One of the most challenging parts about the transition to elementary school is learning to do homework. You want to make sure your child completes their assignments, but don’t want to just watch them struggle on their own. Here are some pointers on how to help without feeling like you’re doing the work for them.

Do:

Give them a workspace.

Establish a work area free of distractions like TVs and game consoles where your child can hunker down for daily homework time. Make sure they have everything they need to work, from writing utensils and notebooks to scissors and rulers. Give them water, and incentivize them to finish with a snack as a reward.

Organize their workload.

Elementary school is your child’s first experience with the routine of learning, so they haven’t yet gained focus and time management skills. Encourage your child to write down their assignments so they can see what needs to get done and check off completed items later. Review what their assignments are and figure out which they want to tackle first—some kids like to start with the hardest ones while others prefer to get the easy ones out of the way. If they have a set of math problems, you can multiply the total by how many minutes you think each should take to give your child a time to work toward. If they’ve been assigned a workbook, instruct them to get each page done in a certain amount of time. Breaking down the tasks one by one instead of lumping them together under one looming deadline will make the homework seem more achievable.

Don’t: 

Hover over them.

If your child feels like you’re watching them work, they might feel self-conscious, distracted, and more likely to make mistakes. On the other hand, if you seem ready to drop everything to help them, they may put in less effort when you’re around to pick up the slack. Let them know they should always try their best on their own at first, but if they get stuck, you’re there to support them.

Overwork them.

In general, try not to make your child work for more than an hour at a time. A child in elementary school tends to have a shorter attention span, and forcing them to work beyond it will only waste time. A short break will restore their focus.

Your child will receive all the educational support they need at Hawaii Baptist Academy in Honolulu. Founded in 1949, the private Christian school accommodates students K-12 in small class sizes that allow for more one-on-one attention with teachers. Find out more about their elementary school program on their website, and call (808) 536-6830 to inquire about admissions.