Tips to help children with homework

What you need to know:

PRICELESS. As school resumes, Pauline Bangirana sounded out parents on how to help children with homework.

It is just a week into the school term and to some parents, I am certain you have already been consulted by your children to help them with their homework. In some schools the child is given homework daily or on specific days. Regardless of the days the child brings homework, he or she needs help with it.
Badru Senkungu, a business- man and father of three shares. “when I go back home I make sure we do homework first before going to bed. We do it hand in hand with them while reading questions then we all give our answers”.

Fiona Mbabazi, a mother of two, says her children love their gadgets and as such, “I take the gadgets away from them and they do their homework immediately they get home.” Mbabazi further shares that there is a strict rule she implemented that restricts the children from accessing TV before they finish their homework. “They endeavour to complete their homework in time so that they can be able to watch their favourite TV programme.”
However, this is just one parent, what happens when your children have to finish their homework and yet get to bed early enough so that they are up in time to prepare themselves for school?

Sania Nagadya, a teacher and mother of two, says she lets the kids to attempt what they can and then guide them where they go wrong and give them similar questions to see if they have understood.
Schools, too, are helping in ensuring that children finish their homework and also find time to relax. Some schools leave room for a parent to sign the homework of their child to prove that every question has been attempted. This helps you manage the homework because you are monitoring the progress of your child and how quick they cope in class.

“I remind my child to do their homework immediately he gets home as I discourage him from doing any other activity before he finishes his homework. Thus, when he wants to play or take a cup of tea, he will first attempt his homework. When he does it poorly, I let him finish it until I cross check and certify that it has been properly done, then I let him do what he wants,” Winnie Namusobya, a mother of three, says. In other instances, Namusobya shares that since she lives in an apartment that has a group of children with various ages, she lets his sons consult with the older children in upper classes so that they can help them with the numbers they find difficult.

There are various ways you can help your child manage their homework. Let them look at it as a revision method and you can attempt it with them when they have finished filling in all the answers. In case of mistakes, you help them correct them.
Melissa Katushabe, a businesswoman, does the work with her child. “As she reads out the questions, I ask her for the answers and then when it is right, I encourage her to fill it in her homework paper.”
I have fallen culprit to internet children to manage their homework. I turn to Google for answers. Regardless of the approach, as a parent, always ensure you help your child manage their homework in time.

When children hate homework.
Julius Kimuli, a teacher at Kampala Quality Primary School says a child may hate homework because:
They might not know the value of homework
Lack guidance from parents
Negative attitude due to mistreatment
Way forward
Encourage children and tell them the importance of homework
Monitor their homework; have they done it or not and how?
Create a good pupil-parent –teacher relationship. The teacher knows the problem and will advise the parent on how to handle the situation.