Battles Over Homework: Advice For Parents
Guidelines for helping children develop self-discipline with their homework..
Posted September 5, 2012 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma
I would like to offer some advice about one of the most frequent problems presented to me in over 30 years of clinical practice: battles over homework. I have half-jokingly told many parents that if the schools of New York State no longer required homework, our children’s education would suffer (slightly). But, as a child psychologist, I would be out of business.
Many parents accept this conflict with their children as an unavoidable consequence of responsible parenting . These battles, however, rarely result in improved learning or performance in school. More often than not, battles over homework lead to vicious cycles of nagging by parents and avoidance or refusal by children, with no improvement in a child’s school performance. And certainly no progress toward what should be our ultimate goals : helping children enjoy learning and develop age-appropriate discipline and independence with respect to their schoolwork.
Before I present a plan for reducing battles over homework, it is important to begin with this essential reminder:
The solution to the problem of homework always begins with an accurate diagnosis and a recognition of the demands placed on your child. Parents should never assume that a child who resists doing homework is “lazy.”
Every child whose parents or teachers report ongoing resistance to completing schoolwork or homework; every child whose performance in school is below expectations based on his parents’ or teachers’ intuitive assessment of his intellectual potential; and every child who, over an extended period of time, complains that he “hates school” or “hates reading,” should be evaluated for the presence of an attention or learning disorder.
These children are not lazy. Your child may be anxious, frustrated, discouraged, distracted, or angry—but this is not laziness. I frequently explain to parents that, as a psychologist, the word lazy is not in my dictionary. Lazy, at best, is a description, not an explanation.
For children with learning difficulties, doing their homework is like running with a sprained ankle: It is possible, although painful, and he will look for ways to avoid or postpone this painful and discouraging task.
A Homework Plan
Homework, like any constructive activity, involves moments of frustration, discouragement, and anxiety . If you begin with some appreciation of your child’s frustration and discouragement, you will be better able to put in place a structure that helps him learn to work through his frustration—to develop increments of frustration tolerance and self-discipline.
I offer families who struggle with this problem a Homework Plan:
- Set aside a specified, and limited, time for homework. Establish, early in the evening, a homework hour.
- For most children, immediately after school is not the best time for homework. This is a time for sports, for music and drama, and free play.
- During the homework hour, all electronics are turned off—for the entire family.
- Work is done in a communal place, at the kitchen or dining room table. Contrary to older conventional wisdom , most elementary school children are able to work more much effectively in a common area, with an adult and even other children present, than in the “quiet” of their rooms.
- Parents may do their own ”homework” during this time, but they are present and continually available to help, to offer encouragement, and to answer children’s questions. Your goal is to create, to the extent possible, a library atmosphere in your home, again, for a specified and limited period of time. Ideally, therefore, parents should not make or receive telephone calls during this hour. And when homework is done, there is time for play.
- Begin with a reasonable, a doable, amount of time set aside for homework. If your child is unable to work for 20 minutes, begin with 10 minutes. Then try 15 minutes in the next week. Acknowledge every increment of effort, however small.
- Be positive and give frequent encouragement. Make note of every improvement, not every mistake.
- Be generous with your praise. Praise their effort, not their innate ability. But do not be afraid of praise.
- Anticipate setbacks. After a difficult day, reset for the following day.
- Give them time. A child’s difficulty completing homework begins as a problem of frustration and discouragement, but it is then complicated by defiant attitudes and feelings of unfairness. A homework plan will begin to reduce these defiant attitudes, but this will not happen overnight.
Most families have found these suggestions helpful, especially for elementary school children. Establishing a homework hour allows parents to move away from a language of threats (“If you don’t__ you won’t be able to__”) to a language of opportunities (“When” or “As soon as” you have finished__ we’ll have a chance to__”).
Of course, for many hurried families, there are complications and potential glitches in implementing any homework plan. It is often difficult, with children’s many activities, to find a consistent time for homework. Some flexibility, some amendments to the plan, may be required. But we should not use the complications of scheduling or other competing demands as an excuse, a reason not to establish the structure of a reasonable homework routine.
Copyright Ken Barish, Ph.D.
See Pride and Joy: A Guide to Understanding Your Child’s Emotions and Solving Family Problems .
