My toddler is not yet homework age yet, so this is one more issue I know I will deal with soon. It’s a topic mentioned on ParentHacks, that I some thoughts on. Here is what I wrote:

As a child, my school-teacher mother and I did our homework together at the dining table. The TV and radio was off, but we talked sporadically. Knowing that she was working also really helped me stay focused, without feeling overwhelmed. I had a similar experience with my father and yardwork. Knowing he was mowing the front lawn helped motivate me to pick up sticks from the back yard. I call it Parallel Responsibility - Tasking yourself with a related chore, so that the child feels they are contributing, not being punished.

But Mom never helped me with my homework. Partially because she had her own, and partially because it was my responsibility. I agree with the litmus test comment. Teachers need a way to know if their teaching methods work for the student. I know my mother relies more on the homework assignments than on standardized testing results to alter and modify her teaching. She has spoken to me often of her attempts to find a teaching method for her students, changing her tack depending on what works best for that group.

Once my toddler is old enough for homework, I too will enforce the no TV/radio rule as well. I will make myself available, and likely will work on my own paperwork, to help provide the motivation of parallel responsibility.

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