homework tips for kids

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Strategies to make homework go more smoothly.

Routines and incentive systems to help kids succeed

Writer: Peg Dawson, EdD, NCSP

Clinical Experts: Peg Dawson, EdD, NCSP , Karol Espejo, LCSW

Here is the best guide to helping kids do homework successfully that we’ve seen, published by the National Association of School Psychologists on their website, NASPonline.org . Our thanks to NASP for sharing it with us.

There are two key strategies parents can draw on to reduce homework hassles. The first is to establish clear routines around homework, including when and where homework gets done and setting up daily schedules for homework. The second is to build in rewards or incentives to use with children for whom “good grades” is not a sufficient reward for doing homework.

Homework Routines

Tasks are easiest to accomplish when tied to specific routines. By establishing daily routines for homework completion, you will not only make homework go more smoothly, but you will also be fostering a sense of order your child can apply to later life, including college and work.

Step 1. Find a location in the house where homework will be done. The right location will depend on your child and the culture of your family. Some children do best at a desk in their bedroom. It is a quiet location, away from the hubbub of family noise. Other children become too distracted by the things they keep in their bedroom and do better at a place removed from those distractions, like the dining room table. Some children need to work by themselves. Others need to have parents nearby to help keep them on task and to answer questions when problems arise. Ask your child where the best place is to work. Both you and your child need to discuss pros and cons of different settings to arrive at a mutually agreed upon location.

Step 2. Set up a homework center. Once you and your child have identified a location, fix it up as a home office/homework center. Make sure there is a clear workspace large enough to set out all the materials necessary for completing assignments. Outfit the homework center with the kinds of supplies your child is most likely to need, such as pencils, pens, colored markers, rulers, scissors, a dictionary and thesaurus, graph paper, construction paper, glue and cellophane tape, lined paper, a calculator, spell checker, and, depending on the age and needs of your child, a computer or laptop. If the homework center is a place that will be used for other things (such as the dining room table), then your child can keep the supplies in a portable crate or bin. If possible, the homework center should include a bulletin board that can hold a monthly calendar on which your child can keep track of longterm assignments. Allowing children some leeway in decorating the homework center can help them feel at home there, but you should be careful that it does not become too cluttered with distracting materials.

Step 3. Establish a homework time. Your child should get in the habit of doing homework at the same time every day. The time may vary depending on the individual child. Some children need a break right after school to get some exercise and have a snack. Others need to start homework while they are still in a school mode (i.e., right after school when there is still some momentum left from getting through the day). In general, it may be best to get homework done either before dinner or as early in the evening as the child can tolerate. The later it gets, the more tired the child becomes and the more slowly the homework gets done.

Step 4. Establish a daily homework schedule. In general, at least into middle school, the homework session should begin with your sitting down with your child and drawing up a homework schedule. You should review all the assignments and make sure your child understands them and has all the necessary materials. Ask your child to estimate how long it will take to complete each assignment. Then ask when each assignment will get started. If your child needs help with any assignment , then this should be determined at the beginning so that the start times can take into account parent availability. A Daily Homework Planner is included at the end of this handout and contains a place for identifying when breaks may be taken and what rewards may be earned.

Incentive Systems

Many children who are not motivated by the enjoyment of doing homework are motivated by the high grade they hope to earn as a result of doing a quality job. Thus, the grade is an incentive, motivating the child to do homework with care and in a timely manner. For children who are not motivated by grades, parents will need to look for other rewards to help them get through their nightly chores. Incentive systems fall into two categories: simple and elaborate.

Simple incentive systems. The simplest incentive system is reminding the child of a fun activity to do when homework is done. It may be a favorite television show, a chance to spend some time with a video or computer game, talking on the telephone or instant messaging, or playing a game with a parent. This system of withholding fun things until the drudgery is over is sometimes called Grandma’s Law because grandmothers often use it quite effectively (“First take out the trash, then you can have chocolate chip cookies.”). Having something to look forward to can be a powerful incentive to get the hard work done. When parents remind children of this as they sit down at their desks they may be able to spark the engine that drives the child to stick with the work until it is done.

