So, you’ve made sure your child digs into
those books for certain hours every day. But how much of it is he/she
learning? Here are some ways to make homework productive
As
much as it is a part and parcel of children's lives, homework is also a
crucial part of the parents' routine. For it is the parents, who are
more worried about it being useful to the child's development.
It
can however be viewed in two ways: either as a useful tool, or a waste
of time. No matter how fantastic an idea homework is, the benefits will
only be realised if information is properly digested by the child and
the required knowledge and practice gained. While much has been written
and spoken about how to alter your and your child's schedule to fit in
the homework, few parents realise how much the child is gaining through
the daily activity.
There are several things you can do as a
parent, to make homework useful (or at least preventing a waste of
time). Here are many ways to make sure there is some growth in your
child's grey matter through homework. Since you'll never know how much
attention he/she pays in class!
Regular Overview
Immediately
before your child begins homework, it is wise to confirm what is
expected. If the material is workbook-related, read the instructions
and headings. If the assignment is an essay, read the required
elements. Work should only begin once expectations are perfectly clear.
Asking
him/her about this would also inculcate a sense of inquisitiveness
after it all gets over; or at least after the term gets over.
Work in Pairs
Many
kids learn better in small groups. By completing homework with someone
who has similar aptitude for a particular subject, joint learning takes
place. The saying, "Two heads work better than one" comes to mind.
It
is, however, needless to say that caution must be exercised while
giving permission for this. For all you know, your child's partner may
turn out to be a badder brat than yours, and would drain out the last
of the remaining motivation for homework.
Make it a Quiz time
Working
with a partner has many advantages too. Though the 'quizzing' one
another exercise is mostly done during the crunch exam times, this
habit (with an added dose of fun) can be inculcated for daily homework
too. The individual asking questions too tends to learn just as much as
the one answering.
Every now and then, you can also take a
common quiz, on say general knowledge and sports-based questions to
develop the quizzing habit.
Same time, same channel
Once
you've figured out what can be the best time for homework for your kid
(minusing the several tuitions/cricket breaks and TV programmes out of
his/her schedule!); make sure it becomes a time slot. Homework done at
the same time everyday gets the mind and body tuned to a routine. Once
a routine is established, the brain will automatically be ready to soak
up information. If there are no assignments for the day, take the time
to review material.
Not on an empty stomach
Growing
brains need food to thrive. Feeding your kids before they do homework
ensures an alert brain that isn't preoccupied by a hungry stomach.
And
though many doctors would advise healthy snacks over sugar-filled
treats, you can always consider chocolates and fast food as
achievement-based rewards. Remember those incentives at office? Well,
it's more or less the same funda!
Positive Feedback Counts
Perhaps
the best way to encourage your child's homework productivity is to use
encouraging feedback. On the other hand, if he/she errs at what 'you'
think is a mundane topic, don't vent your office-frustration on the kid
by giving a 'sound' trashing. Let them know what they did right, and
why they came to the wrong conclusion. Kids need patience, dear parents!
All homework and no play?
Nowadays,
school (including to and fro travel) is seven to eight straight hours.
Children need to give themselves a break after school hours. Homework
should never begin immediately after the last class of the day.
Instead, let your child play or relax before really digging into study
material.
An outdoor game is one of the best ways to
re-invigorate the child and restore mental focus. And this applies to
exam-time learning too.
Break point
As
students get older, homework tends to take up more and more time. The
adolescent brain functions best when it is given 10 or 15 minute breaks
every hour. This ensures information is absorbed and not forgotten once
the head hits the pillow at night.
Don’t think twice, log on
Many
parents today feel that the internet is an unnecessary hindrance with
their child's homework habits and discourages originality. But truth is
that when they're allowed to access the net to supplement their studies
and add more value to their presentations, the internet almost becomes
indispensible.
And of course, they'll be more than ready to hit
the www than looking up the encyclopedia or dictionary. Don’t agree?
Watch them surf Wikipedia and you shall know how useful the net can be.
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