Unlocking Success: 5 Essential Homework Strategies for Parents

We all know that being your child’s homework ally can be a demanding endeavor. In this edition, we’re excited to share five invaluable strategies designed to help you guide your child through homework challenges with confidence and finesse.

1. Distraction Storage

Have your child write down distracting thoughts as they arise during their homework session. Having a designated space (a post-it, notebook, scrap paper) to store a passing thought that might veer them off-course gives them a chance to take their mind off of it and come back to it later.

2. Post-Work Reflections

After every homework session, reflect with your child on what worked and what didn’t. Keep it brief and simple, focusing on 1-3 topics. Below, is a list of questions you can refer to to prompt discussions. This can help your child understand what helps them and reinforce those positive habits.

• What was the most challenging part of your homework tonight, and how did you overcome it?
• Were there any questions or concepts that you still don’t fully understand? Can we work on them together?
• How did you manage your time while doing homework?  
• Did you use any new study strategies or techniques that helped you with your homework?
• Did you ask your teacher or classmates for help if you needed it? How did that go?
• How do you feel about the amount of homework you had tonight? Was it too much, just right, or too little?
• What are your goals for future homework assignments? Is there anything we can improve or do differently?
• Did you create a plan and start time for your homework?  Was it helpful?
• How can I help you when you’re feeling frustrated with your homework? What has worked in the past?
• Can we make your study space more inspiring and comfortable for you?
• What is one thing you did well tonight for homework?

3. Alternative Workspaces

If your child isn’t doing their best work in the workspace they’re in, try switching up the environment. See if they’d prefer standing at a tall desk, working on a yoga ball, or a cozy nook. Experiment with different lighting—depending on the task, they might like variations in brightness and warmth.

4. Don’t Break the Streak

If your child struggles with completing assignments, encourage consistency by keeping a homework streak log. Set a reward for a suitable goal (e.g.: a week of on-time homework completion) and encourage them to continue their “streak”.

5. Create a Routine + the Neuroscience Behind It

Set up a pre-homework routine with a checklist that your child can use to prepare for each homework session. Include getting a snack, using the restroom, setting up their desk, and any other tasks that can be completed before.

The effectiveness of predetermining routines and decisions beforehand can be understood through the lens of neuroscience and how the brain processes information and makes decisions. Here are some key aspects of the neuroscience behind this concept:

• Habit Formation and Neural Pathways: When you establish routines and make decisions in advance, you are essentially forming habits. Habits are behaviors that have become automatic and are controlled by well-established neural pathways in the brain. When you repeat a specific routine or decision-making process, the brain strengthens these neural connections. Over time, this makes it easier and more efficient for the brain to execute these actions without requiring significant conscious effort.
• Conservation of Cognitive Resources: The brain has a limited capacity for cognitive processing. When you predetermine certain routines and decisions, you free up cognitive resources that would otherwise be spent on deliberation and decision-making. This conservation of cognitive resources allows you to allocate mental energy to more complex or novel tasks, increasing overall efficiency and productivity.
• Reduction in Decision Fatigue: Making decisions, especially numerous and complex ones, can lead to decision fatigue. Decision fatigue refers to the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual after a long session of decision making. Predetermining routine decisions helps reduce the frequency and intensity of decision-making sessions, preventing decision fatigue and maintaining the quality of decisions.
• Emotion Regulation: Certain routines and predetermined decisions can also aid in emotion regulation. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, can exert more influence over emotional responses when decisions are made in advance. This can help individuals avoid impulsive or emotionally-driven choices.
• Goal-Oriented Behavior: Predetermining routines and decisions aligns with goal-oriented behavior. When you establish routines that are in line with your long-term goals, you create a neural framework that consistently directs your actions toward those goals. This neural reinforcement strengthens your commitment to your objectives and increases the likelihood of achieving them.
• Reduction in Stress and Anxiety: Uncertainty and ambiguity can trigger stress and anxiety responses in the brain. By predetermining certain routines, you reduce uncertainty and create a sense of control, leading to a reduction in stress and anxiety-related brain activity.

Remember, each day presents an opportunity for growth and discovery. Embrace these moments with your child as you guide them through the challenges and victories of their homework assignments and academic journey overall.