How to Reduce Homework Time and Stress

Does your child spend hours longer than their peers to complete their homework? There may be ways you, the parent, can help them speed up the time it takes to do their homework each night.

Does your child have a problem keeping their attention in the classroom and while doing homework? If your child has trouble paying attention in class, often times you will have to re-teach the information at home before homework can be started. This often adds an hour or more to the homework time each night. More hours may be add if your child loses focus during homework.

Frustration and anger often accompany homework if your child has trouble keeping attention. They may feel ashamed and frustrated at not understanding or being able to stay focus. This can give way to anger as a means of coping with their problems. As difficult as it may be, remember to stay calm and patient with them while you help with their homework.

If your child becomes overly stressed, try giving them a 5-10 minute break to relax their mind. This way they can come back to the work more refreshed and with a clearer head. If they are unable to concentrate, try giving them an index card to read with. This will help keep their eyes and mind from wandering to other lines or problems. If an index card helps them, be sure to pack a few in their backpack for in classroom work.

If you have an older child who is unable to concentrate on homework because they give their attention to things like computers or television, try turning off the television. Set a rule that a certain amount of time, either after school or before bed, must be spent learning. Learning time can be anything educational, like reading a book or doing homework. This way even if they rush through all their homework as fast as possible they still must find something to do other than a favorite TV program or chatting with friends. Try not to set less than an hour for learning time.

All children have shorter attention spans than adults, don't mistake typical child behavior for a behavioral problem. If your child shows an extreme level of lack of attention, consider having them tested for ADHD or other attention disorders.

Make sure vision is not the issue. If your child squints or leans back from the work to read, or seems unable to focus their eyes for each line while reading, visit an optometrist for a check up and be sure to explain the problems they are having. Even if your child has 20/20 vision. According to The Children's Vision Information Network, 20% of all school age children deal with double vision while reading. Children may not realize the way they are seeing or reading is causing the problem. In fact, they may think the way they see and read is normal.

Be sure to alert the child's teacher to the problems they are having with homework at home. Ask about their in class behavior. Voice your opinions and concerns to the teacher. Sometimes teacher have too many students and miss signs of a child having difficulty. Sometimes the answer to your child's problems is as simple as being too embarrassed to ask questions.

Do not let a teacher tell you your child is just lazy. If this happens, go to the principle and file a complaint, then explain your concerns to the principle. Children are rarely "lazy learners", there is almost always a reason behind their learning problems.

Ask the child's principle or teacher to send home copies of notes from each day's lessons. Having a copy of the lesson will help you understand and re-teach the lesson to your child each night. Ask that your child's seat be moved closer to the teacher where one-on-one help may be easier to provide. This may also prevent the child from being distracted by other students and see the black board more clearly. You can also ask the teacher to check that your child has clearly and correctly written down their homework assignments each night. If necessary, sign the bottom of your child's homework each night so the teacher knows you were shown, and helped with the assignments.

Do not feel your questions, requests, or suggestions are imposing upon the teacher. It is both your job as well as theirs to see that your child gets an education. You do your job of helping your child out of love, they do it out of caring for children and a paycheck. There is no reason to feel bothersome or interfering when inquiring about your child's learning needs.