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

[Michelle Shen]

oh yeah! must 'distribute workload' with your hubby.. hehe


indeed as working parents, hard to coach the kids with their work.. wat i will do is is quite similiar to Funz - coach them in completing their studies and if they have difficulty in understanding certain concepts, will try to explain to them on Fris & wkends...

perhaps another advise would be to attend workshops lor, those workshops for parents specializing in helping us parents to help our kids with their work and how to help them excel in school. life as a working parent (think non-working also), is really not easy anymore : (

anyway, just heard from my frien that there's this upcoming workshop by Marshall Cavendish in March, To learn about the strategy in helping your child to prepare for Exams -> suitable for parents of kids pri1-6. can check out their website http://edu.marshallcavendish.com/events-singapore.html

[concern_mum]

Thanks Michelle


I was almost down with depression with works and kids, it is not possible for hubby to help me as i have mentioned to him many times before. The only way is like you are doing, ensure they complete all the school homework on weekdays and coach them on weekend. I only have Sunday available as Saturday i need to ferry my DD for 2 dancing class and marketing. Mostly end up reaching home late afternoon and too tired to do anything.

[Michelle Shen]

concern_mum:

Thanks Michelle


I was almost down with depression with works and kids, it is not possible for hubby to help me as i have mentioned to him many times before. The only way is like you are doing, ensure they complete all the school homework on weekdays and coach them on weekend. I only have Sunday available as Saturday i need to ferry my DD for 2 dancing class and marketing. Mostly end up reaching home late afternoon and too tired to do anything.

Np, concern_mum!

Dont b depressed k? vent your anger/sadness here ya?! hehe..
sunday is sufficient enuff to coach them since ur DD has classes on sat. Dont over-stress them too.. let them hv more fun & most importantly you can have some rest too before a brand new working wk starts again :boogie:

[concern_mum]

Thanks Michelle


i definitely feel much better after reading those post and ways to manage them.

[shyb]

sometimes really have to depend on the child independence as well. If he is able to do his homework by himself without nagging, there will be less stress for the parents. As for my DS, I need to nag at him to finish up his homework, as he rather play or do nothing in the free time. If not just anyhow do his work to entertain me. By the time i am home and is late and need to go through his work. Of course anger will flare out. The only solution i’m trying is to talk sense to him.

[snowball]

shyb:

sometimes really have to depend on the child independence as well. If he is able to do his homework by himself without nagging, there will be less stress for the parents. As for my DS, I need to nag at him to finish up his homework, as he rather play or do nothing in the free time. If not just anyhow do his work to entertain me. By the time i am home and is late and need to go through his work. Of course anger will flare out. The only solution i'm trying is to talk sense to him.

Exactly!!! Is so stresssful to coach them cos \"patience\" is a real challenge with our own kids especially.... :stompfeet:

[psle2011mum]

I decided early on what was important to me. So while for financial reasons I had to work, I made sure I was in an organisation where I could knock off at a decent hour (6pm) and do work (if necessary) after the kids’ needs had been seen to for the night.


I had a helper and I paid her more than market rates so that she took care of the house with less supervision from me.

I got DH’s support that after dinner time was homework checking time so he waited till 9.30pm before playing with them.

I have 2 DDs who are obedient and hard working so that helped a lot as they would finish their homework as best they could by the evening, but it was still a scamble to check all the homework from school, plus what I had set them all in that 2 hours. I tried to do corrections immediately so that it was 'fresh" and noted the questions they couldn’t do or areas they needed more work on so that I could tackle this over the weekend. I used weekends and holidays to "catch up" - we would have a nice meal during these periods but there would still be work to do.

Yes, there were many tears and raised voices especially when after their homework, I had to do my own from the office but I had determined that my DDs were worth my effort so I plowed on.

I think it helps if you clearly demarcate the time so that during this period when you review work with them after your work, it is time with them and no one else (I put away the computer and my office work documents because it was too distracting).

