10 All-Star Tips for Dads When Helping with Your Kid’s Homework

Students spend one to three hours on homework every night. That is a lot for your child to manage on their own.

No matter how old your child is, chances are they will need your help at some point. Are you prepared for your kid’s homework?

This does not mean you have to go back and learn long-division or practice your Shakespeare, but there are some things you can do to make it easier on you and your child.

Check out these 10 All-Star tips you can use during homework time.

1. Set a Routine

Get a routine down when your child comes home from school. Ask them if they need a break to eat a snack or run off some energy outside before getting back to the grind.

Take their feelings into account. Some students may want to get it done and over with but others may want to spend their time in a more recreational way. Take their opinion into consideration and set up an after-school routine they agree too.

Hang up the schedule on the fridge and allot time management throughout the week.

2. Balance Life and School Work

If you start to notice your child’s life and school balance is off– try to get it back. You know how difficult it is to not have a work-life balance and they feel the same about school.

After school activities, events, and family outings can relieve some of the stress that comes with hours of homework every night. Give them a creative or active outlet they enjoy for more fulfilling time management.

3. Dedicate Homework Areas

Dedicate specific areas in your home for homework. They should be public spaces, like a living or dining room. Somewhere they can access help if need be.

Switch up your areas to prevent stagnant routines unless consistency helps. There is no right or wrong way in this step, only what works best for your kid.

When you have a dedicated area, you will be able to keep a close, but afar eye on when your child becomes overwhelmed or frustrated and you can step in!

4. No Helicopters

You don’t need to hover or watch over their shoulder. Allow them to come for you when they need help.

If you watch over their shoulder it could cause discomfort and more stress for your child than good. When they sit down to do their homework, take a step back and wait until you are needed.

5. Let Them Explain

Let them explain how they think they should do it, first. If they are able to talk through the problem with you, it will serve them later on in the classroom.

Make sure you are asking them specific questions related to the assignment that could spark their memory on how to solve the problem themselves before you step in.

If your child is unable to explain it to you, take a step back and try to solve it together. Don’t be afraid to sites or references while you help, such as this page. Once you have an answer you can help them figure out the way there.

6. Don’t Do it Your Way

Just because you have the answer, doesn’t mean you should try to do the assignment your way.

The teacher and curriculum are set. This means they want your child to learn something a specific way, which may or may not be the way you do things. Avoid confusion and let your child talk you through it.

If your child has a lot of difficulty on one problem– skip it. Move forward and come back to it later.

7. Communicate with the Teacher

That assignment still an issue? Communicate that to the teacher. You can’t skip every problem with an assignment with a note but this will let your child’s teacher know what they need more help with.

This will give you an opportunity for the teacher to also explain their method or give your resources to help more!

8. Don’t Do it For Them

This is one of the biggest mistakes a parent can make. Whatever you do, don’t do their homework for them. Your child will not be able to learn from their mistakes if you don’t allow them to make any.

Getting a bad grade on an assignment is disheartening but this also allows the teacher to see what they need to focus on with individual students and the class as a whole.

9. Do Make Connections

One of the best ways you can help with homework is to make connections between the assignment and your lives.

Draw from real life circumstances to help explain something to them. Use your family’s day-to-day activities, stories, or references to help apply their homework to something tangible.

When you do this your child is able to retain that information by associating it with something familiar.

10. Stay Positive

No matter what the assignment or grade level your child is in, the most important tip is to stay positive. If your kid has trouble with a particular subject or assignment, remind them they can do it.

Maintain a positive response to frustration or stress so the situation does not get worse. If homework becomes a negative activity your child will have a harder time accomplishing the task at hand.

It is more important for them to feel supported, heard, and encouraged when grades and school are on the line. Maintain a positive outlook and the results will speak for themselves.

Helping with your Kid’s Homework

Use these tips to help with your kid’s homework! Spend some time with your child to talk about what works best for them and help them achieve that goal.

The best thing you can do is wait to be asked for help and do your best to support them. Homework is stressful, but if you follow these 10 tips, you’ll keep on being an All-Star Dad.

Looking for more fatherly advice or other manly tips? See what’s popular here!

Author: IzzyWeb