Homework, Y8. Where and how does your DS do his?

[LittenTree]

Now, I should point out I am talking 'normal' comprehensive school stylee homework, here, and a moderately committed but reasonably clever DS!

I say this as I am aware there are a lot of MNetters whose DCs get in from school at 4.30 (6 pm on rugby/swimming eve), have a snack then take to their rooms til 7, come down for dinner, back up from 7.30-9.30pm to 'complete' their prep, half hour's reading, shower, bed.......

Whereas mine usually has one or 2 topics a night which should take maybe an hour all up, but this is where the ishoo arises. A lot of DS's h/w happens on the family computer which is, largely for internet security reasons, in the lounge. I will read with/help with homework etc with DS2 (Y6) at the dining table and through the open double doors is DS1 on the computer in the lounge. Trouble is, if either DS1 is dawdling or has a fair bit of h/w (usually the former!), he can let it go on and on for 2 hours. Not struggling in particular, lots of attention wandering and so on. Yes, I do do 'the threat' of 'OK, 15 more mins, whatever's not finished I'm signing off as unfinished so you may get a DT for incompletion tomorrow!' But I tire of having to threaten an almost 13 year old.

Him being in the lounge means that no one else can relax in there with anything noisy, like the TV or radio, or even chatting, which we are finding a bit limiting, esp if I am rewarding good work in DS2 with TV or 'computer time'.

DS1 will be getting a laptop for his 13th birthday BUT- do I send him upstairs to his room to do his h/w with it? Esp as we have Wifi. WILL he be more likely to 'get on with it' undistracted? OR am I encouraging the disengagement of the teenaged boy?

WWYD? WDYD?!

[cricketballs]

I have always had a rule that when homework/revision has to be done, then it is downstairs with the TV off. The youngest DS is used to this rule in place for his brother and will find other things to do (reading, playing with toys) whilst dh and I will do chores etc. Down time with the TV/computer etc is after work is finished.

If DS2 has been given computer time as a reward, then invest in some earphones and sit DS1 away from screen view

[Milliways]

Both mine had laptops and did their homework in their bedrooms (asking friends for help via MSN, facebook etc!). They both tended to make a start soon after getting home.

[Theas18]

My kids have laptops in rooms from about 15. Otherwise net access ( and so homework) is/ was in the lounge. With an adult bumbling around just showing an interest - and rarely , yes " if you don't get finished in the next 15 mins I'll email school and tell them you spent 2 hrs on a 30 min task".

None computer work is done in her room by the 12 yr old with the radio on- usually radio 4 extra - my kids have inherited my strange tastes!!

I am really really not happy for them to spend " homework" on msn/fbook " getting help from mates" ..... Clearly I'm an old fogey.

I'm sure the bigger 2 chat away to mates etc but I hope/ believe they have enough grip over time management and the importance of producing your own work etc so I leave them to it.

[notatigermother]

DS1 always got on with his homework very efficiently and with minimal supervision. DS2 however is a completely different story, very similar to OP's. Seems to spend hours on the pc "doing homework" but what is produced is clearly something that he could have done in less than 20 mins. Most of the time is spent faffing around on social networks etc.

I changed the rules and now he has to do all online homework on the laptop in the kitchen whilst I am cooking. Everything else is done at his desk in his room, but nothing in the sitting room or any other rooms where his siblings might be chilling out etc

[Asterisk]

Litten Tree -- enjoyed your 'near miss' on the Offers Day board. Thank goodness your subconscious was working in your favour. I think you're doing exactly the right thing by having homework done downstairs. But you must carry out your threat to sign off as unfinished otherwise your DS is just going to carry on procrastinating. You'll probably only have to do it once.

[LittenTree]

Yes, you're right about the threat 'carry-through'. I think it's the way his, well, indolence and lackadaisical approach to some, if not all his homework that effectively prevents anyone else using either the PC or the TV that I am finding annoying.

To be honest, I'm a leetle bit irritated with the school- he can get up to 15 pieces of work a week but, shortly before Xmas, this had dwindled and dwindled to the point he maybe got 3 pieces a week so the impetus to do it and the routine thereby engendered fell by the wayside. The HoY clamped down on the teachers a bit so he is getting a bit more now!

As for my Admissions near miss- you know in cartoons where the supine body in the bed suddenly sits bolt upright, bending at the waist, eyes popping? That was me!