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This Is What Happens When You Become a Parent

Becoming a parent enters you into a completely new and sometimes overwhelming world. Everything you don’t want to happen will happen, and you might find yourself begging for privacy and alone time.
Are you ready to spend all your money on diapers and all your waking hours with annoying children’s television shows? Just wait — there’s so much more that happens when you become a parent.
Unsolicited Advice
Once you become a parent, everyone starts having an opinion on your parenting style. You’ll receive unsolicited advice as often from people with kids as those without. What can you do about it? You’re completely allowed to ignore them.

As a parent, you’ll soon learn that there’s no advice that’s 100 percent right. While some people may have experiences similar to yours, many will not, and even those that do don’t necessarily know the best way forward for you and your kid. Sure, some advice will be useful, at the end of the day, your decisions are what matter.
Welcome to No Sleep
Parenting is the college years all over again when it comes to sleep deprivation, but with the added bonus of being older and not managing it as well. Sure, it gets better once the kids start growing up, but for the first few years, you’ll need a mind of steel to get through sleepless nights.

Of course, it’s all worth it — people still have multiple children, even though they’re fully aware their sleep schedules will never be the same again. But if you value sleep, you seriously have to consider that it’ll go down on your list of priorities once you become a parent.
Raising Kids Is Expensive
The idea of having children seems wonderful until you realize just how expensive it is. Kids eat — a lot. Especially as they get older. And it’ll be your job to feed them. On top of that, there are plenty of other expenses, like school fees, clothes and more. Basically, everything you buy for yourself, you’ll probably need to buy for your kids too.

A solid income and meticulous budgeting can help, obviously, but the sticker shock can still surprise even the most wealthy and frugal potential parents. And if you’re in the US, just giving birth will cost you thousands of dollars.
You Need to Plan Daycare Enrollment in Advance
If you’re struggling with parenting, having a job and whatever else is on your plate, you probably don’t have a lot of time and could use daycare services. Ironically, however, setting up daycare itself often takes a lot of time, especially at places that are in high demand.

It’s a real crux, but unfortunately, there’s no getting around it. As children get older, this juggling act only gets more complicated as summer camps and after-school activities enter the picture.
You’ll Get Sick More Often
Kids carry germs — that’s a fact. They get them from school, their friends and basically anyone around them. Their immune system is still developing, which means they get sick. A lot. And as a result, so will you. It’s a fact that parents get sick more often than adults without children..

No matter how robust your immune system is, you can expect it to take a beating once you have children. For your own sake, make sure you stock up on cough drops, ginger ale, chicken soup and other sick essentials — you’ll need them.
A Clean House Will Never Be a Priority Again
Messy will become your middle name. It’s impossible to dedicate any time to cleaning once you have children, at least while they’re young. Sure, there are parents who try to teach their kids about having a clean house, but most of them give up because it just gets messy again one day later.

While you should make sure your family doesn’t live in unacceptably dirty conditions, having a messy house is inevitable. Unless, of course, you can afford to hire someone to help you clean it.
The Meltdowns Are Almost Always Unexpected
If you think you know exactly when your kid’s going to have a meltdown, you’re in for a huge surprise. More often than not, the meltdowns come from the most trivial things — your child might just be hungry or need a nap.

Seriously — from giving them food from a differently-colored packet to insisting on wearing the most ridiculous clothes, tantrums can come at the most unexpected times and often inconvenient times, especially when you’re out with them in public.
They’re Extremely Impressionable
It’s no secret that kids are impressionable. From their toddler years to adulthood, your children will intentionally and subconsciously take things to heart. As a parent, you need to always be mindful of what you’re saying to them.

Everything from the way you enforce discipline to the way you interact with your significant other to the way you treat service people can potentially inform your child’s view of the world — and not always in the ways you want. It pays to be mindful and compassionate.
They Pick Up on Your Traits and Mannerisms
Speaking of being impressionable, your habits and personal foibles will rub off of kids quickly. That can be adorable under the right circumstances, but it can also have negative consequences when the behavior in question is less healthy than you’d care to admit.

Being mindful of your own behavior is just as important as watching the kid’s. And even when your own actions are fine, they can still backfire when kids take what you do out of context. Monkey see, monkey do.
How You Treat Other People Is How They’ll Treat Them, Too
Bullies often are bullies because of issues at home — that’s no secret. It’s all they know, so that’s what they act out. Having frequent fights with your significant other? Don’t be surprised if your child uses the same language when they get angry.

