Getting kids to do their homework can be tricky at the best of times. And now that many of us are juggling home schooling and working from home, it can feel more difficult than ever to get your children to go the extra mile. But when children return to the classroom, and school work and homework are no longer the same thing, how can we keep kids motivated to continue learning at home too? It’s a challenge which we need to address, because cracking the homework challenge can have big benefits for both parents and children, says Charlotte Gater, Explore Learning’s head of curriculum.
“As a school governor, I appreciate that there’s a big range of views about homework – whether you think your children get too much, or too little, or whether you’re happy with the level the school sets,” she says. “But it can help you feel engaged with what’s happening in the school. You can see if your child understands what’s being set. The teacher can see if the child can manage a topic by themselves, without the classroom setting. And being encouraged to do homework by themselves and take it into school also helps children to develop a level of independence. It puts the ownership and responsibility on the child.”
So how can parents best support their children with homework? Being realistic about times, is key, says Gater. “Most teachers will give guidance as to how long a task should take – say, 20 minutes. So tell your child that they’re going to spend 20 minutes doing the task. Setting a timer will help them see exactly how much time they have left.”
And it’s fine to leave the task after that 20 minutes is up. If a task is supposed to take 20 minutes, encourage your child to do it for 20 minutes and then stop, rather than doing it yourself if it’s not finished, or forcing your child to carry on for hours, Gater says. “If work is completed, the teacher will think a child can do it. And it’s much better for the teacher to know what the child can and can’t do.”
If your child is a homework refuser, allow them to take responsibility for that, and learn that not doing homework has consequences. Working in partnership with the teacher is crucial here, says Gater. “It’s fine to talk to the teacher and say that you’re finding it very difficult to get homework done. And you can send in a note saying that you tried to get the child to do the homework and they refused, or that they tried for the allotted time and couldn’t do it. Just be honest – it really helps.”
The idea of using a tutor to help with homework might seem counterintuitive – won’t that just mean more homework? And won’t a tutor just do the homework for the child? But in fact, having another sounding board can help both the parent and the child, says Gater. Having a tutor can provide a safe space for the child to say what they find difficult, away from a crowded classroom or what can sometimes be a tense home atmosphere as parents struggle to explain unfamiliar concepts, or get to grips with a method that is very different from what they were taught.
“That situation can be frustrating for everyone – especially right now, when a lot of children are not in school,” she says. “And our tutors certainly don’t do homework for children. We encourage them to be independent. We balance supporting them to solve problems that they don’t understand but then we also step back and say: ‘Right, do a few questions by yourself.’”
Lisa Thyer-Jones, from Buckinghamshire, says that Explore Learning has been invaluable for her daughter Ava during lockdown. Initially, she didn’t want to send Ava, seven, to a tutor, but was concerned about the quality of her schooling. “We are firm believers that the children should be taught in school adequately. But when you find they aren’t, you do whatever you can as a parent to help and support your child to the best of their ability.”
Tutoring is helping Ava develop her confidence and enjoy learning, says Thyer-Jones. “It has shown her that learning can be fun and, with practice, anything is possible. And it has shown us that she is in fact on track for her age and is working in some areas slightly above, so has given us confidence.” It helps Thyer-Jones stay engaged as a parent, too. “The system that Explore uses can show you what children struggle with, and it keeps sending them those questions until the child grasps the subject.”
And there’s much more to life and learning than homework, Gater points out, so don’t spend fruitless hours over it. “Children need time to relax at home, as well as developing their skills in other extra-curricular areas, such as learning musical instruments or playing sport. That’s all the more reason to find strategies that help parents and children work smarter, not harder, and free up that all-important downtime.”
Try Explore for free
The process of getting to know your child starts from the very first time we speak with you at your free online trial session. This is an opportunity for us to discuss your child’s requirements in depth and for you to see what an Explore at Home session would look like for you, with no commitment.
Our award-winning maths and English tuition is delivered by experienced UK based tutors, tailored to your child and mapped to the school curriculum.
For more information and to book your free online lesson click here.
