Rewards for homework for 7yr old boy (that doesn't cost the earth!)

[zenia]

I am having real trouble getting my 7 yr old ds to do his homework, he has 20mins a night of either maths, english, geography or history & 10 mins a night of reading plus spellings & tables to learn all week. He is fine when doing it (when not tired) but it is such a fight to get him sat down and getting on with it. I want him to do it after tea, to get it out of the way, but he always ends up doing it at the last minute. We have terrible rows about it, and I hate myself for going on at him. Any ideas please?

Does he do the football sticker books?

If so, a packet of stickers costs about 30p (Maybe 50p... DS1 doesn't collect them anymore).

What does he like doing? What are his interests?

He loves his gameboy/playstation (games cost approx £30) so not great for every week! He collects yu-gi-oh cards, I normally buy him a small pack once every couple of weeks, but they are about "2.50 a pack, so can't afford every day. He loves riding his bike and drawing.

Can you trade homework done for time on the computer?

I think it might be best to get him to do it straight away when he gets in from school, otherwise it kind of hangs over them!

So deal is homework - then play, tea, play then bed.

How about friend over to tea on Fridays if all homework done straight away without fuss!

One tip that one mum at DD's school uses is to set a timer for 20mins so that they have a finite time to do the work, rather then mucking about!

I would try not to row about it (easier said than done I know) but jsut say - oh well, I won't be able to sign off hte homework book tonight - I'll leave it for your teacher to decide how serious that is!

Oh well - game boy/playstation time is the bargaining tool!

Lock it away and it only comes out if he has finished his homework before the timer goes off

Yes I do tell him he will have to tell the teacher why he hasn't done it, then I feel terrible. I do try the homework first thing and it still ends in a fight, so I figure if i bribe him with something each day it will be a whole lot easier. Just can't think what to give, that doesn't cost a fortune.

I will get a timer though, as he is always pointing out the teacher says only spend 20 mins on it, we lose track of time and he ends up finishing his homework every time, and I am sure it takes him longer than the 20 mins sometimes.

The thing is I have banned playstation until weekends as it causes fights between him and his brother and they end up spending all evening on it before bed. It was giving my youngest nightmares!

Zenia - I think you have to use something that you know will matter to him - and that is definately the game boy!

It will be a tussle for the first couple of days until he realises you are deadly serious about not getting to play with it until homework is done!

In the long run though, they settle so easily into routines as long as the boundaries are clear. He is only 7 and you are hte boss

I think soapbox's suggestion is brilliant.

We all need to find our child's currency and use it.

I let DS1 have 30mins down time on arriving home. Then homework, tea, PSP time or whatever else he wants to do. He does his homework on the night it is set thereby leaving his weekends free. He is in Year 8 (senior school) and so gets about 40mins a night. Love the timer idea and will use it for the ones that are in Primary school still. Top tip!

Sorry x-posted.

OK, so he gets gameboy/PS during the week as a reward for doing his homework for 20 mins a night. Timer put on straight after homework done.

So routine is, home from school - 20 mins homework, 10 mins spelling, 20 mins GB/PS then tea and play. No PS/GB after tea.

DS2 can earn 20 mins GB/PS while DS1 doing homework by setting the table, and making his bed (or some other noddy task)

I will buy a timer tomorrow, do you not think it's bad for them to play the games every night?

Not if it gets the homework done without a fuss!

And 20mins strictly enforced is okay, I think

Yes I think maybe that will have to be the solution then, thanks for your help. I will let you know how it goes!

My ds's absolutely adore their xbox and computers but they know that they are forbidden to turn them on until their homework gets done. Well, actually they a re only allowed them at weeeknds, so during the week they aren't allowed on the trampoline til it's done.

No discussion, no other bribery needed.

can he do it before tea? i know this sounds a little insane so bare with me - but, i reckon the evening starts after tea, so if you have tea at 6 - finished for 6.30 then all evening is available.

but there is a twilight time between coming home from school at 3.30 - 4.00 and 6pm. 5-6 your proly busy making the tea so i reckon before they get "de-schooled" for the day. sit them down to do homework before tea. they are tired after tea and after a long day at school.

also with the bribery - i wouldnt give something for doign what hes supposed to. hes supposed to do it and thats that. i would ban tv game boy and anything else from 3.30 - after tea.

get homework done - then teach them how to play poker or draw a picture with them or something. i guarentee your time and affection beats the shit out of spiderman2 on the gameboy