Kids with homework anxiety might:
- Find excuses to avoid homework
- Say they’ve done their homework when they haven’t
- Be moody or grumpy after school
- Complain about not feeling well after school or before homework time
- Cry easily or seem overly sensitive
- Be afraid of making even small mistakes
- Say it’s too difficult, even before trying
Here’s how you can help
- Set up a dedicated homework space
Children need a quiet and well-organised space to work that is away from the usual distractions of the house.
- Provide a healthy snack
Kids usually come home from school starving! A healthy snack will help give them some energy and keep them happy.
- Stick to a schedule
Help your child plan out his or her time, scheduling in enough time for homework.
- Practise good time management
Make sure your child is focused on the task at hand. Remove distractions like phones or TV.
- Get started early
While all children are different, a general guideline is to start homework earlier in the day rather than later before they run out of energy.
- Organise a homework group
This can be in person or a virtual group (we’re all getting used to doing this now!).
It can give your child the chance to go over the material with his or her classmates.
- Take a break
Take 5 minutes out to do some stretching or to leave the room.
Sometimes a mental break is just what’s needed to give that extra boost of energy and help them finish their work.
- Do your ‘homework’ while your kids do theirs
Use homework time as productive time for you as well. Use this time to pay bills, go over your budget or plan the next week’s dinners.
You will be setting an example that homework time isn’t just for kids!
