If your child will not do homework unless a parent is home, take these steps.
1. State that you expect homework to be done whether you are home or not.
2. Schedule daily homework time.
Allot a time each day when all other activities stop and your child must go to his/her study area and do homework.3. Tell the person responsible for child care about daily homework time.
The caregiver should know when and where your child is expected to do homework.4. Monitor your child when you're not home to make sure homework is done.
Telephone your child, if possible, at the beginning and at the end of daily homework time to make sure the
homework is getting done.5. Give praise and positive support.
Praise your child for work done in your absence. "You're doing a great job on homework when I am not here. Keep
it up."6. Use additional incentives, if necessary.
A homework contract can help your child develop the habit of doing homework without your supervision. It should
state: that homework will be done whether you are home or not; the amount of time for completing homework; the
number of points earned for completing homework; the reward when a certain number of points is attained.7. Back up your words with action.
Say, "You can do homework during daily homework time or you can choose not to have privileges. You will sit
there until homework is finished." Make sure you follow through.8. Contact the teacher.
If the problem persists, discuss the possibility of imposing loss of privileges at school so that your child knows you
and the teacher are working together to help your child behave responsibly.Excerpted from Lee Canter's Parents On Your Side: A Teacher's Guide to Creating Positive Relationships with Parents; Lee Cantor and Marlene Canter; Canter and Associates; 2001
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