Everyday, Nikita has to force her son Akshay to do his homework. She has to check his school books to see what his assignments are. Then, she has to cajole or threaten him to get him started. "Akshay does not get that much homework but if I do not check his books, he will just leave everything pending", she says. Nikita wishes there was some way to make sure that her son did his homework, without having to be pushed.

There's something about homework that makes children turn away, and drives parents crazy. Children will try to do whatever they can to avoid doing their assignments. However, helping your child to do his daily homework need not be such a tiresome affair. It just requires a little planning.

The Right Attitude

The key to avoiding homework headaches is to cultivate a good attitude towards it. Parents often view homework as an inconvenience. This leads to children who also think that homework is a waste of time. You need to make him understand that his homework is important for him to improve his learning skills. If your child knows that you care about his education, he is more likely to do his homework.

Have a Definite Time

Your child will find it easier to do his homework if he has a specific time schedule for it. If your child knows that his homework time is approaching, he can mentally prepare himself. Make homework a part of your child's daily activities. The time you choose should also depend on your child. For example, one child may concentrate better in the late afternoon while another may be more comfortable in the evening. Avoid having your child do his homework after dinner or late at night. Your child will usually be tired at this time and will not be able to focus on his homework.

Choose a Particular Place

While the right frame of mind is important to get started, having a dedicated place to study helps as well. Your child's study area should ideally be a quiet place, with good lighting. If possible, try to get your child a desk of his own. A study area does not always have to be in the bedroom. Some children may be quite content to sit at the dining table or in one section of the living room. Any place is fine as long as it works for your child.

Once your child has decided upon his study place, he can personalise it a bit. For example, he can put up a few of his paintings on the walls. He can also make a holder to keep his pens, pencils, erasers, etc. These can help to make his study area look more inviting.

Prevent Distractions

The next step to helping your child focus is to make a note of potential distractions and devise ways to deal with them. Younger children will most likely be distracted by the television while older children may have to deal with phone calls. If your child is studying in the same room as the television, make sure it is switched off during homework time. If your child's friends call up, politely explain that your child cannot come to the phone right now, unless it is related to an assignment.

Music is another potential distraction. However, this will again depend on your child. Some children find it easier to concentrate on their studies if there is some soft music playing in the background. On the other hand, rock music is likely to disrupt his concentration. Allowing your child to listen to music while he is studying should be at your discretion.

Homework helps to reinforce what your child learns at school. Therefore, it is an important part of his education. If your child does his homework regularly, you will also start noticing an improvement in his performance at school.