How to Support Your Child at Homework Time

Your main role as a parent during homework time is to guide, support, and encourage your child as they learn. They should always remain at the heart of the process. The goal is to help them take responsibility for their own learning and progress by putting in the effort—but they’ll need your support to succeed. Here are some simple ways you can help:

• Be present and available: Homework can be challenging, and it’s reassuring for them when they know you’re there.
• Cheer them on: Celebrate their progress and above all, the effort they put in. Point out the steps they’re taking to become more autonomous, no matter how small. Don’t overemphasize their struggles, and never make them feel guilty when they don’t understand something.
• Remind them of the importance of school: Your child trusts you, so your attitude towards school and homework will influence how they feel. Work in partnership with their teacher by using the same methods and backing up what they say to strengthen their credibility with your child.
• Arm your child with plenty of strategies: We’re not talking about academic concepts here, but the tools kids need to succeed—techniques for getting organized, managing emotions or distractions, self-regulation, etc.
• Protect your relationship with your child: Maintain open communication, adapt to their needs and, if homework time becomes a source of conflict for the two of you, try to find solutions together, even if it means asking someone else to step in.

One of most impactful things you can do to help your child with their homework time is to set up an environment that promotes learning. Here are a few areas to focus on:

• Is your child in the right frame of mind? You can help them gauge their ability to focus, ask them about their day if you sense that something’s bothering them, get them moving to release their pent-up energy, and so on.
• Are they set up in a way that will help them stay on task? Ideally, homework should happen in a quiet, well-lit area that’s free from distractions. Turn off the TV and make sure they have everything they need within reach.
• Using tools like our customizable homework routine poster for elementary and high school students can help them stay on track.
• Are you around and available to help? Depending on your child’s level of autonomy, they may need you to support them through the task.
• Does your child know what they need to do and how to organize themselves? Sit down together and look at the work they need to get done during the week, then come up with a homework plan that meets their needs and works with your family’s schedule.

All of these homework tips and strategies need to be based on your child, their grade level, and their individual struggles. For example, a child who has many academic challenges will need a different approach than a child who finds homework “too easy.” You know your child and your family’s reality best—adapt your strategies accordingly.

As a general rule, parents should start homework time with their child and make sure they’re on track. Try asking them questions about the task, or have them explain it in their own words. Once they are set up for success, step back a bit and let them know that you’re available if they need help. Try not to anticipate your child’s need for help; they may see this as intrusive. The goal, as always, is to help them take responsibility for their learning and become more autonomous.

Here are the general recommendations for children without specific difficulties:

• Set up a homework environment that’s conducive to learning.
• Take an interest in what they’re doing, help them get started, and make sure they understand what they have to do.
• Remain present and available during homework time, but don’t offer help until they ask for it.
• If they run into difficulties, ask them questions, direct them to the right resources and, if necessary, encourage them to talk to their teacher about it.

Remember that the most important thing in all this is to preserve a strong relationship with your child. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. You can always reach out to one of Alloprof’s specialists with a non-school-related question.

Parents are not teachers. If you have the skills and/or knowledge, you can take explain, in your own words, a concept that your child doesn’t understand. But it’s always best to work from what’s in their textbooks and handouts. The techniques you used 30 years ago may have been effective, but if they aren’t taught today they may just confuse your child rather than help them.

Similarly, giving your child an answer when they don’t understand the mental process behind it won’t help—in fact, it may do just the opposite.

Recognizing your limits as a parent is a smart approach. Parents aren’t supposed to know everything, and it’s normal to feel out of your depth by the material your child is learning at school. If you aren’t in a position to help academically, it isn’t a reflection of your parenting skills. Instead, support them through their difficulty in understanding by teaching them problem-solving strategies.
Here are a few strategies to consider:

• here are any other examples, for instance.
• Have them fill in our memory aid tool to clarify what they are struggling to understand.
• Call on another person to help: an older brother or sister, another parent, a friend from class.
• Contact a homework assistance service like Ask a Teacher or ask your question in Alloprof’s Help Zone.
• Encourage your child to ask their teacher about it in class or during a future review session.