Talk to Explore Learning about helping your DCs with their homework - you could win a £250 Love2Shop voucher NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

We've been asked by Mumsnet Family Friendly Innovation Award winners, Explore Learning, to find out about Mumsnetters' experiences with helping their DCs with their homework.

Explore Learning say "As a tuition provider, it's our aim to teach children skills that are directly transferable to the classroom, and give them confidence to tackle their work at school (we don't set any extra homework for our members to do). We also aim to reduce the stress for parents at homework time, and would like to find out more about what would make lives easier for mums and dads when it comes to helping or encouraging their kids."

So, how - if at all - do you help your DCs with their homework? Do you sit with them while they work on it? Or if your DCs are older, do you just leave them to it? What are the challenges when it comes to homework? When's the best time to tackle it? Are there any subjects which you find it harder to help your DCs with? Where's the best place to do it in your home?

Whatever your experiences of helping your DCs with their homework, Explore Learning would love to hear about it.

Every MNer who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw, where one winner will receive a £250 Love2Shop voucher.

Please note your comments may be included on Explore Learning's social media channels, and possibly elsewhere, so please only post if you're comfortable with this.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

My two (9 & 7) normally only have homework once a week which they do in homework club every Thursday. When they have extra, or don't go to homework club, they do it sat with me in the room but I don't give any help unless I'm asked. Reading is done every evening, Monday - Friday.

I have found the best time is around an hour after school. Any earlier and it's too near to school time, later and they are too tired.

As my girls are getting older, I find they are best left to it, to be honest. Just occasional prompting to get on with it, and showing an interest/making sure you're there for any guidance - any more than that can sometimes turn into an argument!

Mine have both preferred to be left largely to their own devices, though the younger boy at 11 is prone to last-minute 'questions' (aka demands for answers) if he has forgotten to keep up with his French diary. I'd very much like to interfere more in the matter of presentation, but unless my brains are required for immediate picking I'm usually left with the impression that parental involvement is off the menu.

DD is 6yo in year 2. She is set a homework task every Monday to be in by Friday. They are also expected to online reading and maths and also to read every day. We simply don't have time to do everything that is expected. But we read a book every day and we do the homework and we do the online stuff as and when we can.

I have to make DD sit down and do the homework, as at 6yo she is not responsible enough to remember that it has to be done, or to know that she has to do it

Homework is optional, here, too. I refuse to spend family time stressing over schoolwork. My son is happy to do it, so far, and I like to sit with him. So, so far, so good! :)

Im a mother of five so I have to help with the young ones thats three of them.I sit down with all of them.not do their homework but go through it with them.explaining nd making sure each tasks is done to the best of their ability.

DD1 is only 5 but I find the best time to do homework is first thing in the morning and straight after tea. She only has reading, spellings and mathletics to do at this stage. Reading we do everyday, spellings three nights a week and mathletics once a fortnight. She is one of the youngest in her class, but seems to take homework in her stride.

By creating a calm environment without distraction to do homework in

We've just had our first ever homework from school which is to go on a letter and word hunt
Do it every day on the way to and from school and we are loving it

At the moment, my daughter is only young (3 years old) so her homework tends to be reading books when she gets home, which we love to do. When she is older though we are going to get a routine of doing homework when she gets home and sitting down with her and making the time.

DCs are 5 (we have twins)
Just reading hw at the moment and it is done the moment they get in from school.

After that the evening is for relaxing!

DCs are 3 and 5, so we're in the early days of homework and they need my help. I must admit to being a bit last minute with these things, but I try to allow plenty of time and we settle down at the dining table to do it. Challenges wise - my DCs attend a Welsh school and I'm only a fairly recent learner, so helping them with their reading etc, has been a bit of a challenge!