Elaborate incentive systems. These involve more planning and more work on the part of parents but in some cases are necessary to address more significant homework problems. More complex incentives systems might include a structure for earning points that could be used to “purchase” privileges or rewards or a system that provides greater reward for accomplishing more difficult homework tasks. These systems work best when parents and children together develop them. Giving children input gives them a sense of control and ownership, making the system more likely to succeed. We have found that children are generally realistic in setting goals and deciding on rewards and penalties when they are involved in the decision-making process.

Building in breaks. These are good for the child who cannot quite make it to the end without a small reward en route. When creating the daily homework schedule, it may be useful with these children to identify when they will take their breaks. Some children prefer to take breaks at specific time intervals (every 15 minutes), while others do better when the breaks occur after they finish an activity. If you use this approach, you should discuss with your child how long the breaks will last and what will be done during the breaks (get a snack, call a friend, play one level on a video game). The Daily Homework Planner includes sections where breaks and end-of-homework rewards can be identified.

Building in choice. This can be an effective strategy for parents to use with children who resist homework. Choice can be incorporated into both the order in which the child agrees to complete assignments and the schedule they will follow to get the work done. Building in choice not only helps motivate children but can also reduce power struggles between parents and children.

Developing Incentive Systems

Step 1. Describe the problem behaviors. Parents and children decide which behaviors are causing problems at homework time. For some children putting homework off to the last minute is the problem; for others, it is forgetting materials or neglecting to write down assignments. Still others rush through their work and make careless mistakes, while others dawdle over assignments, taking hours to complete what should take only a few minutes. It is important to be as specific as possible when describing the problem behaviors. The problem behavior should be described as behaviors that can be seen or heard; for instance, complains about h omework or rushes through homework, making many mistakes are better descriptors than has a bad attitude or is lazy.

Step 2. Set a goal. Usually the goal relates directly to the problem behavior. For instance, if not writing down assignments is the problem, the goal might be: “Joe will write down his assignments in his assignment book for every class.”

Step 3. Decide on possible rewards and penalties. Homework incentive systems work best when children have a menu of rewards to choose from, since no single reward will be attractive for long. We recommend a point system in which points can be earned for the goal behaviors and traded in for the reward the child wants to earn. The bigger the reward, the more points the child will need to earn it. The menu should include both larger, more expensive rewards that may take a week or a month to earn and smaller, inexpensive rewards that can be earned daily. It may also be necessary to build penalties into the system. This is usually the loss of a privilege (such as the chance to watch a favorite TV show or the chance to talk on the telephone to a friend).

Once the system is up and running, and if you find your child is earning more penalties than rewards, then the program needs to be revised so that your child can be more successful. Usually when this kind of system fails, we think of it as a design failure rather than the failure of the child to respond to rewards. It may be a good idea if you are having difficulty designing a system that works to consult a specialist, such as a school psychologist or counselor, for assistance.

Step 4. Write a homework contract. The contract should say exactly what the child agrees to do and exactly what the parents’ roles and responsibilities will be. When the contract is in place, it should reduce some of the tension parents and kids often experience around homework. For instance, if part of the contract is that the child will earn a point for not complaining about homework, then if the child does complain, this should not be cause for a battle between parent and child: the child simply does not earn that point. Parents should also be sure to praise their children for following the contract. It will be important for parents to agree to a contract they can live with; that is, avoiding penalties they are either unable or unwilling to impose (e.g., if both parents work and are not at home, they cannot monitor whether a child is beginning homework right after school, so an alternative contract may need to be written).

We have found that it is a rare incentive system that works the first time. Parents should expect to try it out and redesign it to work the kinks out. Eventually, once the child is used to doing the behaviors specified in the contract, the contract can be rewritten to work on another problem behavior. Your child over time may be willing to drop the use of an incentive system altogether. This is often a long-term goal, however, and you should be ready to write a new contract if your child slips back to bad habits once a system is dropped.

