How to Make Homework Fun

If you have children who have started school or will soon be beginning school, you may see common difficulties as your child starts to navigate homework, readings, and other small responsibilities. Try these tips on how to help make homework fun and ease your child’s struggles!

Join Them

There are multiple benefits to joining your child while they do homework. Children may feel more comfortable having support and feel accountable to remain focused while their parents are present. It can be great for bonding with your child, and it is beneficial to observe them, so you can be aware of their school levels.

It can be hard to take the time out of a busy day to sit with your child, but it is important to remember that joining them does not mean doing it for them. If you are able to, it can be a great moment to sit and do your own tasks with them. This will also let your children learn by example, and it will show them how to get work done. A lot of children love to mimic and act like their parents, and working side by side with them, can be an enjoyable experience.

Learn Their Learning Style

Learning styles are a great way to find out how your child might engage better. Different children's styles include: visual, verbal, logical, auditory, social, intrapersonal, physical, and naturalistic. You can start by observing your child’s day-to-day tasks, and it can also be beneficial to communicate with their teachers to get a better sense of their school habits. Once you build a set of principal behaviours and interests, you can begin to try different activities during homework time to keep them engaged.

For example, if you find that your children enjoy videos and pictures, they may find it more fun and attractive to draw their readings or watch videos about their homework topic.

Playing games while doing homework will keep children having fun while learning. These can be targeted towards their different learning styles, or can be a great way to introduce difficult topics explained through their favourite game. One simple way to begin games is by role-playing. You can let them role-play as the teacher and have them teach you instead.

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You can learn about more different learning styles here: https://www.furthered.ca/single-post/what-is-your-learner-style

Focus on their environment

Having a designated homework space for your child lets them build a mind-body relationship with their environment. It can help them remain focused and encourages them to in corporate their school work into their space. Homework spaces can look different for every household and children, so make sure to include them in the decision.

Try decorating with their favourite colours and catering it to them, so they feel enticed to join in. Homework space and time can also be interactive! If you find that your child works well in groups or with a partner, it would be a great idea to schedule study dates or look into after school activities where they might thrive better. If the weather is nice, maybe suggest doing homework outside or spend some time at your local library if they show interest in it.

Use Homework Apps

As technology makes its way into schools, there is no reason why it can’t be beneficial for other school tasks like homework. There are various online apps that can assist with homework duties, from organization to interactive activities. This can work for parents to review and track their children’s developments, as well as create a fun motivation towards their school tasks. A great online app is Khan Academy Kids App—it has multiple resources with varying topics, so they can be matched to your child’s learning needs. It has a homework tracking feature, access to videos, games and printables, and so much more. Best of all, it is 100% free!