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MNHQ

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

237 replies

AngelieMumsnet · 09/09/2014 13:06

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

OP posts:
wasfield · 19/09/2014 16:48

I dread homework more than they do. I have to admit my older DC has got better as he has got older and will get on with it on his own but will have to be prompted to actually do it. My younger DC makes a huge fuss, refuses to listen to helpful suggestions but will not do it without constant supervision and help. She is rude and awful throughout the whole process and it is not a pleasurable experience at all.

ChaffinchOfMegalolz · 19/09/2014 21:50

my two have seen their homework increase a lot this year, spellings, times tables, a lot of memorising stuff

I could've done with some ideas from teacher about how to teach and get stuff committed to memory, have twigged a way for times tables using coins so they are visualised too...

it's very hard to fit in stuff with tired 6 y/olds, on top of after school activities. Hope it gets easier as they get older and don't need me for every single piece!

Oblomov · 20/09/2014 10:53

So it's unanimous then?
We all hate it and resent it?

Ds1 is in year 6, so we have had years if it. Because I rarely have to do it, I actually quite enjoy it. One year, He had to do a project on food. He hated all the writing I made him do. I loved cutting out pictures if steak and pasta and sticking them in. I loved using prit-stick!!

The flowing year I cut up a huge padded foam may thing into a shield and painted it red yellow white and black.

I enjoyed it because it took all of a few minutes.

This year, with ds2 we were sent a list of compulsory homework.
Drawing a map of their route to school (6 mums told me their children had absolute meltdowns over this) , and a pirate ship (dh is mid construction - I designated this task to him).

I decided I would paint it. So long as my kids provide something, so as not to be teased / singled out, I don't care.

I refuse to enter into this bike competitive nastiness.

I will be taking said pirate ship into school, in a black bin liner. Deliberately do that no one can see it.
I will deliberately be there last minute , so as to not have to comment on anyone else's.
The poster re the chess pieces really made me laugh. So true.

What's the point? What are the children learning here? The whole system is vile and the parents hate it, so why are we being forced?

Oblomov · 20/09/2014 10:57

I have always done nightly reading and helped will all spelling tests, spag, sats prep etc. They sit and do it and I hover, and help if necessary.

Every night, once we've got home, had a snack, watched a bit if tv, and relaxed, I then ask what their homework is and just get on with it.
Before dinner. It's the only way I can manage.

stupidgirlNo1 · 20/09/2014 16:06

With my son I talk to him about his home work.He does it himself.In his school homework are given on Fridays and returned on following Wednesdays.I make sure homework is returned on Mondays.I sit with him,just to oversee his work on neatness and relevant to the questions.

hiddenmichelle · 20/09/2014 16:12

I find its like pulling teeth just to get them to sit down. Once they are sitting they want to do the bear minimum unless it is something that particularly interests them. I plod on though!

TracyKNixon · 20/09/2014 16:46

My four are all at primary school and being a qualified primary school teacher myself I have no problems with their homework because I know the curriculum by heart and have the skills to help them understand what they have to do or learn. I will find it harder once they leave primary school though!

badgermum · 20/09/2014 16:46

I sit at the table with my 8 year old and help him start his homework then once he's happy and knows what he has to do I get on with something else.

sarahann1984 · 20/09/2014 16:49

For me, it has been a wonderful bonding experience. We really enjoy Latin (which thankfully, my university degree is in). I create flash cards and games.

maryandbuzz1 · 20/09/2014 16:51

We always tried to instill a positive work ethic towards homework, sitting somewhere that is quiet(usually the dining room table), making sure we had everything needed, getting it done early rather than at the last minute (obviously dependent on after school clubs and activities) and not keeping the session too long with a period of relaxation before beginning.

babirainbow · 20/09/2014 16:53

my sons in year 2 but doesn't get homework! ..At the start of each term they send home a topic overview with a few homework suggestions. This term, is fairytales and as a 6year old boy im not getting far at convincing him to do any of them! He does do reading and writing with me but our own stuff not sent from school, atm his fave is to write reviews of computer games lol

DJASKEW · 20/09/2014 16:59

I try and help with maths equations, although I find them very difficult myself. My son gets very frustrated and can lead to loss of self esteem without the assistance, so I have to make time...

glennamy · 20/09/2014 17:09

My DD is very confident and does most of her homework without asking for help. On the odd occasion I have been asked, it is to do with Math, which is my favourite subject. If it was grammer, I would struggle as I attended school when it was dropped (seriously) from the curriculem by the ILEA at that time and not deemed important. ;0(