Bigger problems like racism and sexism are also modeled this way. Being a good parent means thinking critically about your own behavior and working to show your kids the behavior you want them to have rather than just telling them to do it.
They Won’t Get It Until They’re Older
Raising kids is frustrating. They basically think the whole world revolves around them, and their problems seem huge. The truth is, those problems really do feel enormous — but only to them. That’s why kids often get frustrated with their parents for not understanding how big of a deal something is to them.

The truth is, they won’t understand until they’re older, and sometimes it won’t even happen until they have their own kids. You have to be patient with them and not get frustrated in turn as they experience the good and bad of this world.
Your ‘Me Time’ Is Practically Non-Existent
When children come into the picture, time for personal relaxation often lasts as long as house cleanliness as a priority. With diapers to change, food to make and crying bouts to quiet, getting anything done becomes much, much harder. Try having a second child for bonus difficulty.

That doesn’t mean you stop needing time to yourself, however. While you’ll have to tough it out to a degree, you should still take what time you can for keeping your sanity together. Your time may be much more fragmented now that a baby’s in the picture, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t salvage what you can for yourself.
You Realize You Don’t Know Everything
One of the most humbling things about being a parent is that you realize you despite being an adult, you still don’t know everything — or even as much as you’d like to know. It’s something a lot of parents struggle with as kids get older and ask more questions about the world.

The truth is, it’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” While parents often lie to their children when they don’t know an answer to something, admitting your own ignorance teaches your kid that just because they don’t know something doesn’t mean that they should be afraid — instead, they have an opportunity to learn.
You Can’t Protect Them From Everything
Here’s a big truth — as your child grows up and explores the world on their own, they’ll get themselves into trouble, and you won’t always be there to protect them. It’s something that’s hard to embrace no matter how old your kids are.

The goal of parenting isn’t to prevent disaster from ever striking, because that just isn’t possible. Instead, your job is to teach your kid how to overcome those terrible moments and be a stronger person for it.
You Live in Perpetual Fear for Their Well-being
Once your kids are able to go to school, you’re in for a whole new era of worrying. Although getting more personal time is fantastic, you might find yourself experiencing crippling fear over what your child is doing while they’re away. Don’t worry — this is totally normal.

There comes a point where you have to realize that your fears might exceed reality. You shouldn’t disrupt your child’s life just because you’re worried. Be confident that whatever lessons you taught them as a parent are good enough for them to face the real world.
Kids Will Keep Secrets From You
Once your kids become teenagers, and often even before that, they’ll keep secrets from you. While they’re sometimes trivial or even adorable, like a first crush, there are other times when those secrets will be about dark, serious things that could break your heart if you knew about them.

It’s okay for them to have secrets and privacy. However, you should always make sure they know you are there for them at all times. Don’t force them to tell you things — just make sure they know they can trust you and that you’ll always be there to support them.
Sometimes You’ll Have to Make Difficult Decisions
Being a parent is tough. It’s not always about being your child’s best friend. You have to come to terms that they won’t always like you, especially when you make decisions for the family as a whole, not just for them.

The truth is, it’s okay for them to get angry with you as long as you explain why you made the choices that you did and demonstrate that you’re trying to act in their best interests, even if you’re not in agreement on what those are.
You Might Find Yourself Missing Your Independence
Being constantly surrounded by kids that depend on you at all times makes it difficult to focus on anything else, at least for the first couple of years of their lives. If you’ve been an independent person most of your life, you might find yourself struggling in the parenting world.

It’s a challenge adapting to the role of parenthood, but over time, the benefits of this arrangement also make themselves known. You get an intimate look at the formation of another human being, and you get a source of companionship later in life. Plus, they’re not that needy forever. Thank goodness.
Letting Them Grow Up Is Harder Than You Think
After having your child depend on you for years or decades, every step they take toward independence — whether it’s kindergarten or college — can go against every instinct a parent has. Nonetheless, you have to let them go, and no matter how torn up you are, you can’t bog them down with your feelings.

That doesn’t mean you need to do it alone, of course. Spouses, friends or a counselor can all help you explore your emotions in a way that allows you to better understand your own thoughts and needs while still giving your child the support they need.
Your Eating Habits Will Become Their Eating Habits
Eating healthy is something many families struggle with. Even so, It’s important to understand the basics of nutrition and set up some healthy eating habits for yourself before you decide to have children. Whatever you feed them will shape them as human beings.

