Is your son or daughter struggling with homework?

As a parent, helping with homework isn’t about spending hours hunched over a desk with your child!  Parents can be supportive by demonstrating study skills and role modelling organisation skills, explaining a tricky problem if needed, or just encouraging kids to take a break every now and then!

Here's some important things to remember when it comes to homework ...

Get to know your child’s teachers, and what they're looking for by keeping an open line of communication with the school and the teachers.  HCC’s recommended homework and study times are as follows:

Year	Mon-Friday	Weekends
7	1 hour	1 – 1 ½ hours
8	1 – 1 ½ hours	2 hours
9	1 ½ hours	2 ½ hours
10	Minimum 2 – 2 ½ hours, five times per week
11/12	Minimum 3 hours, five times per week

Ensure your child has a homework-friendly area in your home – make sure it is well-lit and ventilated and fully supplied with paper, pencils, etc.

Work out a regular study time – remembering that some kids work best in the afternoon, following a snack and play and others may prefer to wait until after dinner.

Trying helping them make a plan – if it’s a really heavy homework night or if there’s a difficult assignment to tackle, encourage them to break up the work into manageable chunks.  Don’t forget to build in some regular breaks (10/15 minutes each hour)

Minimise any distractions such as TV, loud music, or phone calls.

Don’t do the homework for them!  They won't learn if they don't think for themselves and make their own mistakes. Parents can make suggestions and help with directions, but don’t do it for them.

Motivate and monitor – Offer some words of encouragement, check their completed homework, and be available for questions and concerns if they have any.

Set a good example. Think about what your kids are seeing you do … do they see you reading a book, planning your weekly budget or making time for a healthy breakfast?  Remember that your child is more likely to follow your example rather than your advice.

Praise their work and efforts – often! Stick a great test score or their latest artwork on the fridge.  Mention their achievements to relatives and friends.

If there are continuing problems with homework, get help.  Talk to their teacher to eliminate broader issues which may be impacting on their learning, consider a tutor