How to Encourage Your Child to Do Their Homework

As a child, it’s unlikely that you ran home from school just to do your homework.  If you’re now finding it difficult to get your children to do their after-school work, then there are a few tricks to improve the situation.

The first thing you should do is to stop referring to homework in a negative way.  Don’t use it as punishment, or as a threat, if your kids are misbehaving.  Be positive with it, and have fun by involving prizes, humor, and positivity.

Secondly, develop an easy, but firm routine.  If your child has to study at the same time every day, it will become a habit.  Children need structure in their lives, so it’s important that you maintain the same daily schedule.  Help them set up this structure by making sure they keep the same daily schedule.  For instance, make a rule that after dinner, they are not allowed to turn the TV on before they have finished their homework.  If their favorite show is on soon, they will be very motivated to get that homework done and not put it off till the last minute!

It’s also important to allow your child to have some input into this study time.  Ask them if they would rather do assignments at the dining room table, or somewhere else in the house where they won’t be distracted.  Also, make a fun outing out of it every once in a while, by visiting a library or park and sitting with them while they’re doing their homework.  Sometimes, just being outside will help children not feel like they’re doing work.

Most importantly, encourage the child with their work.  Daily tell them how proud you are of their hard work and intelligence.  Take them for a treat, such as a trip to the toy store or park if they get good grades.  Be consistent about doing this, and don’t do it at all if you can’t do it every time or they will get disappointed and de-motivated if they get a great grade and then no reward. 

Even if they’re failing in a subject, continue telling them that you know they can succeed and that you’re right there alongside them if they need support.