After almost a decade of raising 2 young boys, I've learned a thing or two about parenting. By no means do I think I’m an expert, in fact I take all the help I can get. But there are a few things I've learned that, oddly enough, seem to work in getting two wildebeests to get their homework done.
Here are 8 Surprising Ways to Get Your Kids to Do Their Homework
- “Kids, you can do anything you want!”
Over the past two years, I've realized that using the phrase “you can do anything you want” is the secret to getting my kids to be productive.
I work from home, and the kids get off the school bus when I have about 45 minutes left of my work day. I’m usually trying to finish up projects so I tell the boys, “you can do anything you want” (within reason) for the next 45 minutes and then we will do homework. If they choose not to have a snack in that 45 minute period, it doesn't mean they get to delay getting to homework by first having a snack and then doing homework. It means they missed snack time. They feel empowered by having a choice of activities, and I feel good about facing their homework after completing my own work.
- Karate Chop them into Action
Both boys are really active with outside activities such as scouts, baseball, soccer, and karate. We place a priority on school and other activities will be missed if homework isn't done. With both boys in different karate classes, I was able to work one-on-one with one son while the other was in class and vice versa. With one kid in baseball or soccer practice while the other had to hang out and watch practice, we packed up our homework bags and brought them to the field. In all of these instances, there was a short window of time in which homework needed to be done and it got done.
- Tell your 9 year old, “YOU’RE the expert.”
Our kids are both in Spanish-language immersion programs, so nearly all their homework from kindergarten through third grade is/was done in Spanish. Our older son is proud to be the depository of knowledge when I have to send our younger son to him to ask how to complete assignments because I can’t read the instructions. Also, we’re running into ‘new math’ which is apparently different than the ‘new math’ we learned as kids! It’s a different world when the teacher replies to my question about how to do a math problem by saying “Oh, there are some great examples on YouTube” and there actually are!
Other hints that’ll get the job done:
- Don’t go back on my word. If I say my son only needs to work on something for ten minutes, I can’t add on time if I think he hasn't completed enough. Otherwise, we aren't being respectful or honest with each other.
- Homework must be completed before the weekend because it will be an even bigger yoke around our collective necks by the time Sunday afternoon rolls around.
- YouTube does have great examples and watching a YouTube video gets my kid more motivated than me showing him how things work.
- I've learned that each son is different and what works for one has no bearing on what works for the other.
- When emotions are high, I need to take a few minutes to calm down, figure out what the underlying roadblock really is, find out a way to make a joke or ease the tension, and then repeat the mantra “patience, patience, patience.”
Now, if I can figure out how to get my sons to actually hand in their homework, I’ll feel like we've conquered the world!
Written by Lisa Foss
This blog post is from the Author's perspective and doesn't speak for brightpeak financial. Contact brightpeak if you want to know more about brightpeak products, and keep in mind that they are not available in all states and there are some limitations (some exclusions and restrictions may apply).
Written by Lisa Foss
This blog post is from the Author's perspective and doesn't speak for brightpeak financial. Contact brightpeak if you want to know more about brightpeak products, and keep in mind that they are not available in all states and there are some limitations (some exclusions and restrictions may apply).
