Back-to-school means homework stress for kids…and parents. It’s part of our job to help our kids manage their time and workload—including recognizing when they need help with homework—so they can get the most out of school. A Swedish school is currently debating the the merits of a homework ban (to encourage efficient learning). While that won’t happen in the U.S any time soon, there is a growing faction of parents and educators who think it’s worth considering. To help you gauge your child’s load—the National Education Association (NEA) recommends 10-20 minutes of homework per night in first grade and an additional 10 minutes for each grade after that.
The awesome news is we won’t have to be standing next to them, looking over their shoulders as they work. “By making your child’s independence in schoolwork your goal—instead of grades or other measures of achievement—you are not only improving your child’s motivation and ability to please you, but you also are building self-sufficiency, a trait that will lead to success in many aspects of life,” advises Martha Burns, Ph.D. With that in mind, here are 10 ways to help your kids strategize their workload so that you too can support their independence not just with learning, but with life.
1. Use a Day Planner or Homework Chart
If your kids need help with homework, start with organization. Older kids can manage their time and assignments with a day planner and you can hang a homework chart for the younger ones.
Read Related: Does Your Kids’ Math Homework Make You Hyperventilate? 15 Ways to Up Your Numbers Game
