Now that school is well underway, the homework is starting to come home. The question “Should I Help My Kids With Homework?” is a common one.
So what is the right thing to do? Should you help your kids with homework? The answer is not a clear-cut “yes” or “no”.
Studies have shown that there is no clear connection between parental involvement in homework and improved student performance. In fact, one study showed that parental involvement, including homework help, can have a negative effect on a child’s academic achievement.
Research has shown that the children of parents who give their kids independence and control over their own work, are better able to complete tasks by themselves. Meanwhile, the children of parents who intervene and manage every detail of their child’s performance tend to give up when faced with challenges.
While homework should be a review and practice of what has already been taught in the classroom, I don’t see anything wrong with a parent giving a child some guidance with homework if needed. But let’s define “help”.
If the child is having a great deal of trouble with homework, parents should help them to understand the questions and instructions. I’m talking about offering guidance and assistance in understanding the homework, lesson or problem itself – not helping to complete the work. I don’t think parents should flat out give the answers – instead, they can offer guidance and direction.
Some children need extra support.
I have seen this first-hand; as a parent of a child who has trouble with certain subjects, I can’t simply sit there and watch my child struggle to understand the question, and reach a level of frustration without assisting him somehow.
“Help” from parents shouldn’t be completing the work themselves, editing creative works including essays, or giving out the answers in math. It’s counterproductive when parents micromanage their kids work – and teachers know when their parents have done the work for them!
Instead, parents should offer clarification of the instructions, to help the child understand what is being asked of him/her. I think it’s perfectly alright to offer guidance to children who need the extra support.
Stay tuned on tips on how to effectively help your child with his/her homework.
Do you help your kids with homework?
14 Comments
We have the common core curriculum here and I literally CAN’T help my kids with their homework because it’s too much for my brain to process. It’s completely illogical,
As an experienced teacher and school administrator, I would have to say that it is VITAL that the parent has a role in homework. It is a way to connect home and school, open lines of communication, and build a child’s confidence.
We always struggle with the answer to this question. It is so hard to see them not know an answer but should we help? We just take it on a case by case basis.
tough question.. i can’t give you the correct answer 🙁 maybe yes or maybe not. My mom was very active and helpful
There are things that you can contribute without doing the actual work for them. I would say it depends on the homework if you’re going to help them or not.
Ooooo this is tough! I was a kiddo that needed tons of help with homework. I don’t know how I would of finished school and did good without my mom helping me lol
I remember when i was a kid i really don’t like the homeworks because no one will help me, but this post i have realize how can i survive without helping for other lol
I would help my child with their homework, but only to the extent of explaining to them how to do it. I won’t give them the answers because it will only make them dependent on others. Just reassure, guide, and let them do it on their own. I would check their work and see if they understood the lesson.
I help my kids with their homework, but not to the extent of doing them. I make sure that I explain it to them if they don’t understand it.
My kids have always politely declined my assistance with homework every since the trauma of kindergarten sight words. Lol.
I love when parents help out
I don’t see any issue with it, unless the parent doesn’t understand the homework or isn’t doing the homework for the child.
I remember helping out a LOT but tried not to do whole thing… 🙂
My husband and I help our daughter with her homework all the time. We help her but not doing it for her.