There are probably even more dedicated parents out there than dedicated students· we all know that. So... here they are the rules for parents of students of any age.
- Set up a homework area: Free of distraction, well lit, with all necessary supplies handy.
- Set up a homework routine: When and where it gets done. Studies have clearly shown that students who establish a regular routine are better organized and, as a result, more successful.
- Set homework priorities: Actually, just make the point that homework is the priority – before a date, before TV, before going out to play, whatever.
- Make reading a habit – for them, certainly, but also for yourself. Kids will inevitably do what you do, not what you say (even if you say not to do what you do)
- Turn off the TV: Or at the very least, severely limit when and how much TV-watching is appropriate. This may be the toughest suggestion to enforce. I know.
- Talk to the teachers: Find out what your kids are supposed to be learning. If you don’t know the books they’re supposed to be reading, what’s expected of them in class, and how much homework they should be scheduling, you can’t really give them the help they need.
- Encourage and motivate, but don’t nag them to do their homework. It doesn’t work. The more you insist, the quicker they will tune you out.
- Supervise their work, but don’t fall into the trap of doing their homework. Proofreading a paper, for example, is a positive way to help your child in school. But if you simply put in corrections without your child learning from him/her mistakes, you’re not helping at all· except in the belief that he/she is not responsible for his/her own work.
- Praise them when they succeed, but don’t over praise them for mediocre work. Kids know when you’re being insincere and, again, will quickly tune you out.
- Convince them of reality. (This is for older students.) Okay, I’ll admit it’s almost as much of a stretch as turning off the TV, but learning and believing that the real world will not care about their grades, but will measure them by what they know and what they can do, is a lesson that will save many tears. It’s probably never too early to (carefully) let your boy or girl genius get the message that life is not fair.
- If you can afford it, get your kid(s) a computer and all the software they can handle. There really is no avoiding it: Your kids, what ever their ages, absolutely must be computer-savvy in order to survive in and after school.
- Get wired: The Internet is the greatest invention of our age and an unbelievable tool for students of any age. It is impossible for a college student to succeed without the ability to surf the Internet, and nearly impossible for younger students as well. They’ve got to be connected.
- But turn off social media (Facebook, Twitter etc.) while doing homework: They will attempt to convince you that they can write their paper and do geometry and message their friends at the same time. Parents who believe this have also been persuaded it’s a fine idea to do homework in front of the TV.
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Thank you for your support,
Maira :)