Click here to download the homework planner and incentive sheet .

Frequently Asked Questions

To help homework go more smoothly, e stablish a routine that includes a time and place where it will be done, a planner that lists each assignment, scheduled breaks when some of the work is done, and a reward system for kids who are not motivated by good grades alone.  

Set a good homework routine following these steps: Find a location in the house where homework will be done. Set up a homework center stocked with needed materials . Establish a homework time. Use a daily homework planner so that your child has everything in writing.  

One tool that can make homework go more smoothly i s a Daily Homework Planner , which lists each assignment, how long it should take to complete, and what rewards may be earned for completing each assignment.    

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Top 15 Ways To Make Homework Less Painful

Homework is hard, for kids and for parents. These 15 homework tips for kids help make the process less painful.

If your home is anything like mine, homework often takes far longer than it “should” before it’s completed. We’ve spent a lot of time figuring out the best ways to make it less painful for everyone involved, and we’ve had a lot of success with some of the things we’ve implemented.

Although it’s summer, our school believes in keeping the mind active so that you don’t end up with the dreaded summer learning loss. To that end, each of the wee ones has a math workbook to complete, and they are also asked to read for at least 15 minutes every single day.

The reading is not a problem in our house, and we work on the math book 3 pages each day. This is a great chance to introduce new habits for the upcoming school year to help make homework go more quickly and improve study habits.

We’ve seen a difference, and I’d love to share my top 15 homework helpers with you.

Top 15 Homework Tips for Kids

Set up a dedicated homework area..

Whether your child does homework at the kitchen table, a designated desk, or wherever you determine, make that a designated homework zone so that your child has appropriate space to work.

Don’t let that area get too cluttered, and be prepared to revise where that space is and what it looks like as time goes on.

Have all supplies available in the homework zone.

As a corollary to the first tip, have everything you need right there. If you’re working at a desk, it’s easy to put the pens, markers, scissors, protractors, calculators, thesauruses – whatever your child needs – in the desk drawer so there is no need to get up and hunt, disrupting the focus on homework.

If you’re doing homework at the kitchen table, create a homework bin like the one I have for my car that you can pull out whenever your child sits down to work.

Ensure the homework zone is free from distractions.

That means more than just turning off the tv. Clear off the work surface so that only the homework your child is working on at the moment is visible.

Don’t have your desk stacked with books and papers from school, erasers, little toys, and the like. It’s too easy to start focusing on them – or on homework that is yet to come – rather than the task at hand.

Keep the phone stored somewhere else. You’ll get the argument that kids need to check in with friends about homework (or whatever), but they can get up and make that conscious effort to check in rather than having that temptation right there.

There have been myriad studies about distractions and focus. That said, some kids do better with music in the background or something similar that lets them focus on their work, so test that theory on your child.

Create a homework schedule, and stick to it.

Some kids are great first thing in the morning, while others are more clearheaded after school. Figure out when your child works best, and do the majority of your homework then.

I have a friend who dedicates 6-7am every morning to her son’s homework because that’s when he’s best able to focus. Here, we do most homework after the wee ones have gotten home from school, had a snack (with protein), and relaxed for a few minutes.

Every child is different, and fitting your routine to their abilities makes it easier.

Spread out bigger projects.

This is a no-brainer. I know I’m not the only one who wrote term papers in college mere hours before they were due, cranking out pages after page as fast as I possibly could.

It was a ton of stress, and I worried about it before I started it – plus, it was never my best work.

Instead, sit down with your child (until they’re able to do this on their own) and discuss any school projects and plan out what work you’ll do when so that it isn’t overwhelming. This is such an important lesson for kids to learn, and the sooner they learn to plan and prioritize, the better off they’ll be.

