What To Do When Your Kid Doesn’t Do His Homework

Is your child a little ‘rebel’ with big, cute, fluffy, deaf ears? Well, you are not the only one. When growing up children always tend to test the limits. It can be rather frustrating when your kid just doesn’t do his homework. Parents often feel it is their job to get their kids to do well in school, and yes it is good to take an active interest in your child’s homework, it shows him that what he is doing is important. So naturally, you might get anxious about this responsibility as a parent when your child is refusing to do his homework. Because when you feel it is your responsibility to get your kid to achieve, you now need something from him, you need him to do his homework and you need it to be a success.

This puts you in a powerless position as a parent because your kid doesn’t have to give you what you want. Homework becomes a battle over control; you kid starts fighting to have more control over the choices in his life, while you feel that your job as a parent is to be in control of things. Your child isn’t deliberately trying to drive you insane (successful though he may be), and his maddening new behavior has more to do with his sense of self than how he feels about you. Seven and eight-year-olds are experiencing an increasing sense of control over their own lives, and they are focusing more than ever before on the outside world and the interesting things going on there, like school, friends, and sports. Their selective rebellion is one way of testing the limits of their growing independence.

It is also a method of dealing with new pressures and responsibilities. Kids this age spend most of the school day following instructions. School is more demanding, so they have fewer opportunities to zone out, de-stress, and exercise their own choices. Because they feel safest at home, it’s the place they are likely to assert themselves and take the time they need to chill out. Often, the way they do that is by demanding some kind of independence at home, or refusing to do certain things in this case, homework.

Why Is It Important For Your Child To Do His Homework?

• Homework is important for your child because it improves his thinking, memory and helps him develop positive study skills and habits that will serve him well throughout life.
• Homework will encourage him to use time wisely and teach him to work independently.
• Your child will also learn to take responsibility for his work and this will allow him to review and practice what has been covered in class.
• Homework helps your child learn to use resources, such as libraries, reference materials, and computer web sites to find information.
• It encourages him to explore subjects more fully than classroom time permits and this will get him ready for the next day’s class.
• Homework encourages your child to integrate learning by applying many different skills to a single task, such as book reports or science projects, which will help him extend learning by applying skills to new situations.
• Homework also helps you as a parent to learn more about what your child is learning in school.
• It allows you to communicate what he is learning and this will help you spark your child’s enthusiasm.
• Homework reinforces newly acquired skills, for example, students who have just leaned a new method of solving a mathematical problem should be given sample problems to complete on their own.
• It helps students get ready for activities that will occur in the classroom. Students may, for example, be required to do background research on a topic to be discussed later in class.
• Homework increases students’ initiative and responsibility and fulfills the expectations of students, parents and the public.

How To Get Your Child Do His Homework

Remember your child needs your help. No matter how stubborn he is, always remember that you are his parent and you can always turn the table around if you really want to. You hold the cards in this game all you have to do is play them right.

Here are a few easy ways to help your kid:

1. Understand That Most Kids Don’t Like Doing Homework

When there are many other interesting things happening, especially in our electronic gadget age, it is hard to make homework seem appealing. As a parent or guardian responsible for your child’s education, focus on getting the kid to complete his homework, rather than trying to convince him it is fun. You should still keep a positive attitude toward homework. You kid hates doing homework, this is true and you have to make peace with that fact, but don’t agree with your kid when he says, “Homework sucks”. Instead, reply with something like, “I am sorry you feel that way, but once you finish your homework you can invite a friend over”.

2. Schedule a Regular Study Time

Creating a solid schedule will help your kid know what to expect. You may want to allow him to have a break between the time that school ends and the time he needs to start his homework. For example, allow him to spend one hour or an hour and a half doing activities of his choice after school before doing his homework. However, you have to make sure this schedule is strictly followed, be as flexible and as calm as you can be, but don’t bend the rules or go around them.

3. Let Him Have a Say

Since it is a battle of control, let him have some. Allow your child to have a say in creating the schedule. If he feels like his opinions have been heard and considered, he is more likely to stick to the plan. Agree on homework-free times, such as Friday nights or one weekend day, and allow him to plan how he uses his free time.

4. Establish Clear Expectations

Your kid needs to know what is expected of him in regard to homework. Sit him down and discuss what you expect, such as a rule that everything gets turned in on time, or that ninety percent of their homework needs to receive a C grade or higher. It’s important that you set boundaries, be consistent, and stand by your expectations.

5. Recognize and Praise His Efforts

Praising work done well is a great way to get your child to be intrinsically motivated. Intrinsic motivation is about doing things because they make you feel proud, rather than doing them because you get an external reward. Occasional rewards for a special project done really well can be a great boost but regular material rewards are best avoided. When your child does their homework, tell them that you are really proud of them for being organized, timely, and proactive, etc. It is important to define the exact reason why you are proud so that they know what to keep up. Avoid bribes; bribing is the ultimate demotivating strategy because if your child associates completing homework with an allowance increase or a new toy will learn to do the activity for material gain rather than internal gratification or for greater understanding.

6. Homework is Your Child’s Responsibility, Not Yours

This may seem difficult, especially in a time when many parents feel a sense of self-responsibility about homework, but it is absolutely vital that your child learns as early as possible that homework is his
responsibility, not yours. Let your child keep track of his assignments and materials rather than doing it for them.

7. Let Him Face The Consequences Of Not Doing His Homework

If your child fails to do his homework, let him deal with the consequences. Retrain from calling or emailing his teacher to make excuses or request extra time. Though it may seem difficult, it is best that he learns that he is responsible for his homework and he will have to deal with the consequences of his actions. Naturally, if you have a child with learning or other disabilities, you may need to adjust this hands-off approach. Don’t be afraid to seek support from professional people skilled in your child’s particular disability, they may be able to provide you with additional strategies.

8. Be a Facilitator Not a Dictator

Pleading, yelling, threatening, or bribing your kid is negative, mutually exhaustive and will most definitely not work. This will not make your kid do anything. Instead, aim to facilitate the homework process as much as possible so that each day’s homework time goes smoothly. Talk to him about how he is progressing with his homework, don’t ambush him with tons of questions the minute he gets home from school. Instead, encourage him to tell you what the need to do each day when it is homework time. Let him know that you would also love to hear any interesting facts that arise out of his assignment.

Conclusion

Homework is not as much fun as other activities, to make your kid do it on time and correctly, you have to be supportive, understanding, and firm at the same time. Remember he is a kid, he needs your help, and as much as he needs to have a say and some form of control, you don’t have to compromise on the most important things.