Answers to Common Questions Parents Have About Homework

Some common questions parents have about homework include how to prevent procrastination, how much should parents help, and how to prevent homework meltdowns. We've got the answers to those questions and more from local experts.


How much should parents help with homework?
Parental support is a key to raising a successful student, but sometimes the line begins to blur regarding how much help is too much, says Pamela Zimmer, M.S., a fourth-grade teacher on Long Island. Parents want their child to do well, so they “help” out as much as possible on homework, projects, and reports. The problem is that the student is not getting the benefit from those assignments: review of material and independent skills assessment. So how much help is too much?

How can I keep my child from procrastinating?
Research shows us that taking short exercise breaks helps our brains stay sharp and fresh. Every 10 to 20 minutes (longer periods for older children) kids can take a 3-minute “brain boost break,” says Dave Beal, manager of the Power Brain Training Centers in Bayside and Syosset. Let them do a simple exercise (pushups, jumping jacks, stretching, etc.) and then return to their work. And if you do the exercises with your child, it will be a fun and healthy way to manage the stress of supervising homework time.

How do I encourage my child to enjoy math?
Above all, never describe yourself as “hopeless” at math, say Rob Eastaway and Mike Askew, authors of Old Dogs, New Math. If you show interest in math, your children will become curious too, and by talking about and playing with math as a natural part of your daily life rather than it being something that’s only done under duress when sitting at the table doing homework, your child is bound to enjoy it more.