I’m done with this part of the journey ( Dd2 cleared PSLE last year) and the kids are on their own as far as academics are concerned; but I don’t think I would have done it differently.

For us who work, it can be all-consuming if you let it be. I guess if you want to take this part of your child’s journey alongside with them, work has to give for that period. I can only say that for myself, it was tough but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mummies ( and Daddies too) don’t be too hard on yourselves - it really is a lot to cope with all at once. Take a bow for your efforts - good job!

[snowball]

psle2011mum:

I decided early on what was important to me. So while for financial reasons I had to work, I made sure I was in an organisation where I could knock off at a decent hour (6pm) and do work (if necessary) after the kids' needs had been seen to for the night.


I had a helper and I paid her more than market rates so that she took care of the house with less supervision from me.

I got DH's support that after dinner time was homework checking time so he waited till 9.30pm before playing with them.

I have 2 DDs who are obedient and hard working so that helped a lot as they would finish their homework as best they could by the evening, but it was still a scamble to check all the homework from school, plus what I had set them all in that 2 hours. I tried to do corrections immediately so that it was 'fresh\" and noted the questions they couldn't do or areas they needed more work on so that I could tackle this over the weekend. I used weekends and holidays to \"catch up\" - we would have a nice meal during these periods but there would still be work to do.

Yes, there were many tears and raised voices especially when after their homework, I had to do my own from the office but I had determined that my DDs were worth my effort so I plowed on.

I think it helps if you clearly demarcate the time so that during this period when you review work with them after your work, it is time with them and no one else (I put away the computer and my office work documents because it was too distracting).

I'm done with this part of the journey ( Dd2 cleared PSLE last year) and the kids are on their own as far as academics are concerned; but I don't think I would have done it differently.

For us who work, it can be all-consuming if you let it be. I guess if you want to take this part of your child's journey alongside with them, work has to give for that period. I can only say that for myself, it was tough but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Mummies ( and Daddies too) don't be too hard on yourselves - it really is a lot to cope with all at once. Take a bow for your efforts - good job!

Dear psle2011mum,

First of all, i need to :udawoman: :salute: and i hve also printed out the above valuable message to remind and inspire myself to start doing the same ... :xedfingers: :xedfingers: :xedfingers:

[nms1]

psle2011mum:

I decided early on what was important to me. So while for financial reasons I had to work, I made sure I was in an organisation where I could knock off at a decent hour (6pm) and do work (if necessary) after the kids' needs had been seen to for the night.


I had a helper and I paid her more than market rates so that she took care of the house with less supervision from me.

I got DH's support that after dinner time was homework checking time so he waited till 9.30pm before playing with them.

I have 2 DDs who are obedient and hard working so that helped a lot as they would finish their homework as best they could by the evening, but it was still a scamble to check all the homework from school, plus what I had set them all in that 2 hours. I tried to do corrections immediately so that it was 'fresh\" and noted the questions they couldn't do or areas they needed more work on so that I could tackle this over the weekend. I used weekends and holidays to \"catch up\" - we would have a nice meal during these periods but there would still be work to do.

Yes, there were many tears and raised voices especially when after their homework, I had to do my own from the office but I had determined that my DDs were worth my effort so I plowed on.

I think it helps if you clearly demarcate the time so that during this period when you review work with them after your work, it is time with them and no one else (I put away the computer and my office work documents because it was too distracting).

I'm done with this part of the journey ( Dd2 cleared PSLE last year) and the kids are on their own as far as academics are concerned; but I don't think I would have done it differently.

For us who work, it can be all-consuming if you let it be. I guess if you want to take this part of your child's journey alongside with them, work has to give for that period. I can only say that for myself, it was tough but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Mummies ( and Daddies too) don't be too hard on yourselves - it really is a lot to cope with all at once. Take a bow for your efforts - good job!

I take my hat off to you but I think it's a great shame that all of this is necessary.

[snowball]

Hi psle2011mum,


Did u send your girls to tuition classes during their primary levels?