How To Help Your Child With Their Assignments: Give Guidance, Not Answers

Rumor has it, thanks to Roberto Nevilis (the one believed to be the brain behind the invention of homework), homework is thought to have originated in Venice and was integrated into the education system as early as 1905.

Homework, in theory, supplements our kids’ daily learnings and allows them to link principles with practical life. However, it sometimes comes in volumes where children of today have hardly enough time to keep up with the demands of their academic and social life combined.

DepEd memorandum no. 392 s. 2010 once gave guidelines on giving homework to public elementary school pupils thus limiting assignments to reasonable quantities on weekdays and “no homework policy” on weekends. It is viewed to give ample rest for children, including spending quality time with their parents.

But on days that they do have homework, how does a parent help her grade schooler without sabotaging the opportunity for self-reliance?

To help but not to spoon feed

Here are some tips to help you effectively support a grade schooler with their homework without going overboard:

Establish a Routine

Routines create a sense of security and predictability. Setting a consistent homework time to follow each day, provides structure and safety space. If children follow a routine, they know exactly what has to be done at the time it needs to be done. This way, they can manage their time, set priorities, and have room for other aspects of their life like riding a bike, playing the piano, watching a movie, or simply lounging on the couch.

Part of the routine is establishing a place for study—neat and away from distractions. Phones and gadgets have to be kept away unless needed for school-related apps and research.

Related: Study Smarter, Not Harder : Help Develop Good Study Habits For Your Gradeschoolers

Show support

Have your support be felt during homework time to answer questions and offer guidance. Allow them to explore their options and find the answer for themselves. Provide wisdom and share with them what experiences helped you when you were their age. (You can also share what didn’t work and laugh off silly moments you did while studying!) Knowing that you are there for them gives them enough confidence that they are not alone.

Additionally, be present enough to explain difficult principles to a level they would understand and be attentive to signs and gestures that your child may need help.

Encourage independence

When your kids show signs that they’re dealing with challenging homework, do not rush to their rescue. Foster a sense of responsibility by letting your child take ownership of their homework. Allow them to think, re-think, explain, and stand by their answers. When they raise the white flag, figure out where the confusion stems from and allow them to figure out what seems to be the correct answer.

If you give the answers right away, chances are, they might not remember the answer next time they’re asked.

Give guidance, not answers

Teach them to break tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Explain the principle behind a certain process. Break down aspects of a difficult problem and have them explore which angle to solve or attack. If you give the answers right away, chances are, they might not remember the answer next time they’re asked. But if you lead them to find the answer on their own, they will most likely remember or even explain it in their own words.

Provide for necessary resources

Ensure your child has all the necessary materials, such as pencils, erasers, markers, correction tape, and any relevant textbooks or notes. Teach them how to use search engines to their advantage, and not to a point of dependency or abuse.

Related: Whether You Like It Or Not, Your Child Is A Digital Citizen. Here's How To Raise Them To Be Responsible

Promote a positive attitude

Encourage a positive mindset by praising effort, even if the result is not perfect. Instill the idea that if they foster a negative attitude towards what they are working on, they would be focused on finding more unsettling factors and outcomes, instead of being open to innovation, resourcefulness, and creativity. Reinforce the idea that mistakes are part of the learning process.

Consider giving breaks and rewards

Break large tasks into smaller segments with short breaks in between. For kids who are always at their feet, allow them to move, get a glass of water, or take a bite to eat. For your children who are too tired to continue, allow them to take power naps to reset and recharge.

If they are doing or have done a great job, praise their effort and discipline. If they have demonstrated dedication and integrity, verbalize it. And if you are the kind of parent who gives gifts, a reward every once in a while can also trigger motivation.

Encourage reading and taking notes

Incorporate reading into your child's routine to develop a love for it. Reading boosts and widens your child’s vocabulary. You can have them discuss their assigned readings and engage in conversations about the content. You can ask questions to gauge their comprehension or use the questions in their homework to surface the answers.

Match their enthusiasm and listen to what they have to say. Encourage them to take notes because it helps enhance memory. They can write a daily journal to improve their thought-processing skills and articulation.

Remember: fostering a love for learning is key

Put in mind that every child is unique, and what works for one parent or child may not work for another. Each child has his own pace, learning style, and preference. As a parent, it is best to tailor your approach based on your child's individual needs.

What's important is to create a supportive environment that encourages a positive attitude toward learning. A child should not find seeking your help as a parent stressful, as if their academic workload is not stressful enough. If you notice persistent struggles, despite the tips mentioned above, you may consider discussing the situation with your child's teacher or seeking additional support, such as a tutor or other educational resources. A consistent delay or very slow progress can be discussed with a therapist.

Have the proper view of the purpose of assignments

Homework is just the tip of the iceberg. The whole chunk of its value is kept hidden from view until a situation warrants it to surface. These submerged values include punctuality, creativity, innovation, resourcefulness, logic, pattern recognition, time management, discipline, and responsibility.