Creating The Homework Routine
Posted: May 17, 2019
By Master Christopher Rappold
I remember thinking, “I can’t wait till I don’t have to do homework ever again!” unfortunately I am still waiting!
Let’s face: it whether homework or life activities - it is all the same. We have things to do that have daily deadlines on them and they need to be done well in a timely manner. As parents, one of our responsibilities is to help to create a framework that works successfully for our children.
If you are not sure, you can start by basing it on last year’s time frame and then increase it by 15 -30 minutes. Teachers should be able to help by advising the estimated amount of time needed each day. Sit down with your children and teens and talk it through. Make sure decisions are made and stuck to on a regular basis. I would recommend adding homework study time to the centralized wall calendar so that it is no surprise when it is scheduled.
Something not talked about often is time for breaks or snacks. Let’s imagine your child has 90 minutes of homework. It may be better for your child to set the timer for 45 minutes, take a 10-minute break, and then finish the remaining 45 minutes rather than trying to power though the whole 90 minutes all together. Some may work better with three- 30 minute segments. There is no right or wrong, it is totally dependent on what works best.
As for snacks, my preference would always be fruits or vegetables; this, of course, depends on your child’s taste buds. As a rule, I would avoid sugary snacks that will cause a spike in energy followed by a crash. It’s never fun trying to help with homework when your child has crashed.
Be the parent that is ahead of the curve when it comes to homework. It will save you time, reduce your stress and teach your child valuable habits of how to plan, prepare and get their daily tasks done.
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