Children with learning disabilities may struggle with homework for obvious reasons. They might have retention problems or have difficulty with decoding words or calculating mathematical equations. They may lack focus or have negative associations with homework because they already see themselves as “the slow kid” in the class. At home, homework can become a source of arguments and stress as parents attempt to intervene and offer support. Here are a few guidelines which might help:
- Start out by making sure distractions in the home are at a minimum. Turn off televisions, electronic gadgets, and find a good study zone.
- Complete the first several problems together, and be willing to do them entirely if necessary. Explain each step in the simplest terms possible.
- Recognize that it could take several explanations and multiple reviews before the child feels confident with the assignment. Your patience and understanding is important. If you become frustrated when your child “doesn’t get it” right away, consider having someone else assist your child. Sometimes the parent is just not the best tutor.
- Avoid back-tracking by making sure your child is clear about the instructions and what is expected before allowing her to start working. Sometimes a simple misunderstanding can cause every answer on the page to be incorrect. Going back and correcting mistakes is frustrating for anyone, but especially LD kids.
- If the assignment calls for transferring or copying work, like writing down problems from a text, you could assist your child with that. Kids with dyslexia, for example, may find transferring problems so difficult that they are tense and frustrated before the “real” work has even begun.
- Divide large assignments into small sections, and help the child focus on each section without becoming overwhelmed. You might also offer a drink, small snack, or other kind of “break” every fifteen to twenty minutes.
- There’s a fine line between offering assistance and micro-managing your son or daughter. If you hover, correct, scold, cheer, and generally breathe down your child’s neck, homework will become drudgery, not to mention cause tension in your relationship. Give gentle suggestions and know when to sit back quietly and let your child “take off” working on his own.
- Understand that most children will naturally take steps toward doing homework independently. If your son or daughter still seems to need help, be willing to offer it. Children like to do things by themselves, and in most cases will do so when they’re able.
- Checking in with your child’s teacher is always a good idea. Make sure you are aware of what the homework assignments are and that you aren’t teaching the specifics incorrectly.
- If your child seems receptive, spend a little time looking ahead at tomorrow’s problems. Explain how they are new or different. “Tomorrow you’ll just be subtracting the decimals instead of adding them.” Skip this step if too much information in one sitting overwhelms your child.
Congratulate yourself for being a caring, devoted parent!
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