If you’re used to drinking a lot of soda or eating candy, don’t be surprised if your child does the same. Proper nutrition is a never-ending battle, but it’s your responsibility to incorporate it as much as possible into your kid’s life. After all, you’re in charge of their well-being and health now.
Life Goes By Fast — Really Fast
It’s true what they say — children grow up in the blink of an eye. One day, you’re celebrating their one-year birthday, and the next, they’re turning fifteen. Cherish those moments and make the most out of being a parent.

While some stages of life may be more difficult than others, remember that you only get to experience the good parts of each part with each child once. Enjoy that fresh baby smell, the adoration of your toddler and your child’s first game or performance, and don’t linger on the bad times.
There’s a Never-Ending Amount of Laundry
You might notice that you’ll constantly have piles of clothes that need to be washed. Kids get messy, and if you don’t want to constantly buy new clothes, you have to learn how to do laundry in the most effective way possible.

Even if you did just fine washing clothes on an as-needed basis before you had kids, you’ll probably need a schedule to keep up with the sheer amount of dirty laundry coming your way. Bonus tip: Buy extra pairs of socks — they absolutely will start disappearing.
Seeing Them Hurt Will Break Your Heart
There’s nothing sadder than seeing your child in pain. Whether they’re young or old, it never gets easier. Witnessing them cry will be absolutely heartbreaking, but you have to understand that it will happen.

Prepare yourself for the fact that your kids will get hurt. All you can do for them is to be there and help them in every possible way you can. Some things might be out of your control, but they have to know that you’ll always be there for them.
Their Mental Health Issues Won’t Be Visible
Mental health is an important subject every parent should talk about with their child. But it’s just as important to know that mental health issues aren’t always visible — you might not even know your child is depressed or experiencing other issues.

It’s important to let them know they can tell you everything, especially when their mental health might not be at the best place. If things get bad, don’t shrug it off — listen to them fully, demonstrate your support, and consider therapy as an option.
You’re in Trouble When They Learn They Can Say No
At one point, your child will realize they can say no to you, and they absolutely will. The truth is, they’re totally allowed to — just because they’re your child, it doesn’t mean they have to always agree with you. You shouldn’t punish them for saying no. In fact, you should acknowledge their own preferences.

However, if you feel like they’re saying no to something that would be beneficial for them, make sure you explain and communicate why they should listen to you. Remain calm and talk to them with respect at all times.
They Have Opinions, and They Use Them
Once children become older, they develop their own opinions that might be different from what you believe. Don’t freak out when that happens, and remember that you’re raising another human, an individual, not a clone of yourself. It’s one of the hardest things for some parents to realize.

That said, while having opinions is fine, harming or disrespecting others is not. Kids sometimes forget that words can have an impact on others, so it’s up to you to model respectful, mature behavior.
They Will Be Influenced by the Internet
Whether the internet was in its early stages when you were growing up or you didn’t have it at all, it’s a different animal today. From TikTok to YouTube, children watch all sorts of things to pass the time, and some of that content isn’t a good influence.

Parental controls can help to a degree, but the most important thing is to establish a relationship with your child where they feel comfortable sharing their experiences with you. It’s also best to talk with them from an early age about how to navigate the web and the potential dangers out there.
Some Things Will Be Out of Your Control
With so many barriers to success in today’s world, it can be tempting to think that the only way for your kid to get ahead in life is to make sure they have every advantage possible. However, this kind of thinking can backfire.

You’ve probably heard of helicopter parenting — it’s when a parent tries to control every single thing in their child’s life.While it might have benefits in the short term, it comes with the risk of denying your child valuable experience and a sense of self-competence. Not only can your child probably survive a few failures, but they might even learn from them.
You’ll Have to Respect Their Feelings
Parents are often dismissive of their kids’ feelings because they believe they know what’s best for them. They feel like it doesn’t matter what their child thinks if it contradicts what they believe. It’s a recipe for a toxic relationship between yourself, your child and — should they imitate you —the rest of the world.

