How To Help Children Manage Stress With Homework
In many homes, homework can lead to really tense situations. After an exhausting day, parents and children are tired. Then it’s time to start homework and the hassles and fights begin. Knowing how to set a schedule or a routine dedicated to homework is tricky. But don’t give up and keep reading to find out how to deal with homework stress.
Create a suitable environment
A clean desk with enough space for children to put their school supplies and a well-lit room are the basic requirements for creating the most appropriate environment for doing homework. The little ones don’t need to be confined alone in the room. In fact, children work better in a familiar environment, like the kitchen, for example.
Finally, it’s equally important to know how to reduce potential distractions: look for a quiet spot and avoid obvious distractions such as television or cell phones.
look for the best time
Finding the right time is often the trickiest part. Some children do better if they take a break or have a leisurely time before doing their homework. On the other hand, some children prefer to do it after eating or when they arrive from class, making an effort to then enjoy the rest of the afternoon for as long as possible.
No matter what time children do their homework, what matters is that they establish a daily routine that, according to psychologist Annie de Acevedo, should be established according to the amount of homework they have.
Organization is the secret to managing stress with homework
In most cases, children can feel overwhelmed because they don’t yet know how to handle homework responsibility. At this point, help from adults is essential. Knowing how to divide the tasks and plan them in the most appropriate order or use the material correctly are some basic ideas that children should learn from the beginning of the school year.
Using calendars, planners or even specific apps for this are some of the essential planning tools, especially for older children.
Facing challenges instead of avoiding them
It’s frustrating to face an activity that we don’t know how to do, especially for younger children, who still haven’t managed to develop resolution skills. As adults, we must help children develop positive thinking in the face of challenges.
A good way to get children to start taking on challenges gradually is to sort their homework according to the level of difficulty.
On the one hand, they can start with the easiest tasks in order to gain confidence to tackle the more difficult ones. Or, they may tackle the more complex ones first and continue with the easier ones when they are more tired.
Encouraging children helps manage stress with homework
You can help the children manage stress with their homework through your support, both at times while they are doing their homework and by helping to organize them, by establishing the proper environment for study, and so on.
It also means that they need to let them do the homework themselves. It is necessary to let them ‘fail’, which, in fact, can be very beneficial for your learning.
What is the role of parents in relation to homework?
For Annie de Acevedo, parental help and supervision are crucial. Without a doubt, children are more interested in learning if their parents are involved and support them with their homework. Thanks to this motivation, the little ones will perform better at school and will learn to develop good study habits that will promote their sense of responsibility.
