How to encourage your child to seek homework help based on their personality

Asking for help can be quite a challenge for a shy child. Shyness is associated with low self-esteem and the fear of feeling judged. To help your child develop good self-esteem, you can reassure them in various ways:

• Praise their effort and progress rather than their results.
• Help them reframe their mistakes as learning opportunities.
• Be compassionate and supportive when they seem anxious or stressed.
• Show them that there are many ways to ask for help.
• Encourage them to build up their confidence.
• Etc.

Trying to help a child who is overly confident or a know-it-all can make homework time frustrating. Some children will know they made a mistake but keep insisting they got the question right. Here are a few ways to navigate this situation:

• Promote healthy self-esteem. A child who seems overconfident or exhibits a sense of superiority could be compensating for low self-esteem. They might be afraid of disappointing you.
• Help them address their performance anxiety and perfectionist tendencies.
• Avoid complimenting their intelligence and instead focus on their effort and perseverance.
• Try to phrase your observations as questions rather than statements. For instance, try saying “What do you normally put at the end of a sentence?” instead of “You forgot a period at the end of that sentence.”
• Do research on the Alloprof website with your child when they refuse to accept the correct answer. This will help them understand their mistake and review their hypothesis. 
• Reassure them that you also make mistakes and may not always know the answer to a question. This will show them that being wrong and admitting your mistake is okay.
• Give them credit when they teach you something new.
• Etc.

Doing homework with a child who is going through an oppositional phase can be quite the headache. Nearly all children go through oppositional phases as a way of asserting themselves or testing boundaries. When this happens, it is recommended that parents reinforce trust in the parent-child relationship and set rules while still allowing a certain degree of freedom. Here are some strategies for a drama-free homework session:

• Reassure your child and make sure that their basic needs are being met (e.g., a healthy diet, quality sleep, an environment conducive to studying).
• Establish routines and explain the rules you set.
• Avoid feeding into a vicious cycle that rewards and perpetuates oppositional behaviour. It can be helpful to set up a system of rewards and consequences.
• Respond to your child’s desire for autonomy by giving them more responsibilities and choices (e.g., ask them what assignment they want to start with).
• Acknowledge your child’s effort and accomplishments.
• Let them do their homework without supervision and praise them when they take initiative.
• Encourage them to find answers by using research tools and browsing our website. 
• Etc.

Every child will feel unmotivated to do their homework at one point or another. If your child has a habit of being lazy, doing sloppy work, and rushing through their assignments, you may be feeling frustrated. Fortunately, there are strategies to help keep your child motivated and on track. Alloprof’s tools and resources can support your child and help make homework time a little easier. Here a few tips for helping a child who tends to rush through their homework:

• Make sure your child understands their homework assignments before they start to avoid forgetting or missing things.
• Help them develop the habit of staying organized and gathering all the materials they need for their homework and lesson review.
• Instill a peaceful homework routine and set up a workspace that will help them stay focused.
• Break up homework assignments into smaller, bite-size steps based on your child’s grade level, energy level, and maximum attention span.
• Help them stay motivated with short breaks between each task.
• Praise your child for their progress and effort to bolster their autonomy and confidence.
• Etc.