Whatever your child is feeling is completely valid. They may make bad decisions as a result of those feelings, but by ensuring your child recognizes that you recognize their emotions, you make them more likely to trust you and help them feel secure as they explore their own feelings.
You Might Be Annoyed by Them, But You’ll Love Them Unconditionally
As difficult as raising a child can be, both for all the emotional struggles and the unrelenting horror of what lies in wait inside baby diapers, the bond between parent and child is unique and worth cultivating.

It’s natural not just for children to be annoyed by their parents, but also parents by their children. They sometimes ignore valuable advice, forget to call and even say things they may regret, but if you’re always there for your child, odds are, they’ll always be there for you.
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Top 10 Homework Tips
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Kids are more successful in school when parents take an active interest in their homework — it shows kids that what they do is important.
Of course, helping with homework shouldn't mean spending hours hunched over a desk. Parents can be supportive by demonstrating study and organization skills, explaining a tricky problem, or just encouraging kids to take a break. And who knows? Parents might even learn a thing or two!
Here are some tips to guide the way:
- Know the teachers — and what they're looking for. Attend school events, such as parent-teacher conferences, to meet your child's teachers. Ask about their homework policies and how you should be involved.
- Set up a homework-friendly area. Make sure kids have a well-lit place to complete homework. Keep supplies — paper, pencils, glue, scissors — within reach.
- Schedule a regular study time. Some kids work best in the afternoon, following a snack and play period; others may prefer to wait until after dinner.
- Help them make a plan. On heavy homework nights or when there's an especially hefty assignment to tackle, encourage your child break up the work into manageable chunks. Create a work schedule for the night if necessary — and take time for a 15-minute break every hour, if possible.
- Keep distractions to a minimum. This means no TV, loud music, or phone calls. (Occasionally, though, a phone call to a classmate about an assignment can be helpful.)
- Make sure kids do their own work. They won't learn if they don't think for themselves and make their own mistakes. Parents can make suggestions and help with directions. But it's a kid's job to do the learning.
- Be a motivator and monitor. Ask about assignments, quizzes, and tests. Give encouragement, check completed homework, and make yourself available for questions and concerns.
- Set a good example. Do your kids ever see you diligently balancing your budget or reading a book? Kids are more likely to follow their parents' examples than their advice.
- Praise their work and efforts. Post an aced test or art project on the refrigerator. Mention academic achievements to relatives.
- If there are continuing problems with homework, get help. Talk about it with your child's teacher. Some kids have trouble seeing the board and may need glasses; others might need an evaluation for a learning problem or attention disorder.
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Homework Tips for Parents

Homework is important, but helping children with homework isn't always easy. Here are some ways you can make homework easier for everyone!
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Study the same things in different ways and places.
Help your child learn about new words or content in a variety of ways. Talk about new vocabulary words several times over the course of the week, in different settings. This will help enrich your child's understanding of the word.
Mix up the study time
If your child prefers to do a little math, a little reading, a little word study and then back to math, that's okay! Mixing up the practice time may leave a greater impression on your learner.
Space out the learning
If your child has a big test coming up next week, help her study a little bit each day rather than cramming it in the night before. An hour or so every other day, spacing out the learning, is a better way to really learn the material.
Help your child get organized
Help your child pick out a special homework notebook or folder, and make sure your child has homework supplies, such as:
- writing paper
- a dictionary
Show your child that you think homework is important
Ask your child about her homework each day, and check to see that it is completed. Tell your child that you are proud of the work she is doing.
Help your child without doing the homework
It's important to answer questions if you can — but remember that homework is supposed to help children learn and that doing your child's homework does not help in the long run.
Talk with your child's teacher
Find out what the teacher's homework rules are. If your child has a problem completing or understanding homework, call or e-mail the teacher to talk about the issue.
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Motivating Children to Do Their Homework: Parent’s Guide (English and Spanish)
Description.
Your child gets home after a long day at school and you ask, “Do you have any homework?” Does your child complain and say something like, “Yes, but I don’t want to do it!” or “Yes, but it’s too hard”? What happens next? If you’re like many parents, you soon find yourself in an argument that may end in your child doing the homework, but you’re both mad.
Do you often wonder whether there’s a better way? The purpose of this guide is to show you how to motivate your child to do their homework in a peaceful, positive way. It is provided in English and in Spanish.
Homework 101: The Ultimate Guide for Students & Parents
Why do good people have to do unpleasant things? You surely have asked yourself this question a million times while slouching over a school assignment.