Kenneth Barish, Ph.D. , is a clinical associate professor of Psychology at Weill Medical College, Cornell University.
- Find a Therapist
- Find a Treatment Center
- Find a Psychiatrist
- Find a Support Group
- Find Online Therapy
- United States
- Brooklyn, NY
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- New York, NY
- Portland, OR
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
- Asperger's
- Bipolar Disorder
- Chronic Pain
- Eating Disorders
- Passive Aggression
- Personality
- Goal Setting
- Positive Psychology
- Stopping Smoking
- Low Sexual Desire
- Relationships
- Child Development
- Self Tests NEW
- Therapy Center
- Diagnosis Dictionary
- Types of Therapy
At any moment, someone’s aggravating behavior or our own bad luck can set us off on an emotional spiral that could derail our entire day. Here’s how we can face triggers with less reactivity and get on with our lives.
- Emotional Intelligence
- Gaslighting
- Affective Forecasting
- Neuroscience
AI generator
Helping Child Homework royalty-free images
32,223 helping child homework stock photos, vectors, and illustrations are available royalty-free for download..
- KVC Kentucky
- KVC Missouri
- KVC Nebraska
- KVC West Virgina
- KVC Hospitals
Core Services
- Aftercare Permanency Support
- Family Reunification
- Family Strengthening and Prevention Programs
- Foster Care
- Foster Parent Licensing
- Kinship Care
- Outpatient Behavioral Health Services
Families First
Children and teens belong with their own families whenever possible. KVC works to safely reintegrate hundreds of families each year by providing parenting skills training, therapy and other support.
Caring People Needed
On any given day, KVC Kansas provides out-of-home care for thousands of youth. Relatives, non-related kin like teachers and neighbors, and foster families are all critical to providing temporary care for these children and teens. See how you can make a difference.
Your Help Matters
There are many large and small ways you can still lend a hand. Regardless of your size of gift, know that each caring touch makes a big difference in the lives of others.
How You Can Get Involved
- Become a Foster Parent
- Donate Money or Basic Supplies
- Donate School Supplies
- Donate Holiday Gifts
- Involve Your Faith Community
- Advocate Resources
- Free eBooks and More – Resource Library
Our free resources help you stay informed and educated about foster care, child welfare, adoption, mental health and childhood trauma as well as how KVC Kansas is working toward building healthier communities.
Start Learning
- News, Articles & Stories
- Caregiver Resources
- Free Guides, Video Series & eBooks
- Social Media
- About KVC Kansas
KVC Kansas is a private, nonprofit organization that serves over 15,000 children and adults each year. Our team of professionals provides family strengthening and preventative services, parent training, foster care case management, family reunification services, foster family recruitment and support, adoption, aftercare, outpatient therapy and more.
We envision a world in which every person is safe and connected to a strong family and a healthy community.
- Meet Our Leadership
- Learn Our History
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion + Belonging
- Free Parenting & Mental Health Resources
Happy father helping son with homework
Father embracing son from behind while helping him with homework
- Keeping Families Safely Together
- Mental Health
- News and Events
- Success Stories
- Suicide Prevention
Subscribe to Blog
Other kvc blogs.
You’re currently viewing the KVC Kansas blog. Check out our other blogs:
- KVC Health Systems
- Camber Children's Mental Health
- KVC West Virginia
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- August 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- January 2013
- October 2012
Our site is great except that we don‘t support your browser. Try the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari. See supported browsers .
Father Helping Son with Homework
- Millions of videos, music tracks, SFX & more
- Unlimited downloads
- Lifetime commercial licensing
- New items added daily
- Cancel any time, for free
By DragonImages
This stock photo is 8256px by 5504px. Ideal for any project that requires indoors, kid, man .
Proud father helping teenage son with doing homework on laptop when studying online due to pandemic
Orientation
Commercial license, similar photos, more from dragonimages.
User validation
JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.
- Compare ( )
- Create an Account
Father Helping Son with Homework Autographed Print
Price | $250.00 |
---|
©2024 iStockphoto LP. The iStock design is a trademark of iStockphoto LP.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Search from Father Helping Son With Homework stock photos, pictures and royalty-free images from iStock. Find high-quality stock photos that you won't find anywhere else.
