Working parents, how do you help your child with homework?

[Funz]

I have 2 kids. Last 2 years were honeymoon period as only DD was in Pr sch. DS was still in full day childcare. This year with 2 of them in Pr sch and both morning session, they can be each other's study companion or distraction.


DH is travelling almost every week, Mondays - Thursdays so I am single mum until the weekends. Kids are expected to finish their homework and starting this week I gave them additional work as I find that they have too much free time.

We have CCTV at home and I can log into the network to see what they are up to. If I see them glued to the tv, their ipods will start buzzing. :evil: That is me facetiming them. Immediately they will turn off the TV, run into the room b4 anwering my facetime call.

So far, that has kept them on schedule. Quality of work, though, is another story lah.

[RRMummy]

Funz:

:hugs: RRmummy.


We just try our best. The first round of topical tests are happening now. Will see how DD fares. From there we will see if we need to tighten the screws or continue as is.

Thanks Funz!! I needed that..

All the best to you.

[RRMummy]

Sun_2010:

RRMummy:

Hi all,


I'm also those with the precious 1+ hour daily.. also guilty of being the banshee.. so depressed... :imdrowning:

:snuggles:

I had my moments to. Its ok , next time lets reduce a little bit... one step at a time...

Thanks Sun_2010. I sure needed that..

I've been advised to \"unable' myself so that DDs can 'enable' themselves more... I need my sanity... :gloomy:

[fuchsia]

Dear parents, glad to see that "we are not alone". The time table that I gave my DD at the beginning of the year has been “thrown out the window”. Nowadays, I just write down what she needs to do during the day (her school has no homework, so I give her a few pages of assessment to do every day, she is supposed to go over any spelling or ting xie if there is any for the next day, practice piano, then play time at the playground, wash up, watch TV and night times are for reading). But … because I am not around during the day, sometimes, she plays first and does the work later (ie just after her dinner – rushing to finish before I come home from work to check). Practising the piano also not consistent. I don’t “coach” her in anything, as I think she is fairly bright. Her reading is probably P3 level. If she doesn’t understand from the assessment books I will go over with her during the weekend. But still feels scary when I compare notes with other SAHM moms (DD’s friends’ moms from her previous kindergarten) as they have the time to coach their kids (eg help them on methods to solve maths problem sums (eg heuristics)). They are so bent on going all out to help their kids in school work or getting them way ahead in their class. But that’s because they also have the time to do so. So I wonder whether my relatively "hands off" approach (for now) is appropriate.

[wanderlust-alm]

Hi all,


I am also a working mummy w 3 kids - P1, K1 & N1. I am glad that we are not alone in finding difficulty to carve out time for our kids to help them in their school work. My daily routine is reach home at 7 , dinner ( 1 hr - i wish my kids will finish dinner faster but dinner will always stretch for an hour ). shower and get ready for study ( 20 mins ) leaving me only about 45mins to max 1 hr to go through DS1 work and revision. Sometimes also need to squeeze in computer time ( his school ask n learn portal ) story time, spelling time, ting xie time, enrichment homework time. Monday night english enrichment, Thursday swimming and sat Chinese enrichment.
School standard is so high that although i start my DS1 at phonics in mid K1 he still has to attend the LSP ( learning support programme at school ). I was shocked as i thought he is reading ok although not fantastic but i realse that kids are in much higher standard than him in current times and now i am trying to spend more reading/english time with him and looking into another enrichment centre for him
It is really a mad rush for time every night and I still have 2 younger kids to handle so all 3 including the N1 DD will now also sit down to doodle and draw in the study room .

I always thought i will not be a KS mummy but i guess when you are in there you have little choice and may need to join in the rat race.

[radiantmum]

I asked DS to put those that need help aside to ask me when I am home after work. Usually done in less than 15 mins 'cos I will send him back to THINK and TRY on the work instead of taking the easy way out and waiting for my answer ;->

[Yong HL]

the precious 45mins-1hour in the evening is really not enough… for me…

[ckhoo5]

Hi all,


Am glad I’m not alone… I’m also one of the full time working mum with 2 boys (2.5 years old & P1) & I’ve no helper/maid. So you can imagine everyday rushing, no time to waste, after work reach home around 6pm++, need to cook, then fetch my elder boy from schoolcare, dinner 1 hour till 8pm, then left with 1.5 hours before my elder one off to bed. My hubby will fetch the younger one from the nanny when he comes back from work… time is really not enough!

[LadyInBlack]

So glad to know im not theonly mad woman rushing around…i will comment further wen im free…gtg now!! yikes!

[mwchua]

Yup......weekday evening hours are a rush everyday....


If my girl cooperates by finishing her work properly in the afternoon then can go through more value-added stuff. If not, then really not productive in the evenings....coupled with the after-work stress & fatigue...