Summer is coming: How to motivate your child to do their homework

As the weather gets nicer and temperatures rise, your child’s willingness to do their homework may already be taking a dip. How can you keep them motivated so they finish their school year on a high note? 

Here are some ideas to help you survive the end of year.

Whenever possible, homework and lesson review should be done at the same time each day to establish a routine.

It’s best to give your child a short break when they get home from school. They could use this time to have a snack or go to the bathroom. Also, make sure your child drinks water or has a glass within reach, as dehydration can interfere with concentration.

Depending on your daily activities, consider having your child carry out a few tasks (always the same ones) to get into the right frame of mind for homework. Here are some examples:

• Hang up their outdoor clothes
• Wash their hands
• Empty their lunchbox
• Have a snack
• Feed the cat
• Go to the bathroom
• Give you their agenda or any documents to sign
• Etc.

Using a chart with pictograms could be helpful for younger or less autonomous children.

To encourage concentration, set up your child in a quiet place, far from distractions, with a basket containing the following:

• Homework-specific materials 
• Well-sharpened pencils 
• Scissors 
• Glue 
• A ruler 
• Coloured pencils
• Etc.

If your child likes this routine, keep up the habit throughout the school year!

This is also a great time to get fancy school materials, like a special eraser, a quirky pencil sharpener, or coloured paper—anything to make a refreshing change! 

Warmer temperatures aren’t just a distraction. Going outside for a change of scenery can be very beneficial. If possible, encourage your child to do their homework outside, like in the backyard, on the balcony, or even in the park. They can study in a hammock, on a swing, or (why not?) in the pool! Vocabulary words and verb conjugations can even be practised using sidewalk chalk. If your child is restless, standing up while working can also be a good solution. 

Your child can do their homework with a friend, who can then stay for dinner or a play date. Some parents with kids in the same class or neighbourhood will even take turns hosting an outdoor homework group. If this isn’t possible, your child can review their lessons with a classmate via Zoom, for example, after completing the assignment on their own. 

These motivating strategies help children develop several important skills, such as autonomy and teamwork.

An hourglass or visual timer, such as Alloprof’s Motivational Timer, can be a fun and practical tool. They can help keep homework and lesson time short and set a realistic goal. 

Homework time shouldn’t last longer than 45 minutes. If your child struggles to finish their work within this period, don’t worry! They may be given time in class to finish take-home assignments. Likewise, teachers often offer remedial classes. Encourage your child to attend to make homework time easier. 

Many teachers give their students a weekly work plan. If possible, coax your child to take advantage of rainy days and weekends to get a head start so they can enjoy the nice weather during the week. 

You can also take a few minutes with your child to determine which tasks they can do on their own and which ones they’ll need help with. For instance, they can practise vocabulary words, multiplication tables, and homophones independently using Alloprof’s educational games (French only). You can also try incorporating a simple motivational chart. Your child can use emoticons or small stickers to evaluate their work ethic each day of the week. For example, at the end of a homework period, they might choose a happy face sticker if they were very focused or had a positive attitude. 

In addition to all these tips, keep in mind that flexibility contributes to motivation. Routine is an effective strategy, but some children have difficulty with too much rigidity. Children who feel they have a say will be more engaged. Talk to your child about what motivates them and work together to implement helpful strategies. You could say something like the following: 

• What task do you want to start with? 
• Would you rather do all your homework in one shot, or take a break halfway through?
• What would encourage you to do your homework right away? 
• What activity would you like to do when you’ve finished your work?
• What would you like your motivational chart to look like? Let’s make it together!
• Etc.

Each week, you and your child can agree on an activity they can do once they’ve completed their work.

On that note, have a wonderful end of the school year!