Homework: Helping Out
Without Freaking Out
Presentation by:
Donna Novak, Psy.D.
Fulton Psychological Group
October 8, 2013
Ivy Academia Parent Night
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Group
• Individual Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Parent Training
• Family Therapy
• Couples Therapy
• Psychological Testing
• Psychiatry
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Where to Begin
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Creating Consistency
Proper Study Area(s)
Get it Done on Time
Your Child Does Their Own Work
Praise
Ideas that Work
Communication
Action is Stronger than Words
Working with the Teacher
Common Problems
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Homework Battles
Do any of these situations occur in your home?
• You and your children have nightly battles about doing
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homework.
Your children rush through homework assignments, with
sloppy, incomplete results or “forgets” homework
You do more of the homework than your children do.
Your children insist that they are able to do homework
while watching TV, talking on the phone, and listening to
the music.
The first time you hear about a major project is the
night before its due…and it isn’t finished.
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Consistency is Key
• The tools in the presentation are
intended to create consistency
• Why is consistency important?
– Child knows what to expect
– Decreases anxiety
• It’s the CHALLENGE
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Proper Study Area(s)
• Environment
– Quiet
– Well Lit
– No Distractions
• Supplies
– Have plenty
• Accessibility
– To a parent or older sibling for help
– Younger the child the more accessibility to a
parent
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Get it Done on Time
• Small Break
– Who wants to come home from work and go
right back to it?
• Younger kids-Older teens
– Smaller increments of time (K-3: 20 minute
chunks) increasing as age increases
• Older Children- Weekly Planner
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Get it Done on Time
Daily Homework Time
Mandatory Homework Time
o Speeders
o Forgetters
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All Too Familiar…?
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Your Child Does Their Own
Work
• Be there to help, but expect them to
find the answers:
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Dictionary
Google
Text book
This helps build confidence and
independence.
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Your Child Does Their
Own Work
• Encouragement
• Emphasize your confidence in them
• Break down “overwhelming”
assignments
• Encourage each step
• Provide more independence
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Praise
• Consistently praise your children’s
efforts.
• Provide your child with specific
praise.
• Combine with a hug or a pat on the
shoulder.
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Group Activity
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Ideas that Work
 Incentives
 Don’t worry, it’s not permanent
 They are your choice to give
 Phase them out
 Consistency
 Have Fun!
 Homework can be fun!!!
 Beat the clock
 Spinner
 Trade Off (involves candy!!! Or some other small
object, i.e. stickers)
 Contracts
 Chunking
 Utilizing multiple senses
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Communication
• Do it early, do it often!
• Set expectations and rules
for homework in advance
- It’s early in the school year,
a perfect time!
• When the going gets
tough, the tough talk it
out!
- “I don’t want to do my
homework,” “It’s too hard.”
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Action is Stronger
than Words
And when it gets really tough…
the tough take action
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You’ve talked about
your homework
expectations, you’ve
set the rules; now it’s
time to follow through.
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Working With the Teacher
• Contact the teacher if your child:
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Has difficulty with or can’t do an assignment
Forgets their assignments at school
Is not finishing homework
Is not doing quality work or showing poor work
habits
– You and your child’s teacher can be a team!
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Solving the Problems:
The Seven Ugly Sins
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Not doing the best work
Refusal to do homework
Not bringing assignments home
Taking all night to finish HW
Not taking initiative to complete homework
alone
• Procrastination
• Not doing homework if a parent isn’t home
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Special Topics
• Continued difficulty with
school and homework
• Testing
• Psychotherapy
• What is getting in the way
of your child’s success?
• Special Needs
• Lack of motivation
• There is no such thing as
“lazy”
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Questions???
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Resource
• Homework Without Tears, Author: Lee
Canter and Lee Hausner, Ph.D.
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Homework: Helping Out
Without Freaking Out
Donna Novak, Psy.D.
(818) 591-3000, ext. 5
donna.fultongroup@gmail.com
Fulton Psychological Group
5016 Parkway Calabasas, Ste 220
Calabasas, CA 91302