ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO COMPLETE, TURN IN HOMEWORK

January can be a difficult month. Your child must get back to work after a break, but without the excitement of the beginning of the school year. Getting back to homework, after not having opened a book for days, is often most difficult of all.

You can help your child in several ways at this time.

If your child needs to get back to basics:

• Reestablish the time and place he had chosen to do homework.
• Restock supplies such as pencils, pens and paper.
• Check his homework planner so you know his assignments. Look over assignments when he finishes them.
• Reestablish the place where he will put completed homework to make sure it gets back to school.

If your child can’t finish his work:

• Establish a rule of no social time (including TV, computer or the phone) until homework is finished. Stick to it.
• Comment positively on the time he is able to stay on task.
• Help your child set a schedule. For example: Complete math, 10 – minute break, complete social studies, 10-minute break. Breaking things down may help him feel less overwhelmed.

If your child always “finishes” homework, but does not do a thorough job:

• Emphasize doing his best, not just getting it “done.”
• Check over homework each night.
• Ask him to explain the homework to you, so you can see if he truly did what he was assigned to do.