We’re well into the first quarter of school. How are you doing with mentoring your child? Are you being overbearing or not paying attention at all? We all want our child to succeed but what is the best way to help him/her?
Helping With Homework Is Tough For Parents
- Helping with homework is kind of like playing the “telephone” game.
- The message can get easily skewed.
- You weren’t in class and are dependent upon what you can pick up from your child’s book, notes, and memory.
- New learning techniques can also wreak havoc on a parent.
Your Involvement Depends On Grade Level
- When your child is small, it’s okay to sit with them and help them through their work.
- Teach them early the process of recording their homework and make completion a priority.
- Make sure you check for yourself what homework is due.
- As your child grows, take a step back and let them assume more responsibility.
- However, you should always maintain a line of communication about what he is learning and corresponding homework.
The First Quarter Is Different Than The Rest
- The first few weeks of the first quarter is spent reviewing.
- Generally, kids do pretty well during this time.
- Ask your children what they are learning every day.
- You may notice when new material is being presented because your child may start asking questions.
When The Questions Start Coming
- This can be a trying time for both kids and adults.
- Kids get frustrated and parents lose patience.
- Many parents have one of these two responses:
- Adult: “Let me show you how to do fractions.”
- Child: “No, that’s not how our teacher showed us how to do it.”
- Adult: “I already went to school. This is your homework, not mine.”
- Neither response is effective.
A Better Response
Adult: “Fractions can be tough. Let’s look at your notes and see if there is a similar problem in your book.”
- The above response allows the parents to see how well their child takes notes.
- By looking at the book, the parent can also see the format for problem solving.
Always Be Thinking Ahead (ABTA)
- Parenting the school-age child can be a challenge.
- Parents must always be thinking ahead for the best approach.
- Every child is different.
- So style studies will vary.
- The overall goal of any adult is for their child to be self-motivated and independent so that he can figure things out on his own.
- However, it’s also important for your child to know that you are his support network.
A Better Approach
- Don’t focus on grades;
- Target having your child start homework at a reasonable time (after school or after dinner);
- Teach your child to have the study area organized;
- Develop a system for studying that works for each child.
If you focus on the outcome, a good report card will take care of itself!
