The Best Parenting Tips: Lessons and homework: accompanying your child

When a child starts primary school, they have to adapt to a new way of learning and doing homework. Homework is an opportunity for him to learn to concentrate and organize himself. He thus becomes more and more responsible and gets used to making efforts to achieve objectives.

Support your child with homework

Academic success and the duties that go with it are a shared responsibility between the child, the teacher, and the parents. Maintaining good collaboration with the teacher* throughout the school years will help you support your child in his efforts.

At the beginning of primary school, your child will need constant support during his homework and lessons. Gradually, he will become more independent, but he will still need to feel that you are there to help him if necessary.

Here are some suggestions for supporting your child during homework time:

Remind your child to check that he has put everything he needs to do his homework (eg books, notebooks) in his school bag before leaving class at the end of the day.
Help him get organized. Establish with him a routine and a regular schedule that will allow him to have time to do his homework. Show him to proceed in stages.
Make sure he does his homework in an appropriate environment with adequate lighting. To concentrate better, some children like a little ambient noise while others prefer silence. See what seems to work best for your child.
Avoid sources of distraction during homework (e.g. screens, friends on the phone, loud music).
Stay close to your child throughout the homework period to support him until he can read the instructions in his notebooks with ease.
Even if you feel your child is more independent, continue to supervise their homework period and check to see if the work has been done well. This shows him that you care about what he does and are there for him when needed. If all goes well, if he does not experience any particular difficulties and if he develops good work habits, your child will need your presence less and less.
If your child has trouble sitting at the table to do homework, suggest other places to work (eg, sitting on the floor in the living room or a corner of the stairs). The chosen environment must favor his attention and his learning.
Have realistic expectations. Also, respect your child's pace of learning. He may have ease in one subject and less in another. The important thing is that he continues to make the necessary efforts.
Be patient, but stay firm. Establishing clear rules and sticking to them is indeed important. For example no television or visiting friends unless homework is done.

How do you motivate your child to do homework?

Even if your child doesn't like homework, he should do it. Here's how to motivate him and encourage him to persevere.
Praise your child when he tries hard and points out his successes. Pointing out to him his progress and positive results is a way to keep him motivated, to show him that he is progressing in his learning and that his efforts are useful.
Take an interest in what he does. Pay attention to what he is going through and listen to him tell you about it. Share his enthusiasm when he succeeds or when he enjoys a new subject. Also, listen to him when he is having difficulty. Your child needs to feel that you are there for them.
Adopt a positive attitude. Don't blame him if he doesn't get it right the first time or if he makes a mistake. Failure is part of learning. Instead, invite him to note his mistakes and try to do better next time.
Remind him of everything he has managed to learn so far (dressing, counting to 10, etc.). Explain to him what these lessons are for.
Adopt a confident attitude and show your child that you trust him. Try to find solutions with him.

When a crisis arises at homework time

If your child refuses to do their homework, objects, or has a tantrum, it may be because they:

is tired from his day;

experienced an emotionally difficult situation;

has difficulty finding a good working method;

does not understand homework instructions or does not remember what he has learned in class.

How to react?

Tell your child that you understand his difficulties and name the emotions you think he is feeling.

Give him a short break of 5 to 10 minutes to calm down or to move, depending on his needs.

Give her choices, like doing her homework now or playing now and doing her homework later.

Break the job down into small steps. Thus, the challenge will seem less great and your child will experience small successes with each step completed.

Review with him the material related to the assignment or do some research on the subject with him.

Difficulties with homework?

If your child is having trouble with homework, here's what you can do.

Review the homework instructions with your child. Make sure he understands and suggest that he look up the answer in his school books.
Do not do the work for your child and do not prompt him with the answers. Instead, give him leads. Ask him, for example, where he could find the information or what his teacher said. Think with him to help him find the solution. He must find and understand for himself.
Do a problem in front of your child similar to the one in his homework if you think he needs an example to fully understand what he must do. By acting as a role model, you help her develop ways of doing things.
Talk to your child's teacher if he often has trouble understanding or doing his homework well. She can help you find a solution.
If the difficulties persist and risk affecting their academic performance, see if you can register your child for a homework assistance service or recovery periods with their teacher. Check with your school to find out what services are available.

Make lessons and homework more fun

As parents, we often have a classic conception of how lessons and homework should be done. However, it is not necessary to do homework sitting at a table. The important thing is to make learning positive.
Here are examples to make homework time more enjoyable and less demanding for some children.
Change the environment for homework and lessons. For example, have your child learn their addition tables or their vocabulary words sitting on the floor in the living room.
Roll a ball on the ground toward your child while you explain the problem to him and ask him to roll it toward you when he formulates his answer. Many children learn best by doing.
If your child is quite active, allow him to run down the hall to spell out his vocabulary words.
Make up funny stories with numbers. For example, say: “Mr. Funny has 4 toes. He eats chocolate, and suddenly he grows 5 more toes. How many toes does he have now? »
Use something other than the sheet of paper. For example, practice math exercises with your child by writing on a board or a window.
Turn homework into moments of intimacy. Sit with your child snuggled up against you on the couch and read him a story or ask him to read words and sentences himself.

Useful, homework?

Some parents and teachers question the relevance of homework. Here are some arguments for and against homework.

for homework

Homework allows parents to better assess their child's learning and get involved in school life.

They provide a better link and better follow-up between the parents and the teacher regarding the child's academic progress.

They allow the child to revise or deepen notions seen in class in a quieter environment.

They help the development of the child's autonomy since he must organize his time, his workspace as well as his material and ask for help if necessary.

They give responsibility to the child, who must write down the work to be done in his diary and then carry it out.

against homework

Once back home, children need to move and drop out of school.

The fatigue of the day can cause a less good disposition to learn, and some children then show less attention and organization.

Some parents lack time in the whirlwind of daily family life or do not feel equipped to properly support their child in completing homework.

Children do not all have the same rhythm. The time needed to do homework can therefore be longer for those with learning difficulties.

Some teachers believe that monitoring and correcting homework could be replaced by teaching time, which would allow more learning in the school setting.

Several teachers have replaced homework time with reading time at home, which is easier for children and parents. The reading period can be integrated into a pleasant moment spent together, where everyone reads their book.

* The word “teacher” is preferred to lighten the text and simplify reading.

To remember

It is normal for a child to experience challenges and react negatively during homework time.

Your presence and support during the homework period are necessary at the start of their school career.

Even if your child gradually develops a certain autonomy in his homework, your supervision remains important.

The Rich Life