In homes across the country the subject of homework threatens the already fragile fabric of many households. While kids bemoan having to do it, we parents are the ones that hate it more than them, well at least we detest trying to find ways to make them to do it without a war breaking out.
We parents must dig deeper than ever before, teaching a child to use the toilet is a piece of cake when compared to the patience required to insist your offspring does their homework every day. If you’re struggling with this here’s a few suggestions to help you survive the battle.
Top 5 tips to get your pre-teen kids to do their homework:
1. Make it a game
Get creative with how you present your child’s homework, if they’ve got sight words copy them on to coloured cardboard and make flash cards. Get your child to close their eyes, lay the cards flat and hide a sticker under a few words. Tell them which word to find and if they get the right one give them a sticker. When it comes to home readers find a place outside to read together; sit on the trampoline, the hammock or take him to park so he can play after he’s finished.
2. Snack, chat, homework
If you try to get small kids to sit down and do their homework straight from school you will get nowhere quickly. Start a little routine where you make a nutritious snack, have a chat about their chat and then once they’ve had a little play or swim sit them down for 15 minutes. Don’t make it something they dread by forcing the issue.
Hint: If it’s usually mum’s job to get homework done then at least once a week get dad or another family member to take over the roll. Change is as good as a holiday!
3. Choose your timing
Kids are usually smashed after a big day at school, especially when they first start out. Instead of battling them in the afternoon don’t mention it until the morning. They will be refreshed and a lot happier (maybe) to do some reading or writing. If they are early risers have their book or readers in a place where they might see them, you never know they might just start it without nagging – stranger things have happened!
4. Dangle a carrot
During the weekends most kids get screen or table time and so if you are struggling to get your children to co-operate then give them one warning and then take away their privileges. This will only happen once, when it comes to the power of iPads, the force is strong.
5. Don’t fight it
Teach your kids a lesson in responsibility by reminding them that it is they who will face the teacher to explain why they didn’t do their homework. Then mention how ‘disappointed’ you are in their decision, this is often enough to at least get kids thinking about doing it.
Reminder: Homework is often used as a diagnostic tool for teachers to see where kids need more help. If parents force the issue and make kids repeat it again and again until it’s perfect then it’s not always helpful to learning outcomes.
Love the Healthy Mummy team xx
Every month on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge, we run a BRAND NEW 28 day menu with a different theme so you NEVER get bored! Next months theme is the ENERGY & METABOLISM BOOSTING! – so if you’re feeling a tad tired and lethargic then this one is for you!!
If you curious to find out more about the 28 Day Challenge Recipes then we have a 28 Day Challenge recipe pack for you to try HERE. 
