Four Tips To Help Kids With Homework

Do you have a child who avoids homework or has difficulty getting started?   Getting kids to do homework can cause headaches and battles for many parents, and many parents can think that their kids aren’t motivated, aren’t behaving, or are being downright defiant.

However, some kids' brains are wired differently, and they don’t get enough dopamine or blood flow, so their brains are understimulated. As a result, they will fidget, procrastinate, argue with you, or poke at their siblings to get the stimulation their brains are craving.

Keep this in mind to help you keep your cool so you can more effectively manage them and the situation. Plan ahead to give them stimulation FIRST to help them settle down to do their homework.  

Here are four tips to help get homework done easier for all kids!

1 - Jumpstart their brain with some exercise.
Get your kids moving to stimulate their brains right before having them sit down to do homework. You can have them run a couple of laps around the house or put on a high-energy song and have them dance around. If your child is involved in a sport, consider having them do their homework right after. One parent told me they started staying at the hockey rink right after practice so their son could do his homework because he got it done much quicker.

2 - Combine snacks and homework.
Chewing stimulates and brings blood flow to the brain. It is also rhythmic, which helps the brain process. Chewing also helps alleviate anxiety, so if your child is worried about any of the work that they’re doing, snacking while they’re doing the work can help. 

3 - Use time limits to your advantage.
Kids can feel like homework will take them forever. Knowing there is a time limit can help them focus and get things done.  Pick a random time and set a timer.  Let’s work for the next 9 minutes and just get this done.

4 - Work with their brains & natural rhythms
I encourage you to talk with your child about how their brains work and get them involved in figuring out what works best for them.   Is it easier for them to get work done in the morning, afternoon, or evening?  What locations are easier for them to work in?

Consider letting your need to have them sit at the kitchen table to do their homework go—and challenge them to find three weird ways that work for them to do it. It doesn’t matter if they’re doing their reading hanging upside down off the couch if they’re actually getting it done.  

If you like these articles and wish parenting could be easier, check out the Confident Parenting Club, where I take things to a whole new level.  I share research-proven strategies and scripts weekly in your inbox with advice on how to implement them.  We cover a new topic every month, you have access to a resource library online to address both fundamental concepts and specific challenges, and you can get expert advice for your particular challenges.  Click here to check it out today.