1. Regulate Emotions
Take inventory of you and your child’s energy levels- notice if you sense or experience hyperactivity, sleepiness, hunger, and emotions like anger or sadness. Validate those experiences and if you can, balance that energy to get ready to work. Take a brain break, a movement game, journal, or eat a snack. Use a timer to keep organized.
2. Establish Routines
Routines create a sense of predictability and safety which helps children and adults have the mental space to think about assignments. Some examples are: share three things you learned in school today, look through homework and identify which assignments will need the most time or support, put electronics in a different room, turn on a favorite song.
3. Prioritize and be Realistic
Consider what goals are most important for the student based on the student's current needs, grades, or time energy level. For example: If your child has an A in reading, but is failing math, prioritize math homework.
4. Focus on Positive Progress
As much as possible, be positive and focus on your child’s progress rather than perfection on individual assignments. If homework is a daily or weekly activity remember that your child has time to grow throughout the school year in their ability to complete homework. It will be much better in the long term for homework time to be a positive experience your child wants to participate in rather than an experience they want to avoid.
5. Incentivize
Incentives can be controversial and confusing, but they don’t have to be. Think about things that your child enjoys and wants to do that they can earn if they finish their homework. These might include television or youtube time, a small treat, or a video game.
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