When your child is motivated, homework and lesson review can become an enjoyable family bonding experience. Here are some tips to help you boost your child’s motivation.
A parent’s attitude during homework time can have a big impact on their child’s motivation. If you’re enthusiastic, you’ll help your child develop a taste for learning and become a more confident student.
Speak with your child to find a homework routine that suits them. If you include them in the decision-making, they’ll feel empowered, and their motivation will quickly increase. Here are some questions you can ask to guide the conversation:
- Do you want to relax and have a snack before starting your homework?
- Would you rather get to work right after school so you have more free time in the evening?
- Do you prefer having one long homework session or several short ones?
It’s important to consider your own schedule as well as your child’s when determining an ideal homework time. You should also think about their energy level after school and after dinner.
Your child’s work environment affects the way they approach homework time. Studies have shown that giving your child a workspace that suits their personality and needs has a positive impact on their motivation and learning. The ideal workspace should meet the following criteria:
- Calm atmosphere
- No distractions
- No phone
- No ambient noises
- Well organized
- Soothing music (optional)
- Nearby window
- Nearby parent
- Etc.
Rather than working for 60 minutes straight, your child could work over three 20-minute stretches. Splitting up the work and taking breaks have been shown to promote concentration and help maintain motivation.
Sometimes you just need a bit of imagination to break the monotony and make study sessions fun. Here are some things you can try:
- Turn lesson review into a trivia game
- Study spelling words using alphabet noodles
- Use the interactive French spelling exercise (in French only)
- Review multiplication tables while taking a walk in the park
- Practise math using the app Fin Lapin (in French only)
- etc.
Despite all your best efforts, fatigue and small frustrations can build and spark arguments. To avoid conflicts and ensure that homework time stays enjoyable, you can ask for backup. A third party, such as a parent or sibling, can often help de-escalate rising tensions and put everyone in a better mood.
Stéphanie Deslauriers shares tips on how to keep the peace during homework time.
Writing: Viviane Asselin
Scientific review: Anne Poirier St-Onge, psychoeducator
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Rewriting: The Alloprof Parents’ team