FRANÇAIS

Grandma’s Mimi’s Page
for Parents and Caregivers

Welcome to our new section for parents and caregivers! Parenting can be difficult at times but Grandma Mimi knows just how rewarding it all is in the long run. That's why we wanted to create a forum for parents and caregivers to interact. It's an opportunity to exchange parenting tips and share experiences.

While still a small section, we hope to expand this corner of our website. We aim to make it a wonderful resource for parents.We will be focusing on the early formative years for children, ages 2 to 9 years.

If you have any thoughts to share on the subject, please send them to
grandmamimi@kutoka.com

Homework Survival
Mini Guide

Grandma Mimi understands the challenge in not viewing homework as a chore. But, it can't be stressed enough: homework can have an important impact on academic achievement, so it is important for parents to get involved. Here are some of Grandma's tips and resources to help you survive.

• How much time should be spent on homework?
The rule of thumb is ten minutes per night per grade level; of course, more won't hurt! The higher the grade level, the more important homework is. It actually influences academic results.

• Try to balance your children's activities.
Hockey practice, ballet lessons and other activities are important but homework must remain a priority. Avoid creating a jam-packed schedule for your child. They need time to "chill-out" too!

• Communicate with other parents and teachers
By talking to other parents, you'll see how your child is handling his/her workload. Be aware that some teachers assign excessive homework. Once you are confident that other parents share the same opinion, have a friendly chat with the teacher. Teachers need your support and feedback too!

• When and where should homework be done?
Some people believe that right after school is the best time, but actually any time except right before bed is good. Letting children establish their own routine is a positive thing. A nice quiet corner is good but not necessary. You can try creating a studious atmosphere by reading near your child as he/she studies.

By the way, if it is late and your child is still struggling with homework, send them to bed!

As much as today's children can multi-task better than their parents, you'd be hard-pressed to find a child that can't get distracted by the television or Internet while studying. Homework may be getting done but is it getting done well?

• How much should a parent get involved in the actual homework?
Children need to learn to study independently. Parents should stay back and support but let the child do the work.




OTHER RESOURCES:
Peg Dawson of The National Association of School Psychologists has written has some great ideas on developing an incentive system.
Read them here:
http://www.nasponline.org/resources/home_school/homework.aspx

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