Leiajulie · 20/09/2014 17:17

i enjoy helping with their homework and often look on the internet afterwards to learn more about it myself

becky004 · 20/09/2014 17:18

My son is high functioning autistic, homework has always been a major issue which resulted in major tantrums.
He has just started comprehensive school, so the homework has increased tenfold, I bought a desk for his room, to help him keep organised but that hasn't worked, his books are all over the house!
He prefers to work alone and then I check it, or he'll ask if he requires help. We do have a small routine, he comes home, has tea then starts on his work, he is so easily distracted though, and being reminded constantly starts the tantrums again. We have no issue with maths,reading or art as he likes those, is everything else.
I think a homework club for an hour after school, would give less distraction, and a better more structured environment for it to be done. He did have homework club in primary school, only 30 minutes a week, but if he didn't do it at home it was done there.
I think it would also help the teachers who struggle to get certain pupils to do homework, and it would mean problems would be spotted early to stop children falling behind. Are over 30 teachers in his school, would mean they had to stay later for one night every 6 weeks or so, on the day they run they homework club maybe they could start an hour later so their hours don't increase. Probably not that simple, but am sure it wouldn't be too difficult to set up.

helenthemadex · 20/09/2014 17:28

my girls go to homework club after school there is a teacher there to help them if they have any queries, usually they finish it all thank god.

I was finding when they were doing it at home it was about an hour before they would actually settle and do it after snacks, numerous trips to the toilet etcetc and then they would have forgotten what they needed to do it was absolute torture, subjects like maths are taught differently now so it was hard to help

libra101 · 20/09/2014 17:28

My son failed his GCSE when first attempting it, and later decided to have another attempt at night school.

To help him, not being a maths genius, I read his Maths textbook and worked out the questions myself. We then went through them together and managed to understand what was required.

Team work helped enormously - he gained a C!

katieskatie1982 · 20/09/2014 17:32

my son is only 6 so homework is very little at the moment. However, he does have a reading book once a week. I love listening to him and helping him read. Seeing how well he is learning and how much better his reading is becoming is amazing.

Mistyblue01 · 20/09/2014 17:41

I recall my daughter struggling with percentages so I showed her the method I knew. She exclaimed that they are not allowed to do them that way, despite the fact that my way was getting the correct answers and her way wasn't.

Ganne · 20/09/2014 17:47

We were always there for advice, but tried to leave them to it. Finding good software and books helped, plus educational visits to historical sites and museums at weekends. At least they seemed to enjoy it. But we never had any problems with their hating homework.

easter1965 · 20/09/2014 18:06

With each of my 5 children I have encouraged them to do homework. With my first son it was easy when he was young but as he grew older his homework started to be quite advanced, I have A Level maths but soon found out that it didn't really mean much as maths techniques had changed over the years so found myself struggling to help him properly, eventually as each of my children got older we would sit together and make it fun, older ones would help as they knew more of what the younger ones needed and the young ones I think felt it was a lot more 'Cooler' for brother and sister to help that 'Mom'. I also found that doing the homework straight away on the evening they bought it home was easier and better for them. The work was fresh in their minds from what they had studied at school and it was also done and dusted and they could go onto their leisurely activities but leaving the homework a few days I found meant they were forgetful and wasn't as fresh in their minds.

emmav6 · 20/09/2014 18:10

i never know if it's right to correct them or to let them make mistakes for the teacher to see.

sugar1975 · 20/09/2014 18:13

I am very involved with my childrens homework and so is their dad! I have a child in infants and a child in last year primary. Their homework is always set on a Friday and it can be a variation of maths, english, arts & crafts or reading and playing games. During the week it is reading and spellings. I will always encourage them to research their work on their own where possible, helping out when they need it! Even I get stuck at times and need to google things! We don't put homework down as a chore but an enjoyable time that doesn't need to be stressful!

PloddingDaily · 20/09/2014 18:17

I've recently changed my work pattern to better support DS as he moves into KS2. I have a DD inKS 1 too, & it is really hard to juggle both fairly & feel like they are both getting quality learning time. It's very frustrating when DS takes twice as long to do something as it needs, simply because he 'doesn't want to' so we end up wrangling for ages until he knuckles down...he's bright enough, just doesn't want to do homework! Hmm
I am hoping as we settle into the new routine, things will get easier...

Cailin7 · 20/09/2014 18:19

DS's are in Y2 and Y4 High School, do not get much homework, think they should get more. Generally tackle on their own and ask for our help when stuck.