How to End Homework Battles for Good

Homework doesn’t have to be a constant fight every day! Check out some of our favorite parenting tips on how to end homework battles once and for all!

If you have kids, you know how tough it can be sometimes to get your kids to do their homework. Kids will either get distracted or they just won’t want to do the work at all. However, homework doesn’t have to be a constant fight. Here are some ways to end homework battles for good.

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How to End Homework Battles for Good

It is important that you clearly understand what the teacher wants and expects. Find out what their homework policy is and how long homework should take to complete on average each night. With this information, you are not only on the same page as your child and their teacher but will help to determine reasons for the homework battles like lacking study skills or possible learning disability.

Set up an area where your child can do their homework each night. The area can be a desk or table and should be well-lit. Have the things they will need close by like erasers, sharpened pencils, pens and paper. Just be sure you monitor their progress so you can ensure that the location is working well for them.

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Choose a time that works best for your child to do their homework. Maybe doing it right after school just isn’t something that works for them. Some kids need a break from school stuff when they get home while others want to jump right in and get it done and over with. They may feel more comfortable doing it after dinner instead. Find a time and stick to it, consistently reinforcing it.

Setting up homework reminders is a simple way to keep kids on task. It is a great way to remind them of assignments, projects, reports and upcoming tests. This reminder station can be on a white board, chalkboard or calendar. It should be hanging by the spot they do their homework so they can have a constant reminder.

It is important that when they ask for help with their homework, you provide them with guidance instead of answers. Their homework is THEIR responsibility and not YOURS. While it may be tempting to just give them the answers, they won’t learn unless they do it themselves. Instead, try making up a similar example and show them step by step how to come to the answer.

Do you have any great parenting tips on how to end homework battles for good? Share them in the comments!

20 thoughts on “How to End Homework Battles for Good”

  1. Thanks for sharing these tips for how to end homework battles. I have a hard time with homework time myself but creating a routine and a homework station has helped a lot. These are great tips to include into our routine though.

  2. I’m a big believer in letting them do whatever they want for the first hour of being home. Then, its all about the homework. I like to get them to do that right away. Then its all set and done for the day.

  3. I hope that we don’t have to deal with this with my son. He already loves to learn and count, but I know that homework is entirely different. It always was the LAST thing on my mind when I was in school. I used to hurry to finish it the morning it was due!

  4. This is a constant challenge, especially with our older one (just entered high school) as we try to get her to own good habits that will translate into success over the next few years and into college. Being consistent about expectations is helpful for her. Remembering what it was like to try to balance the stimulus of being a teenager is helpful for us. The key is to find what works for each kid and motivate in that direction!

  5. This is one thing I am not looking forward to, when I have children of my own. I’m not a fan of homework myself, so pushing a kid to finish theirs is going to be some hard work haha.. ugh the battles my parents had with me when I was in school, hooboy. Not looking forward to it. Perhaps my husband will be better at it than I am :)

  6. Battles are probably inevitable but you gave some great tips! Consistency is a must, a time and place the same every day. Guidance is a must, I agree. Too many parents provide answers instead of help, perhaps they aren’t sure how to teach!

  7. I remember the homework battles when I was younger. These are great tips for preventing these battles. I know most my issue was I preferred to play with friends instead of doing school work when I got home.

  8. These are some really good tips. A great motivation that my mom used for my sisters and I growing up was that if we did not do our home work during the week, we were not allowed to play any video games on the weekend. Also, all chores has to be done prior to us even touching a video game on Friday nights. I believe putting a child on a routine with a designated area is helpful.

  9. I’m a teacher and a mom of four children.
    I have a child who lacks focus and needs re direction constantly.
    Using a timer helps these students. Give a little more time to get the math or reading done than it would require a student usually helps. If they dont finish on time, then they get something small taken away.
    If they finish before the timer goes off, give a reward.
    Call the publishers for a free sample of the teachers guide, whatever text the student is having difficulty with such as math etc. Having the answers in front of you will actually help you as a parent. I’m not saying that you should give the answers to your child but you will know what to help your child with. You can also buy these texts with answers from Amazon etc.
    Good luck this year!!

  10. This is VERY helpful. It’s important for us to understand that we’re not the ones going to school. Our kids are. So if we can’t possibly help them “learn” by giving them the answers.

  11. Most parents that I know were able to explain homework to their children in almost every subject but MATH. I attempted to help some children but the way they do it now defies the imagination! Maybe they should give a nath class for parents so they can help their kids!

  12. Consistency is big for my kids. There are days where one of them won’t have as much or any homework to do. I still make them sit down and read or work on something quietly so they don’t get out of the habit (or bug their siblings).

  13. Providing a calm, quiet space was very important for ensuring my son was able to complete his homework. We also had to enforce a “no screen” rule. Consistency is also key, because every time I failed to enforce the “rules” my son would slack off.

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