Creating Homework-Friendly Family Routines

No matter how engaging the homework material, and no matter how wonderfully set up the study area is, nothing can derail a homework session faster than a disruptive home environment. Playing with siblings or neighbors, watching the game with dad, and even chasing the family dog will always seem much more fun than a dreaded homework assignment! The best way to reduce these distractions is to set up a homework-friendly family routine - that way everyone in the household is on board and becomes an ally in the homework process.

One strategy is to schedule similar types of activities in the same time slots. For example, do your morning yoga while you give your child playtime outside, then sit down to pay bills and answer emails while they settle into their schoolwork for the day. If you have more than one child, schedule their playdates at the same time so that one child isn’t stuck doing homework while the other is having a great time in the next room.

If you homeschool your child, try breaking up the day with family activities - take a walk around the neighborhood, play catch, or go for a jog. Have dinner together so that your child can have a break from solo study and socialize. Give the brain time to rest, recover, and enjoy life periodically throughout the day.

Last but definitely not least: go to bed on time. Especially after taxing cognitive activities, the brain needs adequate sleep to rest and rejuvenate. Support quality sleep by turning off electronics an hour before bedtime, dimming the lights in your house, and encouraging quiet, relaxing activities.

Few children will ever be excited to do homework - but you can at least remove some of the struggle surrounding study by creating a routine that supports focus, physical activity, fun, and adequate sleep. Remember: you can’t spell homework without home.