13 Ways to Make Homework Less Stressful

My daughter is 3 years old and is in two full days of preschool. Wednesday is the first day she attends each week, and it’s also Sharing Day. That means every Tuesday night, I’m scrambling to put together her “homework” for the next day. It’s never anything difficult — finding two objects that rhyme, packing a number book, boiling two eggs for egg-dying — but it takes a few minutes and I never remember to plan for it ahead of time. I’m thinking if homework starts this early, what will it be like when she’s really in school? I’m seriously hoping at that point she’ll be able to share some of the responsibility!

A recent study by the APA found that teens are more stressed than adults and their levels of stress tend to peak during the school year. To help you and your kids manage that stress, Mandy Ginsberg, CEO of Tutor.com has tips to help teens experience less stress at school and during homework time after school. As the school year winds down and big projects and finals creep up, these tips will help make it smooth sailing!

13 Ways to Make Homework Less Stressful

1. Set up a homework routine. If you don’t have a routine set up yet, do it as soon as you can. Kids work better when they have a routine that is right for them. Some kids do better right after school. Other kids need to come home and decompress for a while before they can face their homework. It doesn’t matter what time you choose; just make a conscious choice with your child and try to stick to it.

2. Create a homework zone. Set aside a space in your home where your child can work on homework without major distractions (i.e. TV, video games and siblings who may already be done with their homework). A comfortable spot for both of you is best, that way you can catch up on your own reading or work and still be available to answer questions your child may have.

3. Set goals and prioritize. Your child probably has assignments in different subjects from different teachers each night. Have your son or daughter review their list of assignments (if they don’t usually write them down, now is a good time to start) and estimate how long each will take. Then, help them prioritize which ones to do first. There’s no right or wrong order to completing homework assignments, but having an action plan can help your child stay focused.

4. Help, but not too much. If you’re lucky enough to understand your child’s homework, it’s tempting to help a bit too much. It is okay to do one sample problem with them to get them “unstuck,” but don’t do three or four or soon you are the one doing the homework.

5. Make it fun. It is easier than you think! If your daughter is a visual learner go online and find a great video that can help her. Or, if your child is studying and needs to memorize equations for a test, help them create a goofy song. This helps make kids more relaxed and ready to learn.

6. Become a time-management ninja. Middle school and high school students need to balance academics, extracurricular activities and their social life. Help your children put together a schedule either online or use an erasable whiteboard, whatever works for your family. Make sure you add in study/homework time each school night to help your child see when he/she is truly free. Several months in, your child may be able to take over the calendar with less help.

7. Big projects? Start small. Older children have more long-term assignments such as a research paper or essay assigned in October but due in November. It’s easy to procrastinate and then find your son or daughter in a panic a few days before the due date. Help them map out a plan where they complete a piece of the assignment every few weeks such as going to library for research followed by completing an outline. Having regular due dates will help keep projects on track and reduce last-minute meltdowns.

8. It all counts. If your child is planning on going to college, their freshman GPA will go on their college transcript. Make sure your child is taking the right mix of classes and see what support is available at the school. You can make an appointment with your child’s school counselor to ensure you are on the right track.

9. Take a break. Research shows students don’t concentrate well for long periods. Rather than demanding your child finish all his/her homework in one sitting, encourage him/her to take breaks every 20 to 30 minutes. That’s a great time to check their phone, get a snack or just get up and stretch. They’ll complain less and be more productive.

10. Not good at math or writing? Don’t tell your kids. Instead tell them you understand math or writing is really tough but you know they can do it. If you can’t help, make sure you know who can or look online for great resources like tutorials and videos that break down tough concepts.

11. Know when to get help. If your child is taking longer than expected to finish one problem or is getting frustrated, encourage them to take a break by working on something else for a while. If they come back to the problem and still can’t figure things out, don’t stay confused — Tutor.com can help get them back on track in just a few minutes.

12. Wrap things up each night. At the end of each homework session, have your child walk you through their completed assignments. Acknowledge the small accomplishments they made to keep them motivated. Homework is supposed to reinforce what your child has worked on in school, and challenge them to apply what they’ve learned to new problems. That means homework is sometimes going to be frustrating, but knowing that help is available anytime your child gets stuck can keep him or her from giving up and falling behind.

13. Celebrate! A great biology grade, finished essay or a week of completed homework assignments deserves some recognition. Come up with something that works for your family — maybe it’s dessert at your favorite ice cream shop or a new app. Your child will appreciate being celebrated!

Do you have any tried and true methods for making homework a success each night? —Erin