I say this as the mother of a child who struggles mightily with executive functioning. The more I can do to help develop and support this, the more he’ll have an easier time down the road.

Do homework in advance when you can.

Mister Man had two weekly assignments this year. He had a social studies/online research set of questions that was due every Friday, and he had a reading response that was due every Wednesday.

We chose to complete both of those on the weekends instead of waiting. We had more time available and flexibility to work on weekends, and that freed up time during the week for any unexpected homework that popped up during the week.

This works great for any homework that you know you have on a regular basis, and though Mister Man hated that we made him finish them early, he was always grateful and happy to finish them early and not worry about them all week long.

Be visible but not obtrusive.

Especially for little kids, it’s easy to get off task. Don’t disappear while your child is working if they have a tendency to lose focus.

While they need to learn to do their homework on their own at some point, you need to know if they’re hard at work or staring off into space… or building LEGOs. Don’t hover and dictate their every move, but be able to keep an eye out.

Know when to take a break.

There are days when your child may have a legitimate two hours of homework, or their 5 minute math sheet may take them two hours. Sitting working on homework for two straight hours, especially if they’re not making much progress can be tough.

Set a timer for 15 minutes. When it goes off, let them have a five minute break to stretch, read a book, play with LEGOs, something to relax them so they can get back to work. As they get older, set the timer for progressively longer stretches before giving them a 5 minute break each half hour when they need it.

Don’t escalate the situation.

We’ve all been there. It’s an easy problem, but our child is simply stuck.

Nothing we say helps because they’ve put blinders on. It’ so easy to feed on their frustration and build it up so that you’re just as – if not more – frustrated than they are.

Shockingly, this never seems to help in our household. Instead, me taking a deep breath and separating myself from my child’s frustration so that I can react calmly is the only solution that doesn’t end in tears.

Take an exercise break.

When your child gets frustrated, resetting his system can make a big difference. A lot of this can be accomplished with “heavy work” or some quick calisthenics.

Do some push ups or carry a load of books across the room. Run around the house three times or do 30 jumping jacks.

It’s partly about the distraction, but it’s more about getting your body out of the bad pattern and ready to work again.

Make it relatable to your kids.

When doing math problems, Mister Man sometimes gets stuck and says it’s too hard. It’s amazing to me, however, when I turn a three step math problem into a word problem involving LEGOs.

He adores them, and suddenly, he’s paying attention to the numbers and doing what he’s supposed to do. Instead of having math be abstract numbers, make it mean something to your kids when they get stuck.

Talk about buying 13 ice cream cones and eating 6 and wanting to know how many you have left. Say there are four race cars and you get six more for your birthday and now you want to know how many you have.

Get creative and find a way to make the math mean something to your kids. For math, manipulatives tend to make a big difference, too.

Draw out the problem or have a container of pennies you can use to illustrate the problem and make it more concrete. The same relational homework tips work for other classes like science and English, as well.

Help break it down into steps.

Whenever we do a writing assignment, Mister Man tenses up. He starts writing and goes bare bones, with the minimum he thinks he can get away with because he doesn’t know what to write.

He’s a very creative and articulate child, however. I found that spending three or five minutes before he starts writing talking about what he wants to say and bouncing ideas back and forth, suddenly gives him some great inspiration, and he writes a great response.

Ask the leading questions – why do you think? what happened when? where was your favorite? And lead them down the path of organizing that into the writing assignment.

As they get more comfortable with it, pass off more and more of the responsibility for figuring this out onto them.

The same holds true for other larger projects and even math problems. Break the big picture down into manageable steps so that they have a path that doesn’t feel insurmountable.

When all else fails, throw in the towel.

Yes, really.

There are some days and some homework assignments that will just not click with your child. Especially when they’re in elementary school, know where the stopping point is.

If you’re spending two hours on an assignment and making no progress, quit. Turn it in incomplete or work on it another night.

It isn’t worth the suffering when this is a genuine issue and not something they are using simply as an excuse to not do homework. So don’t let it become a habit, but know that there are times when it’s ok to not finish everything.

