8 Homework Tips for Parents

Support your child’s success in school by becoming more active in their homework and study time.

1. Help your child create healthy study habits.

​Forming a homework routine and sticking to it, will help your children get into a habit of completing their homework.

2. Work first, then play.

This means your child needs to complete their homework before using electronics or playing outside.

3. Homework should be done in a quiet place, free of distractions.

This means no electronics or phones. The kitchen is usually not the best place to do homework. However, if your child needs close supervision, then the kitchen table might be your best option.

4. Set a specific time to complete homework, ideally as soon as possible after school.

Gift your child a 10–15-minute break to eat a snack or discuss their day. Then it’s time to get down to business.

5. ​If your child has after-school activities, set homework time as close as possible afterwards.

If that’s not possible, have your child complete their homework right after dinner. Avoid pushing homework into the evening when your child is more likely to become tired.

6. ​Children in kindergarten and first grade may not have homework depending on their school. Try to develop a homework routine as your child begins school.

This might include taking time to read a story, color, or practice letters. Establishing a routine at an early age will make is easier when your child actually has homework.

7. ​Tackle homework “large to small” to avoid the last-minute rush to complete biggest assignments.

By teaching your child to break large assignments into smaller pieces, this will help keep them from becoming overwhelmed or postponing larger assignments to the last minute.

8. ​If you find your child spending an excessive amount of time to complete homework, talk to your child’s teacher to see if this matches the teacher’s expectations.

Your child be receiving an inordinate amount of homework and find completing it to be a struggle. Their teacher may be able to modify their assignments to make them more manageable.