Provide a study area
The specific room chosen for homework makes little difference.  The atmosphere in that room, however, is important.

• The child should have an area that has good lighting, proper seating and sufficient space to place materials.  Distractions such as radio, TV and other children should be kept away.

• Reference materials such as a dictionary, atlas and encyclopedia are helpful.

Provide a specific time period
Provide your child with a specific time period each day for homework.

• Establish firm rules about using the telephone, watching TV, listening to the radio or participating in certain activities until the homework is done.

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Think positively
Homework assists your child's progress in learning. Don't pressure your child just for grades.

• Try to get your child to see the value of the knowledge that he/she is trying to acquire.

• Don't tell your child that he/she doesn't have to complete the work he/she doesn't want to.

• Don't do the work yourself.  Remember that homework is your child's responsibility.

Call the teacher
If your child is having difficulty with the homework, please contact the teacher to clarify or solve the problem.

• Try not to complain to your child about the homework, it may cause him/her to lose confidence in and interest in school.

• If your child seems to have too much homework, please contact the teacher to check.

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Watch for signs
If your child is having difficulty completing homework, check his/her study habits.

• Moving lips when reading, writing slowly and using poor study skills are signs your child may have problems that reduce his/her ability to complete homework.

• Help your child deal with personal problems unrelated to school to free him/her from distractions.

Supervise homework
Make sure your child has enough time, understands directions and works carefully.

• Your supervision and discipline will gradually help your child develop his/her own discipline towards homework.

Help get the homework habit
Get your child in the habit of homework.

• When your child does not bring home homework, find out if he/she is completing it at school, forgetting it or failed to bring it home.

• If you find that your child had little or no homework - relax. Learning is not how much time he/she puts into it or how much he/she has, but the understanding that he/she develops from what he/she does.

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