Homework, the bane of many parent's existence. Nothing can cause such turmoil as a tired, whiny child and a folder full of assignments waiting to be completed. When homework time comes around in my house, I often feel like throwing my hands up and walking out the door. Equally easy would be grabbing the papers all up and doing them myself. But as an elementary school teacher myself, I know there's a delicate balance between helping my child too much and helping too little when it comes to homework.

When deciding how much help to give your child, there are a few things parents should consider. First, what is the purpose of the homework? Most teachers will say that homework is for independent practice of skills learned at school. It is not a time to learn something new. For this reason, it is not the parents' role to hold a child's hand through the entire thing. However, one thing I tell the parents of all my students is that practicing something incorrectly is much worse than not practicing at all. It is vitally important that parents be available to monitor their child's work at home to ensure it is being done correctly. I would rather have a child not do his homework at all than to do it wrong and reinforce his misunderstanding of the concept.

The second thing to consider is your child's age. Is he able to read the instructions and understand what to do by himself? Most children in the primary grades (K-3) need some guidance when it comes to homework. They often need help determining what is quality work and what is rushing through. Even if your child completes the assignment herself, be available to check it over and help correct any mistakes that have been made.

The last and possibly most important reason parents should be involved in homework is to be involved in your child's life. Children spend a majority of their waking hours at school away from you. By showing an interest in his homework, you are showing an interest in his "job" and giving him an opportunity to share his successes, frustrations, and interests. This is especially important at the high school level when kids spend more time away from home and less time talking to their parents. Asking about your child's homework opens the door to asking about his day, what he's learning, and what his goals and dreams are. As a teacher, these things are just as important as the actual work itself.

Learn more about this author, J Tyler.
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