Times have changed since we were in school and it’s not so easy to keep up, we have our own work to do, the household chores and a million other things that the rest of the family don’t even know happen, surely they think the laundry fairies visited again last night?! But your teen will still bring homework home, and your teen will still need some help now and then, regardless if they say they need it or not. Even though you may not be up to speed on how teachers educate our children, there are plenty of ways in which you can help your teen get their homework done, and it’s not all mathematics and physics.
Productive environment
It may seem like your teen is all grown up now, and if they need a drink, they can get one right? But if you make a tidy space for them, with bright desk space and plenty of snacks and beverages you’re going to help them feel more prepared and give them more motivation to get the work done. Do they have access to the music they enjoy? All the reference books online or books they might need? Can they be left undisturbed? If you have a hormonal teen in your house, it may not seem like they will appreciate these things, but eventually, you may see improvements in the amount of homework being done, and you will be able to take comfort in the fact you helped in a small way.
Help with the answers
You may not know all the solutions that are asked of your teen on their homework, long gone are the days of simple equations, but you can certainly help to find the information that they need. Maybe even look for the right tutor if they need a little extra support? There are also many resources available that the school can recommend to you, online and in print, there are plenty of options. You won’t have all the answers, but you can help find them!
Feed their minds
One of the best things you can do to support your teen is to make sure they are getting the right nutrients and making sure they are well-rested. You may feel like you’re fighting a losing battle when all they want is junk food and sugar right now, but if you can make fruit and vegetables available to them often and encourage a sensible bedtime this will help a lot!
Just offering a bowl of berries while they study and finish their assignments will be a significant boost to their concentration and focus. And don’t forget the Omega 3, proven to help grow brains!
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, either way, just stay calm and don’t worry about the fact that you can’t help with the details, as you can see there are plenty of ways in which you can help your teen do their homework/ revise or complete assignments. Be creative and just let your teen know they aren’t alone, we’ve all been there and with a little help, they can do the work required!