The teacher also needs to know where kids are struggling. This helps them know when to reteach that part of the curriculum, not just for your child but for others in the class. 

Keep in communication with your children’s teachers.

I don’t mean you should be  that parent who pesters the teacher about every little thing, but discuss your homework concerns with the teachers in a rational manner.

If your teacher loves email, do it via email. If it’s a phone call or an in person chat, make sure you schedule it in advance so the teacher has the time available to dedicate to your concerns.

Most importantly, if your child consistently spends hours on homework, they should know. They may have tips for you specific to your children, or they may tell you to modify the homework assignments.

Encourage your children to reach out for help.

This is something mine struggle with. Whether it’s a fear of being imperfect or anxiety or another issue, continue to reassure your student that the teacher and school is there to help.

No one expects kids to understand everything completely. The teachers are happy to help students who don’t fully capture something they taught.

Encourage your students to email the teacher with questions, go in for help (with an appointment) before or after school. If your student doesn’t mesh with the teaching style, use your school’s tutoring or help center, if it offers one.

You may need to help create those email requests to start, but model the behavior and let them feel those successes.

That said, if this is something that your child struggles with on a daily basis and never understands the concepts, it may be time to look at a larger picture. Can the teacher change how they’re teaching the material? Is it time to move to a different level of the class? Do you need to hire a tutor or find another outside resource?

Require your child’s best effort.

Homework is about practicing what you know and showing the teacher that you understand the concept so they can move on in their teaching. It isn’t about doing it as fast as you can do simply be done.

Both my children will sometimes race through homework so they can do more fun things. For me, that means that I go over their homework and make them fix sloppy mistakes.

I know they’re capable of that. More importantly, I want them to understand that they need to work hard and learn to do it right the first time.

Fortunately or unfortunately, they’re both good students, so their teachers sometimes let them get away with sloppy mistakes too often. That said, sometimes their best effort is three sentences without all the right capitals or a math assignment that doesn’t show all the work because that’s all they’re capable of that day.

Sometimes, they simply don’t understand a concept. It’s important for the teacher to know that so they can reteach the concept if necessary.

And when that’s their best effort, I let it go. Best effort doesn’t mean perfect. It means the best your child can do that day, and it will vary.

Final thoughts on homework tips – and what’s right for your child

Regardless of what works for you, find a routine and stick with it.

Homework is rarely fun, but it can be less painful. We’re working on our good habits now so that they’re in place for the future.

And so I can retain at least a modicum of my sanity.

What are your best homework tips and tricks?

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[…] How to get kids to do their homework […]

Homework is one word that makes every school child – and many parents – cringe. You have great handy tips!

Thanks – homework can be painful here, too, but we’ve slowly learned over the years!

[…] Top 15 Ways To Make Homework Less Painful By Honest and Truly […]

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Khan Academy Blog

Making Homework Easier: Tips and Tools for Parents 

posted on September 20, 2023

By Stephanie Yamkovenko , group manager of Khan Academy’s Digital Marketing Team.

Homework can present challenges for parents and children alike. You naturally want to provide support for your child’s learning journey and ensure they are reaching their full potential. In this blog post, we will delve into practical strategies to assist your child with their homework. From fostering understanding and offering encouragement to breaking down tasks and implementing rewards, we will explore a variety of effective approaches to help your child achieve academic success.

Step 1: Set Up Your Child for Success

Your child’s study environment can have a significant impact on their homework performance. Create a space that is free from distractions like the television, smartphones, or noisy siblings. The study space should be comfortable, well lit, and have all the necessary materials your child might need, such as pens, papers, and textbooks. If your child’s workspace is noisy or uncomfortable, they may have difficulty focusing on their homework, resulting in lower productivity. 

For example, if you live in a small apartment, consider setting up a designated corner with a small desk or table where your child can focus on their work. You can use dividers or screens to create a sense of privacy and minimize distractions.