Browse Getty Images' premium collection of high-quality, authentic Father Helping Son With Homework stock photos, royalty-free images, and pictures. Father Helping Son With Homework stock photos are available in a variety of sizes and formats to fit your needs.
Browse Getty Images' premium collection of high-quality, authentic African American Father Helping Son With Homework stock videos and stock footage. Royalty-free 4K, HD, and analog stock African American Father Helping Son With Homework videos are available for license in film, television, advertising, and corporate settings.
Browse Getty Images' premium collection of high-quality, authentic Father Helping Son With Homework stock videos and stock footage. Royalty-free 4K, HD, and analog stock Father Helping Son With Homework videos are available for license in film, television, advertising, and corporate settings.
Father helping son with homework flat vector illustration Father helping son with homework flat vector illustration. Dad and kid sitting at table, looking at laptop screen. Parent teaching child, learning school discipline, reading book. Family, study concept father helping son with homework stock illustrations
Search from Father Helping His Son Doing Homework stock photos, pictures and royalty-free images from iStock. Find high-quality stock photos that you won't find anywhere else.
Shot of happy smiling father helping his son do homework on laptop while mother and younger boy paint on canvas on an easel in background. Father is doing homework with his sons. Man helping young boy in kitchen doing homework and smiling. Parents reading and support teaching child. Mother or teacher, family doing homework together.
Find Father helping son homework stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures added every day.
And when homework is done, there is time for play. Begin with a reasonable, a doable, amount of time set aside for homework. If your child is unable to work for 20 minutes, begin with 10 minutes.
Download Father Helping His Son With His Homework free stock video in high resolution from Pexels! This is just one of many great free stock videos about adopted, at home & books
happy, smart and cute boy doing homework with the help of his dad at home. education, learning and writing in notebook while as little boy and father sit together during homeschooling lesson - dad son homework stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images
African father and african american child. dad helping son with school homework. Education and relationship, man teaching and boy learning. home schooling. Parents helping their daughters with homework at table indoors. Little cute boy finish schoolwork giving high five to Asian tutor. Loving mother praising her 7s son for good result, well ...
About KVC Kansas. KVC Kansas is a private, nonprofit organization that serves over 15,000 children and adults each year. Our team of professionals provides family strengthening and preventative services, parent training, foster care case management, family reunification services, foster family recruitment and support, adoption, aftercare, outpatient therapy and more.
Download Father Helping Son with Homework Photos by DragonImages. Subscribe to Envato Elements for unlimited Photos downloads for a single monthly fee. Subscribe and Download now! Our site is great except that we don't support your browser. Try the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari.
Dad helping son with homework flat illustration. Parenting, fatherhood vector illustration. Father educating kid isolated clipart. Family time. Parent teaching toddler reading design element. Download a free preview or high-quality Adobe Illustrator (ai), EPS, PDF vectors and high-res JPEG and transparent PNG images.
Dad helping son with homework flat illustration. Parenting, fatherhood vector illustration. Father educating kid isolated clipart. Family time. Parent teaching toddler reading design element. Parents teaching children at home. Set of flat vector illustrations Set of vector illustrations with modern mothers and fathers tutoring little sons and ...
Father helping son with homework. Father helping son with homework. Save. Embed. Buy print. Get this image in a variety of framing options at Photos.com. PURCHASE A LICENSE. All Royalty-Free licenses include global use rights, comprehensive protection, simple pricing with volume discounts available. Extra small. $50.00. Small. $175.00.
Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) Father Helping Son with Homework, c.1958 Advertising illustration for American Family Life series for the Mass Mutual Insurance co. Print reproduction with original autograph in permanent ink. Father Helping Son with Homework was originally created for the American Family Life series for Mass Mutual Insurance Co. This autographed print reproduction measures 14" by ...
Illustration of Father helping his son do homework. Download a free preview or high-quality Adobe Illustrator (ai), EPS, PDF vectors and high-res JPEG and PNG images.
Download this Father Helping Son With Homework video now. And search more of iStock's library of royalty-free stock video footage that features E-Learning video available for quick and easy download. ... Father embracing son from behind while helping him with homework. 18 credits. Signature. Web. HD Web. HD. 4K. $170 for this video clip. NEW ...
Picture of father helping son do homework. problems with homework stock photo, images and stock photography. Image 14697859.