Setting the Stage for Homework

Source: Tween Parent Staff

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From a school perspective, there isn't anything that could be more important than helping your preteen focus and be productive when it comes time to do homework. And, it's a great time of the year to get them on track. They had the Fall to get back in the school saddle; they had a couple of week break from the demands of school over the holidays; perhaps there were gifts and fun activities during that time! Here we are, at the beginning of a brand new year. Just like we take assessment and create New Year's resolutions, there's no better time to ensure that the "cards are stacked" in their favor to do their best work at home!

Creating a Homework Conducive Environment

Clearly, kids have different learning styles and parents focus on what works for their child; and that could be a moving target as they emerge as learners. After all, a lot has changed along the way leading to middle school. One thing is fairly certain -- what helps most kids, especially tweens, is getting organized (or getting help with getting organized). So, the following are a handful of tips to help you help your preteen:

Designated Study Area - A study area doesn't have to be formal; it might come in the form of a desk in their room or the corner of a family room, or as simple as the dining room table. A child who seeks solitude may not respond as well to being among other family members to get his/her homework done. Conversely, some kids like to have others around for ambient sound and to not feel isolated. If you are tight on space at home, a school library can provide a nice option to get work done.

Visually Pleasing Work Area - Having your child decorate their work area may provide an extra boost of pride and ownership. It could even be a fun project to do together. Creativity often begets inspiration! And don't forget to provide some good lighting to top it all off!

Study Tools Easily Accessible - If your child's study center is in their room, it will likely be easier to stock some or all of the usual supplies: pencils, sharpener, eraser, pens, highlighter, white-out, scissors, paper clips, stapler, ruler, index cards, blank paper, lined paper, folders, binders, dictionary, calculator, thesaurus, etc. Another helpful tool is a white board; it can offer a nice option to figure out a math problem or draft a sentence before committing to paper. If their space is in a common area of the house, a creative solution could be to place supplies in a caddy (a shower caddy might just do the trick).

Organize Work by Subject - Your tween could develop a color-coded file for each class and organize separate tabs for homework assignments, exams and projects, so he/she can refer back to class materials when studying for tests.

Minimize the Noise - It's sometimes harder for kids to believe in the importance of the homework task if there are competing activities surrounding them; a quiet environment is helpful. Be sure to have other family members on board; after all, everyone can benefit from some quiet time. Once established, classical conditioning will come into play; hopefully, they'll associate the ambience with work time and get right down to the task-at-hand.

Set up a Regular Schedule - No one knows your tween better than you. Set up a time that works with your child's rhythm. Of course, outside activities (e.g., music lessons, sports, etc.) may require different schedules for different days. Though not for everyone, one possibility is to identify a set amount of time to focus on homework or some other learning activity; this would be especially helpful if your child is inclined to rush through homework to get to another activity.

Set Boundaries Regarding Distractions - We all know it's tempting to procrastinate ("Why do something today when you can put it off until tomorrow!" Ouch!). Distractions can easily make procrastination and lack of focus a reality. Have you ever found yourself singing along with a song and forgetting where you are in completing your last task? Neutralize the distractions and there will be once less reason for your tween to get off track! Oh, and don't forget the beloved snack!

Expectations Chart - A chart, posted near the designated study area, can be beneficial to ensure that homework related agreements are understood and reinforced. And as a parent, it can help to refer to the plan without the need to have the "we agree" discussion over and over again. It could even be a useful tracking tool, marking off goals achieved.

Naturally, none of us are super-parents who can create a perfect study setting, but maybe one of the above strategies can help you boost your child's interest and focus on the road to developing better study habits. Fingers crossed.

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