Homework Helpers

• Set up a certain time and area in which to do homework. Allow your child to have a say in where he or she does their homework. It is important for your child to feel comfortable. If your child gets distracted easily, make sure they end up in an area you are able to monitor when needed.

• Children who take medication for AD/HD may find that the medicine has worn off by the time they start their homework. Talk with your doctor to see if there are any other options (i.e. splitting the dose throughout the day, adding a short-acting dose in the afternoon).

• Form a launch pad close to the exit of your home. This can be a table or a cubby where your child prepares their completed homework for school the next day. Provide labels and checklists to ensure he or she does not forget anything. Children are more likely to forget something if they are scurrying around in the morning before leaving for school.

• The demands placed on your child may be higher than they are equipped to handle. Research online or ask a friend from another school what their child is doing for homework. Sometimes they may be given much more than they are capable of taking on. If you think so, carefully approach the subject with your child’s guidance counselor.

• Exercise! Exercise is proven to improve focus. If your child is struggling to stay focused during homework, do some jumping jacks together or have them take a break to play outside for a bit. This will increase blood flow to the brain and help them focus more when they return to their homework station. You can even educate your child by saying things like, “Did you know that exercises like jumping jacks can help your brain grow strong and help you stay awake during your homework? Let’s try it out!”

• Provide external reminders. It is natural for parents to want their children to be independent; however children with AD/HD or other cognitive challenges are unable to be as independent as we would like. Keep in mind that the part of their brain that reminds them of tasks or that organizes their thoughts is not like yours. Sometimes children need external cues to help them remember things and if so, you should be the support system that provides those cues. This does not mean you need to do everything for them all the time, but it does mean you may need to prompt them more times than you feel is necessary. Ultimately, the goal is to help them succeed in school which most times require a little help from mom and dad.

• Communicate with your teacher on ways to help your child remember their homework. Does she write it on the board? Does she email assignments to parents? Get the scoop on how your child’s teacher operates. It may be something as simple as your child writing assignments in a notebook and the teacher initialing beside it.