Ways to get a child motivated to do homework

Managing homework time with scheduled breaks

A daily study routine helps children develop organisational skills, manage time, and meet deadlines. On free days, engaging in activities like reading or reviewing past lessons supports ongoing learning.

Many children struggle to concentrate for extended periods, resulting in resistance to schoolwork and a decline in academic performance. It is recommended to break study sessions into short intervals of 25 minutes, each followed by a 5-10-minute break. This approach helps maintain the child’s focus on tasks without causing fatigue or boredom.

Offering diverse incentives and rewards

Many parents believe rewarding children for completing tasks means providing material incentives like toys or money. However, children often value moral rewards more, such as praise, compliments, hugs, or treats like their favorite ice cream or candy, as these bring greater happiness and satisfaction. Additionally, breaks during homework are also meaningful incentives.

Rewarding children for their effort and persistence in improving academic performance encourages them to tackle difficult tasks. However, incentivising easy tasks can lead to the belief that effort is unnecessary.

Setting up a quiet and comfortable study environment

To enhance a child's focus, create a serene study area at home with good lighting, ventilation, a proper desk and chair, and essential supplies. Keep the space free from distractions like TVs and noise, and ideally separate from high-traffic areas.

Offering help to the child in various ways

Parents should supervise their children’s homework, yet occasional assistance from siblings or older friends can relieve the burden of constant parental involvement. For children facing significant learning challenges such as ADHD, a specialised private tutor can offer invaluable support by addressing specific disorders and customising lessons to meet the child's cognitive needs, effectively bridging learning gaps.

Parents should consistently seek effective educational strategies to assist their children with homework, maintaining their attention and enthusiasm intact. For instance, integrating games and interactive activities into the school routine can be highly beneficial.

In conclusion, many parents prioritise their children's academic success by focusing diligently on homework. However, success goes beyond completing assignments and earning high grades. It is essential to nurture skills such as effective communication, precise expression of ideas, problem-solving, decision-making, creative and critical thinking, and more, to prepare children for life after school.

References

[1] thetutor.me, 5 Ways To Encourage Children To Finish Their Homework On Time
[2] mindchamps.org, 4 Best Ways to Motivate Your Primary School Kid to Do Homework
[3] parentingforbrain.com, How To Motivate Child To Do Homework (7 Practical Tips)
[4] scholastic.com, 10 Ways to Motivate Your Child to Learn
[5] empoweringparents.com, The Homework Battle: How to Get Children to Do Homework