How do I get my smart 7 year old daughter to do her homework? She leaves it for the last minute and then cries when she finally has to sit down and complete it. Am I a bad parent?
By Bob S.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
Everyone has different ideas about this thorny issue. My thoughts have been reached after working for many years in a school setting and having reared two children. I also tend to my grandchild and homework is a daily task.
Depending on the set-up of the household, I think it is best if the child comes in after school and has a brief rest and snack. Then, it is right to the table where the homework is reviewed and the parent is an active participant in the exercise. Please try to remain as helpful and pleasant as possible. Do not do it for her, but give calm correction as needed. I try to check myself from being too critical.
I know you are probably tired. I actually think the nightly homework is too much for the students, especially the younger set. But, I believe I am in the minority on this. I really believe that homework, especially large amounts of it, is a failed policy. I know older generations did not have as much homework as is expected today. But, just try to be as helpful as you can, and consider paying a small sum to an older child or a daily tutor to assist your daughter if your schedule does not allow you to help her.
Kindness and helpfulness will also teach her many things. My best wishes to you both.
What Sallly said. I did this with my son (now 30), and he's doing it with his son (9). My son said knowing he would have an hour break before sitting down to the homework was a great relief to him. He could watch TV, play a GameBoy game, or play, and when the hour was up he would sit at the kitchen table with his homework while I made supper. I was there if he needed me:)
He wasn't allowed to watch TV or play a video game again until after the homework was finished-correctly. It worked pretty well for us, although being a kid he would balk every now and again-usually when he was either coming down with something or facing a very difficult homework assignment.
BTW, @Sallly, I totally agree with you that kids today have way too much homework, and will go a bit further to say that from what this Gran sees, very little of that massive load is really meaningful.
I can see the point of homework, but an assignment every night in every subject is simply too much. Interestingly it seems a global trend, it's something I'm seeing here in the UK, hearing from my son in the States, and from friends in NZ, AU, and European zones. Kids all over the planet are just being swamped with tonnes of homework, a tough assignment in every subject every night including Friday.
My son says sometimes my grandson needs to spend up to an hour on each assignment, and there is frequently one he simply didn't have time or energy to finish.
Your daughter is old enough to experience the consquences of her actions. Tell her doing her homework or not is totally her decision. Plan something fun and let her know that getting bad grades will keep her from participating. It might take a time or two of missing some fun to make her cooperate.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
