Getting Your Child to Cooperate During Homework Time

Before implementing a strategy, analyze the situation. You’ll understand your child’s actions better and respond appropriately. To start, ask yourself the following questions:

• Could fatigue be affecting your child’s behaviour?
• Is your child’s work environment appropriate and stimulating?
• Could hunger be distracting your child?
• Does my child understand the purpose and importance of homework?
• Are my expectations too high?
• Etc.

Once you’ve identified why your child is uncooperative, discuss the root cause together. This exercise will give your child the opportunity to express themselves, play an active role in their academic success, and gain autonomy. For example, you may want to ask your child about the following:

• Reasons for their behaviour
• How they feel about homework
• Solutions you have in mind
• Strategies they’re willing to try
• Etc.

You may want to try out a few strategies to find the one that best suits your child’s personality, needs, desires, and situation. Consider doing the following:

• Moving your child’s homework period to another time
• Establishing a routine
• Eliminating all sources of distraction
• Setting a limit on your child’s homework time
• Dividing the work into smaller tasks
• Setting realistic goals
• Rewarding your child’s efforts
• Etc.

To avoid misunderstandings and encourage your child to cooperate, be sure to clearly explain what you expect from them during homework time. Here are a few things you can do:

• Clearly state your expectations
• Explain the rules
• Discuss possible consequences for not completing their homework (e.g., resuming homework later, writing a note to the teacher explaining the reasons for not completing the homework)
• Etc.

A positive attitude usually produces positive results. During homework time, try doing the following:

• Recognizing your child’s efforts
• Celebrating their accomplishments
• Showing encouragement
• Helping them find solutions
• Etc.