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How many times has this scene occurred? Kid: Can I go out for a while? Parent: Do you have any homework? Kid: Nope! Think back to when you were the "Kid" -- and you'll have an idea of how often "nope" is an accurate answer! It's not very likely that your son got his homework done in school, or that your daughter's teacher didn't give any. It's just that, to kids, homework might not seem nearly as important as other activities. Most teachers assign homework almost every day. Class time seldom is sufficient for kids to master challenging subjects, so afterschool study and practice is essential. A little help from a parent can go a long way towards making homework time more productive. Try these suggestions from the U.S. Department of Education, and see what a big difference they can make: 1. Show you think education and homework are important. Do you set a regular time every day for homework? Does your child have the papers, books, pencils, and other things needed to do assignments? Does your child have a fairly quiet place to study with lots of light? Do you set a good example by reading and writing yourself? Do you stay in touch with your child's teachers? 2. Monitor assignments. Do you know what your child's homework assignments are? How long they should take? How the teacher wants you involved? Do you see that assignments are started and completed? Do you read the teacher's comments on assignments that are returned? Is TV viewing cutting into your child's homework time? 3. Provide guidance. Do you understand and respect your child's style of learning? Does she work better alone or with someone else? Does he learn best when he can see things, hear them, or handle them? Do you help your child to get organized? Does your child need a calendar or assignment book? A bag for books and a folder for papers? Do you encourage your child to develop good study habits (e.g., scheduling enough time for big assignments; making up practice tests)? Do you talk with your child about homework assignments? Does she understand them? 4. Talk with someone at school when problems come up. Do you meet the teacher early in the year, before any problems arise? If a problem comes up, do you meet with the teacher? Do you cooperate with the teacher and your child to work out a plan and a schedule to fix homework problems? Do you follow up with the teacher and with your child to make sure the plan is working? Parents of teenagers will have to modify some of these specific suggestions, but the general principles still apply. Your teen may be too old to have an "A" paper displayed on the refrigerator, but he's not too old to profit from your encouragement, your guidance, and your good example. When you involve yourself in your youngster's homework, you're saying "I care -- I care about your self-discipline, I care about your success, and I care about you." That's a message every child needs to hear every day. Top of page