If the only place to do homework is in the dining room or kitchen, try to establish a routine where the area is cleared and organized before study time. This can help signal to your child that it’s time to concentrate and be productive.

Remember, it’s important to adapt to your specific circumstances and make the best of the available space. The key is to create a dedicated study area that promotes focus and minimizes interruptions regardless of the size or location of your home.

Try Confidence Boosters for Your Child Here!

Step 2: make it fun.

It’s important to make homework fun and engaging for your child. Here are some examples of how you can do it:

• Use games : Incorporate educational games like card games, board games, or puzzles that align with the subject your child is learning. For instance, use Scrabble to practice spelling or Sudoku to enhance problem-solving skills.
• Turn it into a challenge : Create a friendly competition between siblings or friends by setting goals or time limits for completing assignments. Offer small rewards or incentives for accomplishing tasks.
• Make it interactive : Use hands-on activities or experiments to reinforce concepts learned in class. For science or math, conduct simple experiments at home or use manipulatives like blocks or counters to visualize abstract concepts.
• Use technology : Explore online educational platforms or apps that offer interactive learning experiences. There are various educational games, virtual simulations, and videos available that can make homework more enjoyable.
• Incorporate creativity : Encourage your child to express their understanding through art, storytelling, or multimedia presentations. For example, they can create a comic strip to summarize a story or make a short video to explain a concept.

Remember, by making homework enjoyable, you can help your child develop a positive attitude towards learning.

Step 3: Use Rewards

Rewards can be a powerful motivational tool for children. Offering positive reinforcement can encourage them to complete their homework on time and to the best of their ability. 

Here are some examples of rewards our team has used with their children:

• Extra screen time: “I use Apple parental controls to add screen time on their iPad.”
• Access to a favorite toy: “My eight year old has a drum kit, which drives us all up the wall. (Thanks, Grandma!) But when they’ve been doing a lot of school work, we put on headphones and let him go nuts.”
• Praise for a job well done: “Specific, measurable praise is what works best.” 
• Trip to the park: “A trip to the park is good for everyone, especially for the kids to run around with the doggos.”
• Movie night: “I know every word and song lyric in Moana ; we now reserve showings for good behavior.” 
• Stickers or stamps: “Gold stars were such a thing growing up in the 80s; turns out they still work.”
• Stay up a little later: “An extra 30 minutes feels like a whole day for my young ones; use this reward with caution as it can become the expectation!”

So, celebrate your child’s efforts and encourage them to continue doing their best.

Step 4: Break Down Difficult Tasks

When facing daunting homework assignments, follow these step-by-step instructions to break down the tasks into smaller, manageable chunks:

• Understand the requirements and scope of the task.
• Break down the assignment into individual tasks or sub-tasks.  
• Splitting the middle term
• Using formula
• Using Quadratic formula
• Using algebraic identities
• Determine the order in which tasks should be completed based on importance or difficulty. 
• Start with the easiest task. Begin with the task that seems the least challenging or time-consuming.
• Progress to more challenging tasks: Once the easier tasks are completed, move on to more difficult ones.
• Take breaks: Schedule short breaks between tasks to avoid burnout and maintain focus.
• Check completed tasks for accuracy and make any necessary revisions.
• Finish the remaining task(s) with the same approach.
• Celebrate small achievements to boost confidence and keep motivation high.

By following these steps, you can make daunting homework assignments more manageable and less overwhelming for your child.

Step 5: Get Targeted Help

If your child is struggling with homework, it might be worth considering seeking personalized assistance. You have the option to search for professional tutors or explore online tutoring platforms, such as Khan Academy’s AI tutor, Khanmigo .

This AI tutor can offer personalized guidance and support tailored to your child’s specific needs, helping them grasp complex concepts and practice essential skills. Incorporating this approach can effectively complement your child’s learning and enhance their homework performance.

Enhance your child’s learning and boost homework performance!

