The Art of Routine

Homework can be the absolute worst part of any family’s day, especially for parents of kids who don’t want to do their homework, or who genuinely struggle to do it. Parents who sit down with their children and try to help are often met with surly attitudes and a “what would you know” attitude. Which in turn, leads to arguments, yelling, no homework actually completed and more often than not puts everyone in a terrible mood. What a great way to end the day…not!

Parents helping with homework can often be stressful, and both parties often end up on the defensive with no one really getting anywhere. Most classrooms use the rule that homework is purely revision, meaning that students should know how to do everything in their homework tasks as they have done the “learning” and background work in class during the week. Yes, this may be true in theory, and yet it doesn’t always reflect this when kids get their homework out at night.

Setting a schedule and sticking to it is key – if kids routinely do homework on the same nights, at the same time each week, you will find the battle a lot less ‘uphill’. If homework time just becomes a part of the week (whether parents are sitting there to help or not), kids appreciate the routine. Same goes for tutoring, I know that some of my most successful students are those that treat tutoring as more of an ‘Extra Curricular’ activity. Tutoring is placed at the same level of importance as sport, music or dance – and the same time is dedicated. These students continue to excel in their tutoring because we meet on the same day, at the same time every single week. By scheduling tutoring or study time into kid’s weeks, homework becomes habit – and hopefully allows for a much less stressful environment (for kids and for parents!).

The use of a calendar or timetable for your child’s week is an important step in creating the routine, and I have linked a few sites below that have some great templates to go off!

http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/homework-tips/weekly-schedule-template

http://planningwithkids.com/2010/07/23/childrens-routines/

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