How to Zap the Homework Blues With Concentration

Does your child have a difficult time doing his or herare scared to contact teachers about questions they
homework? Sometimes it's a matter of difficulthave, or they simply take their child's word for
content that your child hasn't mastered, so theyeverything, which sometimes isn't the entire truth.
struggle with the material. In many cases, however, it'sThese days most schools have websites listing your
simply a matter of your child not focusing like theychild's teachers' e-mails. If you're not a phone person,
should on their work.shoot them an e-mail. As a teacher, I always
As the school year draws nearer to the end, you mayappreciate parent contact via e-mail.o Stay on top of
find that your child is becoming increasingly difficultmatters. If your child is struggling with math, take care
about finishing homework and any other school-relatedof it NOW. Get extra work books from teacher supply
work.stores to review key concepts they are struggling with
We have some tips to help you sharpen your child'sand spend time working with your child. You don't have
ability to concentrate on their school work. Some ofto spend hours a day working on school work, but if
these tips are methods used in the classroom that areyou could set aside 15 minutes of one-on-one time to
tried and true. Here it goes:o Set aside a specific blocktake care of a subject your child is struggling with, you
of time for school work. Be consistent about this timewill find it makes a tremendous difference.o Keep a
in the schedule. If you've read any of our other workcalendar. Put it in a visible place and refer to it often,
on concentration, you know that routines areincluding your child in the process of keeping it updated.
immensely important for concentration.This will help you manage due dates. Also, I like to
Do you have a kid who says "I don't have anybreak up a large project or task for kids. Instead of
homework"? Don't let that be a reason to forfeit studysimply putting the due date for an essay, for example,
time. If they don't have any school assigned work tobreak up the task into when the first draft is due,
do, then it's the perfect time to read, get ahead onsecond draft, etc. This will help your child with time
other projectso Consistency is the key. Stick to themanagement.o Maintain mental and physical energy.
routines you set up; do not deviate. Your child willLots of exercise, nutrition, and balancing emotions are
respond more predictably and efficiently to somethingimportant factors that increase concentration (or
they expect. Furthermore, the more you enforcedecrease if you don't maintain them). It's important to
routines like homework time right after school, thenot neglect these factors.
easier it will become for your child to comply with it. IfThe reality is, if your child resists homework on a
you deviate, you're making it that much harder for yourregular basis, it will take a certain amount of time to
child to come to grips with a new routine.o Keepimplement routines and be consistent about them
necessary supplies handy wherever your child works.before your problems are magically zapped away.
Plan to eliminate possible excuses and/or distractionsYou CAN do it, and it will have a huge impact on your
by preparing for them.o Choose a specific place tochild's life. It's important to look at the big picture.
work. This is part of establishing and maintainingHomework alone may seem minimally significant, but
routines. Predictability for your child will work best.othe skill set to stay on top of assignments and be
Limit TV time during the week. Many children buck theirsuccessful takes work and practice. Think of
homework because they'd rather be watching TV. Ifmastering homework as one big exercise in disciplining
TV wasn't an optiono E-mail teachers. Many parentsyour child's concentration skills.