Homework can be a challenge for both parents and children. But with the right approach, you can help your child overcome difficulties and support their learning. Encourage and understand your child, create a comfortable environment, break down difficult tasks, use rewards, get professional help when needed, and make it fun. With these tips and techniques, you can help your child achieve success, develop a love for learning, and achieve academic excellence. Remember that each child learns differently, so it’s essential to adjust your approach to meet their unique needs.

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The best way to learn and teach with AI is here. Ace the school year with our AI-powered guide, Khanmigo. 

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9 Smart Tips for Homework Success

Help kids manage their homework load with these strategies..

Even children who enjoy doing homework can lose their enthusiasm for it over the course of the school year, and find ways to stall or avoid doing it. But after-school study time is important, both for reinforcing the day’s learning and for lending structure to your child’s day.

“Homework isn’t just about academics,” says Karen Burke, SVP of Data Analysis and Academic Planning, Scholastic Education Solutions. “It can help students create routines and build responsible behaviors.”

Playing cop rarely works — micromanaging and nagging only make kids feel incapable or frustrated. Instead, think of yourself as a coach and cheerleader. 

“Generally, the idea of homework should be to help students set goals, build independence, and practice applying the knowledge they are gaining,” says Burke.

To help you get there, we asked teachers and parents to share their strategies for solving the most common homework struggles. These 10 tips will bring harmony back into your homework routine, whether your child is a kindergartner or 5th grader, perfectionist or procrastinator.

1. Do It Early

Give your child a time frame in which to get down to business. In your household, this may be before or after extracurriculars.

Work with your child to identify the time when their energy and focus are at their peak. This gives your child some control over their schedule. (Some kids need a longer break after school, and others need to start right away to keep the momentum going.) 

However, plan on 5 p.m. being the latest they can start their homework.

2. Phone a Friend

From kindergarten onward, kids should have a list of three or four classmates they can call on when they forget an assignment, or even just to ask a question. Study buddies can provide motivation for each other to get the work done. 

3. Collaborate to Build Confidence

When kids don’t understand a concept right away, they may feel like they’re not smart enough and start to shut down, says Sigrid Grace, a 2nd grade teacher in Michigan. 

Short-circuit negative thinking by sitting down with your child and figuring out the first problem in the assignment together. This should help jog their memory to complete the rest. Then, heap on the praise: “You did a great job on that one! Try the next one now.”

4. Change the Scenery

Sometimes something as simple as changing up their workspace can boost a child’s motivation and, in turn, their confidence. If your child has been working alone at a desk or designated study nook, perhaps they’d be more comfortable doing their homework in a public area, like the kitchen table while you’re preparing dinner. 

Conversely, if they’ve been working in a high-traffic part of the house, they might need a more private space in which to focus. 

5. Keep the Positive Feedback Coming

Younger kids need instant feedback, so it’s okay for parents of young grade-schoolers to correct mistakes, says Grace, the 2nd grade teacher. Follow this up with specific praise about what your child has done well.

6. Leave the Room

“Kids who drag things out are often doing so for your attention — they’re enjoying the interaction on some level,” explains Grace. “Avoid joining in.”

If you must stay in the room, have your child work in a spot that’s farther away from whatever you’re doing.

7. Beat the Clock

Sometimes procrastinators just need a jump-start. If that’s true for your child, try this: 

Set a timer for five minutes and have your child work as quickly and steadily as they can until the timer goes off. At that point, they can choose to take a short break or keep going — many kids continue.

“Racing against a timer gives kids an external sense of urgency if they don’t have an internal one,” says Ann Dolin, a former educator. 

However, a timed work session is not an excuse for sloppy work. Make sure your child reviews theirs before submitting it.

8. Plan, Plan, Plan

To get the most out of your days, include every appointment — from sports practice to meals to reading time — on a big calendar or schedule log and stick it in a central place where every member of the household can see it. 

