How to reduce the stress of homework
Last week I discussed the amount of homework your young person should be getting. This week I’m looking at ways of reducing the stress of homework. In our FREE facebook group Education Support 4 Parents there were many discussions last week about how homework can be an added cause of stress in the home. Relaxed work at home occurs by understanding the young person. Here are some things to think about:
Routine
Having a homework routine makes it easier for the young person to get into that habit.
That routine will depend on the type of person they are.
- If they find school tiring and therefore need a break, could it be that a day at the weekend is allocated to homework?
- Would they be better if they get in and get it done whilst it is fresh?
- Are they a morning person, and so they could do homework before school?
- Are they an evening person and so they are better doing things in the evening and getting up late?
Have a work free day
We all need rest. Have a routine of a day off from doing any schoolwork, so their mind can relax and sub-consciously process everything they’ve learnt that week.
Environment
Where do they do their homework? Do they have their own space?
If space is tight, then use a magazine file to store their books in, and give a time that is for them to work at the dining table.
Other things to think about:
- Do they work better with quiet or music?
- What gets them into ‘the zone’
- Is there enough light?
- What distractions are there and how could you minimise them (like turning the TV off)
Learning Styles
Understanding the ways that they work can really help you understand how to get the best from them (and you can teach them to get the best from themselves). Learning styles are constructs of the fact that we are all different, we don’t all fit neatly into boxes so I recommend looking at more than one. I suggest VARK, Dunn and Dunn, Honey & Mumford. I will be talking about these in the coming weeks.
Use Rewards
Paying your young person to do their homework is not bribery! It’s teaching them that working to deadlines brings reward, just like in the world of work. Rewards need to be short-term, for example daily or weekly. Their long-term reward of getting good grades won’t be enough to give them the motivation. Some ideas of rewards are:
- Money
- Extra screen-time
- Annual leave from their chores
Homework doesn’t need to be a chore, it should be an opportunity. Working with your young person is the best way to get them motivated and to make homework enjoyable.
I have lots of experience as a teacher, head of maths, and a tutor. I’m here to take the stress out of the education of your young person and the exams. If you’d like advice then you can book a 1:1 call with me.