Homework Tips

Helping Kids With Homework May Pay Off

To help or not to help? That's the question facing many parents each night as their child struggles with homework.

But a new study shows that whether parents help or not, keeping the process fun and lending support can help motivate children and make them more persistent.

Researchers found that when mothers stayed positive about their children's homework -- even when they felt frustrated themselves -- the children were more motivated in school and valued the learning process.

"Homework is often frustrating for both children and parents," says researcher Eva M. Pomerantz, professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in a news release. "It is important for parents to let children know that they are there to support them.

"Being able to put frustration aside and focus on what is enjoyable about the work is key to promoting children's motivation in school," says Pomerantz. "When the work itself is not enjoyable -- for example, there is a lot of boring repetition -- parents might focus on the positives of working together."

Staying Positive Helps With Homework

In the study, which appears in the March 2005 issue of Developmental Psychology, researchers surveyed 109 mothers and their 8- to 12-year-old children. The mothers were interviewed on several aspects of their relationship with their children, including:

Their children were also surveyed at the start of the study and six months later. Researchers asked the children about:

Researchers found that the mothers' frustration and anger in their interactions with their children rose on days the kids had homework and intensified on days the mothers thought the child seemed helpless and they helped them with their homework.

But the study also showed that when the mothers kept the interaction positive and reported having fun with their children at homework time it offset any negative effects of their anger and frustration on the children. This offsetting effect remained significant whether or not the mothers actually helped their children with their homework.

When the mothers didn't have a positive attitude about helping with their child's homework, the children were more likely to report poor motivation and negative emotions.

Researchers say keeping a positive attitude about homework may convey to children that although homework can be frustrating, it's a worthwhile effort that's not threatening.

"What we need to know," says Pomerantz, "is how it is that parents balance their frustration with more positive feelings."

By Jennifer Warner, WebMD Medical News, March 18, 2005
SOURCES: Pomerantz, E. Developmental Psychology, March 2005; vol 41. News release, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

New School Year Homework Resolutions

The new school year is upon us and so we all shift into high gear. There are so many activities that start in September: Soccer, Football, Dance, Music Lessons, Karate, Gymnastics, just to mention a few. Of course, at the center of all this is School. Our days, starting from the moment we awake, become a blur of tasks, chores, activities and deadlines. The pace approaches the speed of light as we shuttle, coordinate, schedule and rush, rush, rush to check things off our never-ending list.

In many families, one of the central, important activities at this time of year is Homework. Depending on the child and the grade involved, this can be a very demanding time of the day, especially if your child got "the worst teacher" (i.e., the one who always gives the most homework.) 

You may be struggling over how much to get involved. And it's easy to become over-involved, especially when you realize how much you don’t know about a variety of subjects kids are learning today.

In trying to find a balance between your needs for time and other chores in the evening and your desire to instill responsibility and good work habits in your child, here are some interesting New School Year’s Resolutions. These are suggested by John Rosemond, a syndicated columnist and a family psychologist in North Carolina.

© Solutions EAP.  Solutions EAP is a program of MidState Behavioral Health System, Behavioral Health Connecticut, LLC, and MidState Medical Center.  Solutions currently serves 50 organizations, including Hartford Hospital, Connecticut Children's Medical Center and MidState Medical Center.

Treating "Homework Apathy Disorder"

Homework Apathy Disorder is not an official disorder recognized by the medical community. But, ask any parent of a child between the ages of eight and fourteen and they will tell you that the problem is real.

Teachers will tell you that in any class as much as 20% of the students fail to turn in homework on a regular basis. This impacts the child's ability to master the objectives of the class and move on to the next level.

Teacher training and enrichment conferences often focus on how to deliver instruction and how to treat children. Instructors, especially new instructors usually have one question that no one conference has the courage to address.

But, how do we get the kids to do the work? For some ideas, visit:

http://www.acalogic.com/homework_apathay.htm

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