Success at Home Starts with Home(work)

Homework is often one of the most challenging times of the day for both parents and their children with attention and learning difficulties.  Homework is also one of the most crucial elements to a child's ultimate success at school.  The good news is that there are several things which can be done to make this time less stressful and more productive for both children and their parents.

Prior to setting up a homework routine, there are a number of issues that need to be worked out to ensure success.  First, there needs to be a high level of communication between the parents and the school.  This should occur on a daily basis for elementary school children and at least once a week for middle and high school students with attention and learning difficulties. 

For elementary school aged children:  

1. Your child's teacher should check and sign that your child has written down all homework in a designated place (such as a homework journal, special folder, or agenda).  
2. Also, it can be helpful to have the teacher check your child's binder to make sure that he or she is bringing home all necessary items (such as books or handouts) to be able to complete the homework.  This step can be especially important for children who have difficulty tracking their belongings.
3. Children at this age should not be spending more than one hour of focused time on homework.  If their homework is taking longer than this, it can be helpful to have assignments shortened/modified as needed.

For middle and high school aged children:  

1. It is crucial to receive a weekly update from the school concerning your child's school performance including tests, quizzes, missing assignments, behavior, and projects.
2. A list of all homework to be assigned for the week is also helpful in supporting your child's success. 

Often parents wonder if the above accommodations are realistic, typically citing the teacher's limited time and high number of students in class.  However, if your child has a diagnosis of ADHD or a learning disability, your child's school has a legal obligation to make these types of accommodations if a 504 accommodation plan or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is in place for your child. Communication between parents, children, and teachers is critical in order to set your child up for success.

A successful homework routine starts with structure and clear expectations.  It is best to have children come home from school and start homework after a snack, prior to engaging in any desired activities such as outdoor play, TV, computer, or videogames.  Children with ADHD struggle to delay gratification and respond best when they know there are clear rewards (such as earning these desired activities) after first completing a task.

For your child to earn time to play/engage in desired activities:

1. Set the expectation that your child needs to show you all work before it is considered finished.
2. It is your child's responsibility to complete all assignments, which includes making all corrections noted by the parent.
3. There should also be a clear expectation that your child demonstrate respect through their words and actions during this process. 

It is the role and responsibility of the parent to:

1. Set clear expectations for homework time and immediate rewards for finishing (such as earning 30 minutes of playtime).
2. Praise and reward your child often for improvement.
3. Be consistent about enforcing the structured time to start homework while also providing the rewards that have been established.
4. Provide weekly rewards for improvement regarding your child's daily/weekly tracker.  For example: you might reward your child for bringing all needed assignments home for the week, decreasing the number of missing assignments, having a well-organized binder, or for taking more initiative to show you their completed work while demonstrating a positive attitude. 

Missing assignments is often where children with attention difficulties have a major problem.  It is common for children with ADHD to struggle with completing assignments and then find it challenging to remember to turn in completed work.  There is often dramatic improvement in both completing and turning in assignments by tracking for improvement and providing rewards, as well as setting consequences such as limiting some weekend privileges and designating that time to complete the missing assignments until your child is caught up.

The good news is that by making these changes to the expectations, structure, rewards, and consequences for homework, it is possible to see dramatic changes in your child's performance.  In addition to helping children feel more successful and competent in their environment, these changes can often relieve stress and conflict between parents and their children.

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