What should you do when your child forgets their homework at school?

If it’s homework time and your child suddenly realizes they forgot what they need at school, don’t panic. There are plenty of things they can do to stay productive:

• Review that week’s lessons
• Study vocabulary words
• Read a book
• Ask a friend to scan or photocopy the pages they need
• Etc.

Staying organized is one of the best ways to be less forgetful. Simple strategies like these can help your child keep their school tasks and materials in order:

• Cheat sheets
• A schoolbag packing checklist
• Colourful Post-its for their agenda
• A bright folder for storing forms that need to be signed
• Etc.

An agenda is an invaluable tool, but it’s most effective if your child uses it every day. They’ll be able to keep track of their tasks and make note of important events. To encourage your child to use their agenda regularly, write in it with them. Here are some examples of what to jot down:

• Assigned homework and lesson review
• Days with no assigned homework or lesson review
• Checklist of materials to bring home every day
• Extracurricular activities
• Etc.

Some kids struggle with the concept of time. They have trouble visualizing the days of the week and planning upcoming tasks. If your child has this difficulty, try posting their weekly schedule on the fridge and noting down the same items that they’ve written in their agenda:

• Assigned homework and lesson review
• Deadlines
• Tests
• Classes
• Etc.

To encourage good behaviour, it’s important to let your child know that you appreciate their efforts. Make a point of congratulating them on their smaller, day-to-day achievements. This will boost their self-esteem and motivate them to keep up the good work.