WORD ON THE STREET

HOW DO YOU GET YOUR KIDS TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK?

I use a timer. It is hard for children to sit for an hour or more and do homework, so I divide it into blocks of time. For instance, we will do five minutes of reading and then break for cookies. We will then do 10 minutes of kriah and have dinner. After dinner we will tackle harder projects.  This helps space out the homework, relieving the stress, and motivates them to finish the task so they can get the reward.  Rochel Sternberger

I used to tear my hair out trying to help my daughter do her homework. She would insist that the way I was explaining it was different from how her teacher showed her, or that I was making it harder for her to understand the concept. Every night ended in screams and tears. What works for me is allowing my daughter to phone a friend for her homework sessions and I take a step back. I find that when a classmate explains the homework to her, it goes a lot better. It also gets her to do her homework because this allows her to have phone time with her friends. Sometimes, she will call a cousin or other relative who is good at math or chemistry, and they get a chance to catch up too. Devorah W.

Kids will do homework better and faster if there is designated time and space for homework that is devoid of any distraction. Kids should know that between 5 and 6 P.M. is homework time and that homework is done at the table with no music, TV, computer, or toys around.  Sometimes it helps if everyone does homework together and sometimes it better to separate the children. Mrs. Lerner

I let my kids relax first and don’t bother them about homework for at least an hour after they come home. I let them unwind. Some like to play in the backyard while others go to their room and listen to music or chat with a friend, but I let them chill. I don’t even ask how their school day went as I am sure they need a break from the whole idea of school.  I also make sure to feed them a snack they like. This may be where sugar helps as it gives them an extra boost of energy after sitting in school for eight hours. Y. Chaimowitz

I don’t. I hear parents complaining all the time about getting their kids to do their homework. I step back, let them know the consequences of not doing their homework and leave it up to them if they do it or not. Trust me, one or two times of missing out on recess or not being able to do a fun family activity with the others who have already completed their assignments will teach them a valuable lesson. I haven’t done homework with my kids since second grade!  Rafi Massre

I implement sensory motor items into the homework session. Nobody says you have to learn behind a desk. For some kids, especially those with ADHD or who are just finicky, it might help to let them do homework while bouncing on a bouncy ball. I also found that for an active child who has trouble focusing, chewing gum or allowing them to snap a rubber band around their wrist also helps.  Laurie S.

Switch it up and let your child “teach you” the homework. My son hated doing homework, and none of my tricks worked on him. He just wasn’t motivated until I acted like I was the student and he was the teacher. It started with him telling me about the parasha and showing me meforshim in Rashi and then it snowballed to him showing me how to figure out a math problem with a new formula or technique that he recently learned. He thinks he is teaching me, but he is doing his homework the whole time.  Adina L.