Did you know that 56% of students find homework the most stressful aspect of education ? It comes as no surprise: lack of motivation, spending too much or too little time on assignments, and making mistakes take the fun out of studying.
If you want to know how to do homework quickly, efficiently, and without suffering, keep reading this article by Custom-Writing.org . We’ll tell you how to stay on top!
- ✍️ Reasons to Do Homework
- ⌛ How Much Time to Spend on Homework
- 🔝 Ultimate List of Tips
- 👪 Bonus Tips for Parents
🔍 References
✍️ why should you do homework.
There must be a reason why such a pesky thing as homework exists, right? Right! Here’s what doing homework allows you to accomplish:
- Revisit your study materials.
- Prepare for upcoming classes.
- Boost your reputation by showing your teacher you work outside the classroom.
- Create useful habits.
- Avoid being grounded for slacking.
These are all excellent reasons why students should do their assignments. But that’s not all of it: keep reading to learn more.
Benefits of Homework
If you genuinely believe that it’s all about pointless suffering, check out this list and see how homework can actually benefit you :
Now you know that home assignments are not as bad as people think.
⌛ What’s the Right Amount of Time to Spend on Homework?
You probably think that nobody knows the answer to that, don’t you? Actually, here are some guidelines put together by professionals in the field of education. Check them out:
Many students find it hard to complete assignments within the mentioned timeframes. Some have personal problems to deal with; others simply get too much homework. Keep reading to learn how to cope with challenges and find some much-needed inspiration.
🔝 Ultimate List of Homework Tips
How to find motivation.
For many of us, the mere satisfaction of completing a task is not enough to get us through our homework routine. If you see yourself in this predicament, you may benefit from having an incentive . Let’s learn how to motivate yourself to do your tasks:
- Think hard about what you really look forward to. Is it having a Starbucks Frappuccino or a humongous slice of pizza? Or what if you reward yourself with a book from your favorite bookstore or a new piece of clothing? Tell yourself that you can get these things only if you put in enough hours and get your tasks done.
- Think of bigger-scale rewards and set a goal for the next semester. For example, if you manage to cope with your homework successfully week after week, you could reward yourself with that trip you’ve been saving up for. If you fail, well, here goes another summer without a vacation. Let that thought terrify you, and then immediately get started on that assignment!
Overcoming Difficulties
For some people, a lack of motivation is the only problem they face regarding homework. For others, there are many additional issues. Below, we’ve compiled a list of common difficulties and, most importantly, ways to overcome them:
Dealing with Homework Anxiety
Having poor memory and pretending to be The Flash while doing your homework is no big deal when dealing with a more serious problem: homework anxiety . This condition forces you to put off doing your homework for as long as possible, leading to more stress and anxiety. It’s a vicious cycle.
How do you recognize whether you have homework anxiety? Ask yourself:
If your answer to most or all of these questions is “yes”, you might be experiencing homework anxiety.
Reasons for this condition vary. For example, you may be an overly anxious person or a perfectionist, and the thought of failing scares you. There are many possibilities. But thankfully, there are also quite a few solutions that you can try:
- Set time limits. Knowing that you have set aside a particular amount of time may help with anxiety. Organizing your time better is an excellent idea if you struggle with starting or finishing things.
- Take breaks . Go for a brisk walk, take a coffee break, or listen to a song to take your mind off your assignments.
- If all else fails — seek help . There are professionals who can aid you in overcoming anxiety. If you feel like you can’t handle it alone, therapy might be worth a try.
Homework Planning & Scheduling
To overcome all the possible obstacles on your way to good grades and a stress-free life, you must manage your time efficiently . You will see that many things in life can become much more pleasant with the help of proper planning. Try following these simple steps to get started:

