them the answer, you can try giving hints and have them conclude by themselves. Another option would be to give them the answer but explain it to them.

4. Making A Tradition

If you are a parent, make it a tradition for your children to finish their homework. If they have regularly had little homework, then make it a tradition to have them study for a specific amount of time, after which they are free to do whatever they want. Be a little understanding and flexible every once in a while, but try to make this tradition work.

If you are a tutor, try to regularly have a little break time after your student finishes their homework and before they begin extra study time. Having a tradition means that students get used to finishing their homework and start to respect it. Also, because they know that they get some freedom once they finish their work diligently, they are more willing to do it.

5. Organisation of Space

One thing I have learned over the years, and maybe a little late, to be honest, is that the aesthetics and overall vibe of the studying space can have quite an impact on the students.

Having a clean set up with all the accessories ready whenever necessary can make a somewhat enjoyable and effortless experience while doing homework compared to having to do it in a cluttered environment with the necessary stationery all over the space.

This should be reasonably easy to do for both parents and tutors, although it can be a little more difficult for tutors to handle many students in a tighter space.

6. Cheering and Rewarding

Admittedly, cheering is something that sounds better on younger students rather than older ones. However, the underlying idea is the same. It can be of great help to cheer for the students to do their best, finish their work on time, and understand them in whatever capacity they find appropriate.

Also, an occasional reward for doing their homework well would be great. Rewarding should not be a regular thing because students should not depend solely on rewards to do their work. That would make things worse in the long term. However, occasional ones can do wonders and are highly recommended.

Conclusion: We know the struggles of homework with children. This is why we compiled a list of six tips to help them improve their work and become more confident in it. Whether you’re looking for ways to motivate your child when they get stuck or are just trying to be helpful, these ideas can give you some guidance on how best to support them as they do their homework.

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This article was published on August 30, 2021.

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