How’s that homework going so far this year? How to get it done..

If nagging your kids about homework is part of your daily routine, you’re not alone...  

Drew Edwards, author of “How to Handle a Hard-to-Handle Kid,” has some homework tips for parents to review:

1. Find the assignment: If the right papers or books don’t make it home, you need a system. Try creating a home-made assignment sheet together. Make room for the assignment AND supplies needed for your child to check off each day.

2. Find the right spot: Some children like to do homework on the kitchen table, while others need more solitude. Encourage your child to do homework in several places in your home until one feels just right. 

3. Find the right time: Right after school? After a short break but before dinner? After dinner? If you're not sure, pick a time and try it for two weeks. If it's not working, try another time for two weeks. 

4. Find a starting point: Does your child like to start with the hardest or easiest assignment? You should offer suggestions, but let your child decide which assignment to do first. 

5. Find the focus: While your child is working on a specific subject, put away all other books and materials. Looking at a pile of books can make a child feel overwhelmed or make it tough to focus on the current assignment.

6. Find the sweet spot: How much monitoring does your child need? Keep the positive feedback coming but try not to hover. 

Drew says the two biggest mistakes parents make are nagging their kids about homework or doing it for them. He says school is important – but so is the relationship you have with your child. Don’t let homework become an issue that harms that relationship.