- Assess your entire workload for the day or the week before you start doing the tasks.
- Now you can set your priorities correctly . Which assignment can be done quickly? Which ones will require thorough research and analysis? Don’t forget to take the deadline into account!
- Once you know what you need to do and how to order your tasks, devise your final plan and develop a routine that will help you succeed. You will inevitably need to make adjustments, but eventually, you will find the best way. Try checking completed tasks off a list—instant gratification works wonders!
- Make sure you’ve designated a time and a place for doing your homework . People often underestimate the importance of their workspace as a part of their success. Don’t plop yourself down on the couch between a box of unfinished pizza and a pile of laundry. Instead, clean up your desk, gather everything you might need, and start studying.
How to Understand Your Assignments
Understanding your assignment is a big deal. If you take the wrong turn at the beginning of the path, you probably won’t get to your destination. The same goes for your homework—if you misinterpret the assignment, you are not likely to get a good grade.
But here’s the trick. Pay attention to these words when reading the task; they will indicate exactly what you must do:
How to Break Assignments Down
Another critical element to avoiding homework stress is knowing how to approach daunting assignments . It is easy to get discouraged by the size of a task and to keep postponing it until it shrinks. But here’s the catch: it won’t.
Instead of hoping for a magical solution, here’s what you can do:
- Make a list of your assignments. Grab a sheet of paper and write down everything you’re expected to do and when you’re supposed to turn it in.
- Decide what’s easy to do and what’s not. Start with the easy stuff, and get it out of the way. You’ll start to feel that much-needed inspiration before tackling the tricky assignments.
- Break your homework into manageable parts. The easy parts may consist of a few smaller tasks, while the difficult ones will consist of a single time-consuming or challenging task.
- Take a break after each session. If you start early enough, you can afford to take time to rest. Pauses are good for productivity and your overall mood.
How to Do Homework Quickly
We’ve already explained how to plan your homework, prioritize assignments, and reward yourself for completing tasks. While all of these are great strategies, it’s also essential that your homework doesn’t take forever and, more importantly, is done on time.
Here are a few little hacks to save you time and help you be more efficient:
Finally, the best way to do assignments quickly is to learn how to focus on homework . The less you get distracted, the more work gets done in a short amount of time.
How to Take Productive Breaks
Taking breaks here and there can be more efficient and comfortable than working on your assignment for 5 hours straight. Some ways to rest are better than others ; let’s have a closer look.
Getting Homework Assistance
Homer Simpson once said: “You tried your best and failed miserably. The lesson is: never try.” We’re here to tell you not to trust Homer! The real lesson is: if you have tried everything and nothing works, try again. And if sometimes you just can’t do it on your own—get help.
Aside from asking your parents to help you, here are a few more ways to get assistance:
- Ask your teacher for help. Your teacher should be your go-to person when you need to ask for advice regarding your homework. You’re not being unfair to your fellow students by approaching your teacher with questions.
- Become part of a study group or find a study buddy. You can ask questions or have a go at explaining something to other students. Working with another person is a great way to measure your understanding and practice alternative memorization techniques. With a few good laughs, homework will no longer be the torture it once was.
- Consider finding a tutor. A private teacher may be just what you need. Some work for free, even though you’re more likely to find those who charge hourly payments.
- Go to a tutoring center. These centers are known for helping students improve academically. Why not take advantage of them?
6 Best Homework Apps to Use
Last but not least, let’s take a look at various study apps designed to help struggling students. These are not considered cheating since they don’t do the homework for you. Instead, they help you organize your time, set your priorities, memorize the material, and stay on track. Here are the best ones:
- Flashcards Deluxe This is an extremely powerful memorization tool with everything at your fingertips. It allows you to create decks of flashcards for any subject or use the ones made by other students. Download the app from AppStore, PlayMarket, and Amazon for $3.99.
- Chegg apps The possibilities are endless with this group of apps. They boast over 500 million flashcards, plus you can create your own. They also offer homework help, test preparation, and simplified topic explanations. Subscription starts at $14.95 a month.
- Popplet Visual learners will benefit most from this app. You can build mind maps of literally anything to memorize things more easily. The layout is easy to navigate, even for the youngest students. It is also available in any language. Users of iOS can get it for $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year.
- StayOnTask The name of this one explains everything—it helps you stay on task. If you get distracted easily, you will like this app because it regularly reminds you to keep working. Besides, it is free, which makes it even better. Available on Android.
- iHomework 2 This app is a planner that does not let you loaf around. You can organize assignments, add them to your calendar, set reminders, and track your grades. Available on the App Store.
- Google Workspace for Education Google created this suite of tools to facilitate communication and learning for teachers and students. It contains many great tools which are particularly useful for making notes on the go, setting reminders, and keeping track of assignments. The workspace is free for schools; paid subscriptions are available for everyone.
👪 Bonus Homework Tips for Parents
If you’re a parent of a kid struggling with homework and don’t know how to help—these tips are for you:
- Communicate with the teachers. They will tell you about your child’s grades, progress, and areas where they need to improve. Furthermore, teachers can help you better understand the assignments your child receives and how to tackle them best.
- Provide support. More often than not, your child needs your wisdom and kindness, not nagging and reproach. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s okay for you to complete their assignments for them!
- Show interest. Make your child feel like they’re doing something fascinating and that you care about it. If you show that homework is an exciting activity from the get-go, they may think so too.
- Notice struggles. Things will be difficult sometimes. Your task as a parent is to be able to recognize those difficulties and help your child overcome them.
- Use positive reinforcement. “Timmy, you’re grounded until you finish your math assignment” is not a good approach. “Timmy, if you finish your math assignment, I will let you have a sleepover” is much better. Don’t threaten—entice! And remember always to give praise where praise is due.
And here’s how you can set your child up for homework success depending on their age group:
We hope that everyone can find something useful in this ultimate homework guide. Let us know what your favorite homework tip is in the comment section. We wish you good luck, and remember that it’s okay to ask for help if you’re experiencing problems!
- How Much Homework Is Too Much?: National Education Association
- Homework Tips: Advocates for Children of New York
- Handling Your Homework: Time Saving Tips: College Vine
- 8 Easy Ways to Finish Your Homework Faster: The Princeton Review
- 8 Handy Homework & Study Apps: ADDtitude
- 7 Apps That Can Do Your Homework Much Faster Than You: Time
- Homework Challenges and Strategies: Understood
- How to Do Your Homework: Cuesta College
- 10 Tips to Make Homework Time Less Painful: Psychology Today
- Schoolwork-Related Anxiety: OECD iLibrary
- Tips for Helping Your Child Focus and Concentrate: PBS.org
- Movement and Learning: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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A Parent’s Guide To Homework

