Why are some children better at getting their homework done than others?
Have you ever wondered why some children are good at organising themselves and doing their homework on time, and others do not? It is down to Executive Functioning Skills, a system in our brain that helps to plan and organise things, keep track of what we are doing, remember instructions and even manage our emotions.
Although children are not automatically born with executive functioning skills, they are born with the capacity to develop them. If these skills are not working as they should, it can affect the child’s ability to carry out tasks requiring planning and organisational skills, like completing homework.
5 Homework Tips
These tips help develop executive functioning skills so that children can do their homework on time.
1. Set up a designated study space. Ensure that your child has access to all the tools they will need to do their homework, and the area is free from any distractions. Computer devices and phones should only be used if they are necessary to complete homework.
2. Set a regular time to do homework. It will act as a cue to help form a new habit.
3. Set a flexible, weekly homework schedule. Let your child decide the order in which they complete assignments, but parents should give guidance in prioritising homework, using checklists and estimating how long each task/assignment will take. Giving the child control of their schedule will enable an enjoyable routine to develop.
4. Chunk homework. Help your child learn how to break up longer homework assignments into chunks, and then assign a time to complete each chunk.
5. Use timers or devices with alarms to help your child finish their homework. Timers can be used as a reward to reinforce routines and help keep habits in place. For instance, if your child does their homework within a specified time, they can have 20 minutes of free time.
General Tip to Support Executive Functioning Skills
Parents can aid the development of their child’s executive functioning skills by carrying out a few simple things at home. For instance, creating routines, modelling social behaviour and giving their children opportunities to learn and practice necessary skills before completing them alone.
Conclusion
By following these 5 tips, you will be giving your child the best opportunity to develop their executive functioning skills and improve their ability to organise themselves and do homework on time. However, it is important to note that developing these skills takes practise and patience – it won’t happen overnight!
Have you tried any of these tips? What has worked for you? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media pages. And don’t forget to register for our upcoming learning techniques and study skills workshops, where we will be discussing how to support your child’s development of Executive Functioning Skills!