If you know that certain nights present a conflict with your child’s homework schedule, you can ask for the week’s assignments upfront and work with your child to decide the best times to complete them, says Cathy Vatterott, a professor of education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. 

“Teachers will often work with you on this, but most parents are afraid to ask,” she says.

9. Let ’Em Vent 

If your child is resisting doing their homework — or worse, is tearing up over it in frustration — soothe any pent-up worries by letting them complain. Listen, empathize (“Wow, that is a lot of work”), and state their feelings back to them (“You sound upset”). 

Once your child feels understood, they’ll be more likely to accept your suggestions, says Dolin — and better able to focus on what needs to be done.

You can also help by talking to your child about what they remember from class and steering them to the textbook. If they’re still lost, have them write a note to the teacher explaining that they don’t understand.

Get ready for your child to go back to school with our guide — it's full of recommended books, tips to help if your child is struggling with homework , and more resources for starting the year off right . 

Shop workbooks and learning kits to support good homework habits. You can find all books and activities at The Scholastic Store .

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Homework and Study Habits: Tips for Kids and Teenagers

Certain key practices will make life easier for everyone in the family when it comes to studying and organization. However, some of the methods may require an adjustment for other members of the family.

RELATED : Download Our Free Homework Charts !

• Turn off the TV. Make a house rule, depending on the location of the screen, that when it is study time, it is “no TV” time. A running tv will draw kids like bees to honey.
• What about the radio or other audio devices? Should it be on or off? Contrary to what many specialists say, some kids do seem to function well with the radio turned on to a favorite music station. (Depending on the layout of your house or apartment, maybe an investment in earbuds would be worthy of consideration.)
• Set specific rules about using cell phones during study hours. For instance, use of a cell phone can only occur if it becomes necessary to call a schoolmate to confirm an assignment or discuss particularly challenging homework.
• Designate specific areas for homework and studying.  Designate specific areas for homework and studying. Possibilities include the kitchen, dining room, or your child’s bedroom. Eliminate as much distraction as possible. Since many kids will study in their rooms, the function becomes more important than beauty.  Most desks for kids don’t have enough space to spread out materials. A table that allows for all necessary supplies such as pencils, pens, paper, books, and other essentials works exceptionally well.
• Consider placing a bulletin board in your child’s room above the desk. Your local hardware store may sell wallboard that is inexpensive and perfect to post essential school items. You may decide to paint or cover it with burlap to improve its appearance or let your child take on this project.
• Keeping general supplies on hand is important. Check with your child about his or her needs. Make it his/her responsibility to be well supplied with paper, pencils, notepads, etc. Encourage the use of a notebook for writing down assignments so there is no confusion about when they must be turned in to the teacher.
• Consistency is a critical factor in academic success.  Try to organize the household so that dinner is at a regular hour, and once it’s over, it’s time to crack the books. If your child doesn’t have other commitments and gets home reasonably early from school, some homework completion can occur before dinner.
• Consider your child’s developmental level when setting the amount of time for homework. While high school students can focus for over an hour, first-graders are unlikely to last more than 15 minutes on a single task. Allow your child to take breaks, perhaps as a reward for finishing a section of the work.
• Organize study and homework projects.  Get a large dry erase calendar — one that allows space for jotting things down in the daily boxes. Have your child use different bold colored dry erase markers to write exam dates, reports that are coming due, etc. This will serve as a reminder so that assignments aren’t set aside until the last minute.
• Teach your child that studying is more than just doing homework assignments. One of the most misunderstood aspects of schoolwork is the difference between studying and doing homework assignments. Encourage your child to do things such as:
• take notes as he’s/she’s reading a chapter
• learn to skim material
• learn to study tables and charts
• learn to summarize what he/she has read in his/her own words
• learn to make his/her own flashcards for a quick review of dates, formulas, spelling words, etc.
• “How did the math test go?”
• “How did you do on the history report?”
• “How’s your science project coming along? Need any help?”
• Info Please – Homework Center
• Fact Monster

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