Make Homework Fun for Your Children

After doing work in school all day, the last thing kids want to do when they get home is to tackle that ever cumbersome task of homework! They will do their school homework because they know they have to but sometimes homework just gets old and annoying! So... it is up to us parents to make sure our children get the education they deserve. Here are some ways to give homework help to the kids.

Start out by making a fun atmosphere. Do you have an easel? Allow your child to use it for math calculations instead of jotting them down on paper. Let your child use the easel to practice handwriting or even make a check list of things for them to do and let them check items off as they do them. A visual technique is often something that will help in more ways than you might think. Just having something that is not "school" related, will encourage them to help them do their homework.

Be involved with the "act" of homework Some kids like to be alone to do their homework, but if they don't (and even if they do,,, give this a try!) have them do their homework on the dinning room table and YOU sit there with them doing YOUR homework! Pay bills, do your scrapbooking, , do any "sit down" work or activity you have to do. Often, just having someone next to them that is a friendly face, no competition or stress involved, will allow your child to have a clear head from the stress homework often can be and they will be able to do better.

Be your child's homework helper! If you are "at hand" while your child does their homework, they are more likely to ask questions when they need help. A good way to handle this is to find out what they have done so far or how they got to where they are. First, this will help you to determine where they need help and second, if they repeat what they have done, it will help them remember how they do what they need to do and better secure their learning the topic.

If you have more than one child, have them do their homework together. The older one will be glad (we hope!) to help the younger one and in helping the sibling solve a problem it will increase the older siblings confidence in themselves. "I helped my brother and he did good...I did good too!". And the younger sibling will be glad that big brother (or sister) helped him out!

For younger kids, actual hands-on is a great way to teach them many things. Instead of sitting there just counting on the paper, give them marbles or spoons or any fun item and let them count those. To practice writing, have them write things that are dear to them... write names of their baby dolls or the names of their cyber heroes. Have them write a letter to grandma or even let them write your grocery shopping list. As they make new letters and spell new words, it will further enforce their writing talent and it was fun... not just a teacher standing up there reciting words for them to write.

For the younger kids, make "home" homework supplies. Get them their favorite cartoon pencils, colorful and specific themed folders and their own stash of writing paper. A brand new box of crayons and other things they need. Just fill a plastic storage tote with these things to make it exciting for them to start homework at home.

Give them homework breaks. When you are at work, don't you take a break every now and then to clear your head, get up and stretch and get a drink at the water cooler? Well, let the kids do the same. They get tired of just sitting, same as you do. So let them have a break - take it with them! Both of you (or all of you!) take a walk outside for a few minutes, get a snack, sit and chat for awhile. Then go back to the next subject. A fresh mind is always the best way to start solving a problem!

Got friends? If your children have friends, invite them over for a homework party! Have them all start a homework subject and then rotate their papers to grade each others homework. Not only is it "fun" to grade papers, but they can also learn from others mistakes. Maybe they had the same problem and can learn how their friend figured it out. Or even make suggestions to each other as to how to solve a homework problem they got wrong. Other kids their age being there can encourage them all to work together and that helps the learning process.

So, homework doesn't have to be a chore. It can be fun ...you just have to make it that way! It is a great way to have family time and one on one time with your kids - while they learn and you enjoy being their parent!