by Julie Sewell-Schmidt

Created on: February 02, 2009

Beginning as early as kindergarten, regularly assigning homework to children promotes the development of critical skills such as self-discipline and responsibility which are needed as they grow older. For young children, homework assignments do not have to be complex, and can be as easy as practicing writing the alphabet, or reading for 15 minutes each evening. Simply helping children develop smart homework and studying methods when they're young helps build the child's confidence, emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for their actions, and establishes a routine that can be modified appropriately as they progress in school.

In addition to self-discipline, confidence, and encouraging individual responsibility, homework serves a more immediate purpose for students young and old. In order to fortify the lessons taught during school hours, homework functions as reinforcement for those lessons. Studying wears paths in the brain, and as the concepts are reviewed and practiced more frequently, the path becomes worn and familiar. "Wearing down" these paths make recollection of the lesson easier. As an example, a kindergarten student begins to learn the basics of mathematics, and likely doesn't already know the sum of fundamental addition problems without stopping to think or count on their fingers. The answers come to adults quickly because the paths in the brain are worn much like an old trail leading home and the concept of simple addition was reinforced frequently as children.

It may be the bane of some parents' existence, but another benefit of homework is that parents can choose to be active participants in their children's education by providing assistance with lessons. Parents who make themselves available to help with homework assignments have better insight as to how their child is progressing in school or what challenges they're encountering, beyond what is said during teacher conferences or printed on report cards. Additionally, the parent can provide another line of attack in solving homework problems and parents are often times more familiar with the learning approach that is most effective with their child (visual, verbal, hands-on).

From reading and writing to science projects and Valentine boxes, both children and parents benefit when they work together to produce and complete an assignment. A stronger emotional bond can be developed by practicing the give and take of a verbal exchange, by asking the child how they believe the assignment should be completed, and by providing encouragement and praising the child for a job well done. Above all, the child whose parents take interest in their work will feel that what they do and who they are is important, and that Mom and Dad want them to be a success.

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