7 Ways to Simplify Homework Stress This School Year
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You’ve probably been counting the days until this school year started, but you may not be thrilled about all the homework stress that comes with it. We’re sharing seven ways to simplify homework stress this school year so your kids can have a successful school year and you won’t lose your sanity.
I’ve looked forward to this school year more than I have in the past but that doesn’t stop the thought of homework stress from making my skin feel clammy. I’ve had enough arguments with my kids over homework to last a lifetime, but fortunately, we’ve finally found some tricks that help reduce homework stress and get everyone through the process in one piece.
Set up a Homework Station
It doesn’t matter what grade your kid is in, they need a spot for homework. This is not just so they can get their head in the right space. Honestly, it’s mostly so they won’t come to you every day asking where they can find a pen or where their calculator is. Having one spot as your go-to homework spot makes it easy to find the supplies you need AND find their homework when they are rushing out the door to go to school the next day.
Time Blocks for the Win
Have you ever tried time blocking? It is my absolute favorite way to schedule my life and I use this technique myself when working from home. Rather than scheduling your day hour by hour and minute by minute, set blocks of time with expectations about the things that happen during that block.
For homework, maybe you can set a before-dinner block and an after-dinner block. Before dinner, you can set the expectation that any homework due the next day has to be done during that time. The after-dinner block can be set aside for winding down or doing any daily tasks like reading.
Brush up on more difficult skills
One of the things that makes homework more difficult than it needs to be is struggling with the skills needed to do the work. This is especially true after a long summer because the summer slide is very real.
For kids who need to brush up on skills or need a bit of extra help, Study.com is a great option to learn additional skills in a low-pressure way. They offer a huge variety of video courses taught by qualified teachers, and a monthly subscription is much more affordable than a private tutor.
Whenever one of my kids is having trouble with a school subject, we work our way through the videos on Study.com so they can feel more confident with the subject.
Make sure there is food involved
Kids come home from school hangry. They legitimately can not do their homework well without a snack. Be sure they make themselves a healthy snack before they sit down and try and do any work. If they start struggling to get through their work, chances are they need another snack.
As a general rule, when in doubt, feed them … especially if you have teenagers.
Practice Body Doubling
For kids who have trouble focusing on homework, try body doubling. No, this is not a weird cloning technique.
Body doubling involves working side by side with another person. Knowing someone else is there and being productive can also help your brain focus on the task you are working on. Don’t have someone to work with you? Search “study with me” on YouTube and find body doubling videos that will help you find a virtual body double.
We hope these homework tips will help your school year go much smoother and less stressful. Homework can be a challenge, especially when kids are struggling, but using a few simple homework techniques can make a huge difference in helping kids to get through their work and actually learn what they need to learn.