The completion of homework is an issue in many families with parents having difficulty getting their children to initiate and complete homework. However, before we endeavour to provide you with a parents guide to homework, there are some important issues to be aware of.
Homework ought to be a purposeful learning experience directly related to the work done in the classroom. It should be interesting and stimulating. Parents can act as a guide in the homework so kids can get the most out of it.
A guide for homework time
How much homework your little one is doing depends on their age. This time frame is just a guide and can change depending on class assignments and other curriculum based assessments.
Kindergarten: no structured homework Years 1–2: up to 15 minutes, 3-4 nights per week Years 3-4: up to 30 minutes, 3-4 nights per week Years 5-6: up to 40 minutes, 3-4 nights per week Years 7-9: up to 2 hours, 3-4 nights per week Years 10-12: up to 3 hours, 4-5 nights per week and on weekends.
It is essential to remember that children work a long day at school and it is absolutely essential that they have time for free play.
An important goal of education is to instil in children a love of learning. Homework can negate this if children come to see it as a necessary evil.
A Helping with Homework
This is what you’ve come here for – the parent’s guide to homework – but remember that each child is different and you might need to make some changes to how you guide your child’s homework journey.
- Take an interest in your child’s schoolwork and homework.
- Make yourself aware of your child’s homework requirements.
- Ensure your child has a quiet and comfortable place to work.
Getting Organised
- Encourage your child to use a diary to record homework tasks.
- Make sure materials such as pens, scissors, dictionary, etc. are at hand.
- Discuss with your child the regular evening routine and negotiate dinner time, homework time, television time, etc.
Study Time (for older students)
- Have a wall calendar with major assignments, tests, etc. on it.
- Work out a weekly study timetable around other family events (pin this on the wall too.)
- Daily work should come directly from the homework diary.
Procrastination and Time Wasters
- Avoid putting off starting by having a set starting time.
- Have your child schedule something easy and/or enjoyable for the beginning of the study session.
- Identify time wasters (e.g. television, internet, computer games, riding bike, phone calls, etc.) and negotiate with your child other times to do these things (revise timetable).
- Praise and reward your child for self discipline in getting started and doing homework.
- Beware – by constantly harassing the parent with questions and continually seeking assistance, a child can usually get the parent to almost do all the homework!
Learning Links is here to help
If our parent’s guide to home has still left you with questions, Learning Links runs a number of specialised tutoring services that will work in partnership with your child’s homework journey. Send us a message and we can start a conversation with your about our specialised tutoring.
Related Content:
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10 Top Homework Tips for Parents
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