This is the time in a child’s life when school is just becoming important. Usually kids don’t get homework in kindergarten, but depending on how academically oriented her school is, your child can get a substantial amount of homework even starting in the first or second grade. She probably won’t like it, but this time sets the stage for how she is going to approach her studies, and she may need some gentle prodding.

Why Homework Is Important

While your child may heartily disagree, homework is good for kids. It teaches them to work on their own and move at their own pace. If your child is at the top of his class, homework offers an opportunity to go further and learn new skills; if he is falling behind, he can use it as a way to catch up. If your child is not doing her homework, before you prod, try to find out what’s going on with her. Is she just avoiding the work, or is it something deeper like a lack of sleep, a problem with her vision, or even a learning difference?
 
Homework Help

Offer homework assistance in a particular area if your child asks, but don’t do any work for her -- it won’t help in the long run. If this seems like a problem that is continuing, it might be worth talking to her teacher, who might suggest getting a tutor or getting her evaluated for a learning difference.

If your child displays just run-of-the mill homework hesitancy, here are some helpful moves that you can make toward completion and success:

• Make a specific time every day for schoolwork. Many kids need physical activity before they start, so it’s good to give yours some running-around time before she starts.
• Be a good role model. Don’t watch television when your child is supposed to be doing her homework. Set this time aside to read, take care of paperwork, or return emails.
• Make sure that she has a bright, well-lit place to work.

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