For parents who grew up in the United States, homework is a fact of life that is as American as apple pie. For many teachers, homework is an essential tool for helping children learn. Homework may also help children develop important study skills, learn how to manage time, and encourage independence and responsibility.
For children and parents, homework can sometimes seem like a burden that can cause frustration and tears. It may also take time away from families having fun together.
Recent research by Dr. Harris Cooper at Duke University shows that children who do more homework tend to do better in school (more so in high school than in elementary school). However, homework can have both positive and negative effects on children's learning and attitudes towards school.
Dr. Cooper's work supports the use of the "10-minute" rule as a guideline for the amount of homework that kids should have. Using this guideline, teachers add 10 minutes of homework for each grade (so that a fourth grader would have no more than 40 minutes of homework).
In this issue, we focus on:
WHAT parents can do to help children with homework, and
HOW they can work with kids so that homework is helpful rather than harmful.
What You Can Do
Parents can help children develop good study habits if they:
Take an active interest in their children's homework by finding out what assignments are, talking with them about assignments, and looking over completed work.
Set aside a regular time that works for your child and your family. Help your children manage their time and get organized so that homework isn't done just before bed or at the last minute.
Pick a place that has enough room to work and lighting to see – it doesn't have to be fancy!
Reduce distractions by turning off the TV. This could be a "quiet time" for others in your household, and a time when adults can set an example by reading or working on things like balancing the checkbook.
Be willing to help (like taking them to the library or getting materials they might need).
Find out about teachers' homework policy and talk with them if you are concerned, or if you just want to give them feedback.
Provide support and encouragement, especially when they are frustrated.
How You Help Matters!
Homework can be frustrating for students and for parents as well. Researchers at the University of Illinois have found that how parents help children, especially those who are struggling with schoolwork, can determine whether homework helps or hurts children's learning and motivation in school. Here are some suggestions on HOW to help with homework:
Let children take the lead - support their independence and self-reliance and be less controlling
Dr. Eva Pomerantz at the University of Illinois has found that when parents are controlling, struggling children actually begin to do more poorly in school. Controlling can be:
doing assigned work for children,
"taking over" and telling children what to do or how to do it, or
using punishment
According to Dr. Pomerantz, controlling parents might actually prevent children from developing important skills and undermine their sense of competence and confidence.
Although parents might feel like they are "helping" they may be unintentionally undermining children's self-confidence in their abilities.
Being controlling might be especially detrimental for how girls feel about their abilities in math and science. University of Illinois researchers Ruchi Bhanot and Jasna Jovanovic found that parents who were more intrusive had girls who were less confident about their math abilities.Being intrusive includes:
giving help without being asked,
checking homework without being asked,
frequently reminding them to do homework.
Stay positive
Dr. Pomerantz has also found that when parents can manage to stay positive while helping with homework that may be frustrating, children are more likely to be persistent and more motivated in school. According to Dr. Pomerantz, "Being able to put frustration aside and focus on what is enjoyable about the work is key to promoting children's motivation in school. When the work itself is not enjoyable – for example, there is a lot of boring repetition - parents might focus on the positives of working together".
For More Information
US Department of Education
You can request copies of the following publications by calling 1-877-433-7827 OR 1-800-872-5327.
