Sunday, April 22, 2012
Activities
for Kids to Change Their Attitude About Homework
Most children don’t like
homework. As the end of the year comes closer, it may become especially hard
for children to stay motivated into completing their daily homework, no matter
how quick and easy it may be. For children who struggle in school and have
difficulty learning concepts during the day, the last thing they want to do is
come home to do more work. Unfortunately, the best way to reinforce and practice
skills is by doing homework. Get
children to change their attitude about doing homework by making it less
overwhelming and more fun. Motivate your children and increase their
self-esteem by taking the pain out of practicing and turn challenging work into
opportunities to celebrate their success.
Positive reinforcement wins out
over threats and punishment every time. Break down homework into smaller tasks
and offer game time as a fun reward when each task or subject is completed. For
instance, if your child likes playing computer games, tell her she can play her
favorite game after all of her math homework is done. Set a time limit on the
reward, so that the break is not too long. When break time is over, have your
child move onto the next subject of her homework, with the promise of another
chance at playing her game upon the task’s completion. You can even give out
tokens, like they do at popular amusement facilities, for each block of
homework completed. In addition to turning the tokens in for game time, you can
exchange them for small, inexpensive toys or other predetermined rewards that
your child will appreciate. Sometimes, the promise of spending fun family time
with your child is the best reward of all.
You may also want to include a
motivational chart in which your child earns daily points or rewards when
homework is completed in a timely fashion. The reward may be a weekend treat of
the child’s choice which can be enjoyed by all the family.
Organization
Show your child how to use a
daily visual planner, or break down long-term homework assignments into steps
with various due dates. Prioritize the more urgent tasks and put the easiest
tasks at the front of the list. The more you can organize your child’s homework
schedule, the less daunting the tasks will seem to him. Have your child check
off each assignment as it is completed. Empower your child by emphasizing how
much he’s getting accomplished and praise his organizational efforts.
Munch
Combine math homework with snacks by creating games that include small candies, cut-up sandwiches or pizza. You can teach math concepts such as fractions or geometry by cutting shapes out of food or organizing the snacks in visually appealing patterns. It’s also easier to get through homework on a full stomach than an empty one.
Study
Buddies
Allow your child to invite a
friend over to work on homework together. Make sure the children are working at
a steady pace, but allow them to play once their homework is completed. Be
available to answer questions or provide help if either child gets stuck.
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