 HOMEWORK
SUPPORT Once school begins children ages 5 or 6 and up have homework.
Some children complete their homework without any adult help
while other children need lots of support.
Homework is important because it helps children practice
and strengthen academic skills, teaches time management, initiative,
self-reliance, and resourcefulness. Homework also teaches
children responsibility, the sense of accountability for mistakes
and successes, and a respect for authority outside the home.
Support, encouragement, patience and guidance are basic in
helping children with their homework. Not every type of help
will work with each child. Here are a few ideas:
- Agree on a quiet place to do homework.
- Check with Host Parents if the television, music or computer
can be on while the child is doing homework.
- Agree on a reasonable homework schedule. Should homework
be done after school or after dinner or after a short break
before dinner?
- Should home privileges be taken away form a child that
doesn’t complete homework or puts it off?
- Can the child use the computer, talk on the phone or
get together with friends before homework is done?
- Try to determine how long the child can keep concentrating
on work. It may be best to build breaks into the homework
schedule.
- Avoid getting into a power struggle over homework.
- Ask your host parents for ideas if you are having a problem.
- Helping with homework can be frustrating for everyone
involved. Do not get angry, try to remain patient.
- Let your host parents know if you think the amount of
homework is overwhelming the child.
- Never do the homework for the child.
- Be enthusiastic and positive when the child makes a good
effort.
Do you have a child with homework and a younger child who
has none? Sometimes younger siblings wish for “homework.”
If this is the case you can give the younger child an “assignment”
while the older child does homework. Coloring a picture or
cutting pictures out of a magazine are activities that may
help a younger child to feel like he or she is also doing
homework.
Special thanks to Sandee Plescia, Community Counselor
in Illinois, for her contribution on this topic. |
