Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
Socrates
At some point or other, virtually all learners will need homework help, whether they’re at college, high- or primary school. Younger ones, especially, will benefit from their parents lending a hand, come homework time.
Having said that, it will not always be obvious that children require assistance. Also, while they find it challenging, so can their parents. Parents may not understand the way questions are phrased nowadays or they may not remember their lessons from school very well. The reasons, for parents struggling to help with homework, are many.
So, if you’re also concerned about how to help and how to get children to do homework, don’t stress!
We're here to show the way.
Don’t Know How to Help?
So, you want to help your child, but don’t know how?
Don’t feel ashamed. There are many reasons for this and none make you a bad parent:
- You struggled in a particular subject. Everyone isn’t good at every subject.
- You had to leave school early. Some parents had to enter the world of work early, so their own education did not run its full course.
- You were never exposed to the language which your child is studying. You may have studied German instead of isiXhosa, for instance.
The first thing to do is to be honest. Tell your child that you cannot help them with a particular answer, but lend a hand in trying to work it out.
Look for the best way to assist him or her. You can search for answers on the Internet. YouTube videos and websites, explaining concepts, are plentiful.
Maybe a family member or a friend can help, or an older sibling, cousin or family friend. If that doesn’t help, consider a private tutor. Superprof is a wonderful resource in this department!
You’re not a bad parent if you get outside help. It actually makes you a caring, concerned one! Instead of muddling through the situation, getting someone with inside knowledge will to help your child and you.
Help Your Child Organise Their Homework
So, how to get children to do homework?
Getting organised is the first step. Identify a place for your child to work. A desk is, of course, ideal. However, many children will complete their homework at the dining table, which may offer them quite a bit of space.
Crucially important: It must be a quiet space. There should be no siblings playing around, no music or TV which can distract them. The most conducive situation for particular items of homework, may vary. For instance, it would be best for Maths homework to be completed at a desk, while reading can be done seated on a couch or comfortable chair.
Ensure that you have all that you need: Your child must have all their implements available, including pencils, pens, exercise books, textbooks, a maths set, a ruler, etc. Homework may give children the opportunity to use materials which they may not have at school.
Choose the appropriate time to do homework. Most children would appreciate a snack and a short break when they get home, a bit of time to unwind, before sitting down with homework. This will help them to attempt their tasks with renewed energy and feeling relaxed.
Work with them to decide on what works best for them – some kids may want to dive right in and get it done – horses for courses!
Develop a Positive Attitude Towards Homework
While the benefits of homework are still a matter of much debate, your attitude towards study and homework may determine your child’s success at school. It is, firstly important for everyone, including the parents, to be relaxed around homework time.
Parents have to be encouraging, positive and calm. Focus on learning and avoid or minimise stressful situations. Let your child know that you’re proud of them and support their learning.
Help them ease into their homework. Don’t rush it and always try to make a positive comment. While it’s not easy, try to always see things from the teacher’s point of view and, also, take care of yourself.
Consider your own well-being first, before you dive in to assist with homework. Take a moment to catch your breath, after returning from a stressful day at work, before offering homework help. If you’re in a rush or still tense from sitting in traffic, it might not be the right time to engage as a homework assistant. They may pick up that you’re tense and not feel comfortable to interact and may even feel responsible for your mood, minimising his or her ability to concentrate.
Explain to your child, honestly, that you need a moment to unwind and that homework will start shortly. This may help him or her to calm down too.
Ways for You to Assist Your Child With Homework
Before getting stuck into homework, help your child get started. If they have some mathematics problems to solve and some new vocabulary you learn, you may know exactly which task they should attempt first. Show them how to prioritise the assigned tasks and help them become autonomous learners. If they are able to complete the maths on their own, then, let them start there and you check their work afterwards.
There are three:
Make use of videos and books or get them to explain the concept in their own words.
You may want to do a drawing, make notes, make flashcards or create a song. You child will respond positively to one or more of these methods. Find what works for them and, if you would like, quiz them later to check how well they have remembered the section of work.
Test their understanding or knowledge of a particular concept.
Interested in more tips for homework success, then read the other article in this series!
Let Your Child Play the Teacher
If someone really understands a concept, they are able to explain it in their own words. If your son or daughter returns home and says, “Today, we learned about the Middle Ages, the invention of the printing press and …” let them continue.
When they’re done talking, ask them some questions, so that they can think about the topic. This will show whether they really understand the topic.
Ask you child what to do in, let’s say geometry. Ask them how to bisect an angle and allow them to show you. Get them to explain the process, step by step.
Very similar to explaining what he or she knows, explaining how something is done, reveals understanding!
The Fear of Failure (or Getting it Wrong)
As they progress through school (including varsity), children will receive homework and they may struggle with some of it. A good many parents are concerned that they won’t be able to assist very much.
Here is some advice:
If your child or you need help with schoolwork or homework, enlist the help of a private tutor, like those on Superprof.
On this platform you can connect with tutors who will offer homework help and academic support. They also offer lessons in a host of subjects across South Africa and around the world.
Private tutorials occur in various ways: online, face-to-face or in groups. Each of these interactions has particular advantages and drawbacks, so do carefully consider which one would work for you and your budget, before you hire a private tutor.
If you feel that your child requires individualised attention, free from distraction, then one-on-one tutorials are the best way to proceed. In this situation, only the learner and tutor are present, making this method very effective, since every moment is spent working with your child. However, it must be said that this is the costliest type of tutoring, since the tutor would have spent a good deal of time planning the lessons and adapting them to your child and his or her particular needs and learning style.
Online tutors charge less, since they don’t have to travel to each student. Although these kinds of lessons may not always be effective for hands-on subjects, they are brilliant for academic subjects, revision, study skills and assistance with homework.
Group tutorials are the best choice for families who have budgetary constraints. Because there are a number of students in each session, there will not be many opportunities for the tutor to adapt a lesson to suit a particular individual. However, the cost will be split amongst all the participants, making the lessons less expensive per student per hour.
Hook up with your homework assistant on Superprof today!
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