Homework, those unloved back to school!

Long before getting down to work and tackling homework, it's important to establish a positive and conducive work environment. Take the time to talk with your child and invite them to share about their day and what they learned at school. This way, they will perceive your interest in their daily life and learning. Encourage and value your child's efforts. Praise them when they complete a task on their own or when they persevere with a more difficult one.

Tips and tricks to make homework time more enjoyable

First of all, a small snack before starting is always welcome! It's hard to concentrate when you're hungry! It's also better to eat something small before starting the task rather than having to stop midway.

A quick bathroom break after the snack and we're ready to start! Let's go!

Your child's daily life is punctuated by routines: morning routine, school routines (for lining up, moving around, free time, etc.), bedtime routine... They make your child's daily life more predictable and allow them to develop their autonomy. Why not establish a routine for homework and lessons? For more anxious children, a routine helps to reassure them and reduce their anxiety while making them more available for the task. Try to draw up a list of homework and lessons to be completed each evening so that the child can check off tasks as they finish them, which allows them to see the scope of the task and have a sense of control.

If homework time is a daily conflict, it would be wise to take the time to discuss it with your child to understand the "real" reasons for their frustration. Encourage them to verbalize their discomfort or anxiety. Do they feel pressure? Do they find the task too difficult? Are they afraid of disappointing you or their teacher? Once you know what's bothering them, it will be easier to adjust your approach.

If the task seems too long or difficult, you can break it down to make it more accessible for your child. You can also give them breaks between tasks so they don't get cognitively overloaded. Finally, don't hesitate to offer small rewards when they work well. The important thing is to adapt homework time to your child and to yourself.

Strategies for more engaging study

Let's take the example of vocabulary words. This is a list of varying length depending on your child's grade level. The chosen words can be related to a specific theme (Halloween, family, farm animals, etc.) or selected by particularities (words with a specific sound, an "m" preceding a "b", etc.). Your child must memorize them for the week's recitation or dictation. Your mission: to do your best to help your child retain the spelling of all these words!

First, take the time to read the words with them. Usually, the teacher has already gone over them with the students in class. You can read them once, then ask your child to read them to you. By reading them, they gradually memorize the spelling of the words.

Now the fun part begins! By manipulating materials, your child will better memorize the different letters that form the word. You can ask them to write the words with Scrabble letters, magnetic letters, or necklace beads (those with letters on them). It can also be plastic cups or popsicle sticks on which you have previously written the letters of the words being studied. You can also have them form the words with modeling clay or trace them in flour (or sugar/sand). The idea is for the child to be active and engaged!

It is often said that we learn things best through experience. With different kinds of materials, the child practices while having fun. You could also make a kind of bingo grid with the words of the week. You draw one at a time and your child has to find them in the grid. They could also spell out the words by throwing a ball or by jumping with both feet at each letter. With a little creativity, the possibilities are endless!

Finally, it's important to have them write the words. At school, they won't have magnetic letters or necklace beads. Writing words doesn't have to be boring, though. Do you have a blackboard or dry-erase board at home? Why not use it for writing words? Otherwise, you can let your child write the words on a window (with dry-erase markers or markers specifically designed for windows!). The idea is to vary the materials to differ from the classic paper and pencil.

Many of the ideas presented above can also be applied to the study of different concepts (math tables, verb conjugation, memorization of English verbs, etc.). The important thing is to get the child actively involved so that they see the task as a game. We learn so much better when we're having fun!

The physical location where a child does their homework varies greatly. Some children work well at the kitchen table, sitting in the living room, or in their bedroom. It depends on each individual and the task at hand. It can be interesting to test different locations with your child to determine their preferences. The important thing is that the factors are as favorable as possible (lighting, noise) and to minimize distractions.

It is also important that the child has all the necessary materials for their homework within reach. We don't always think about it, but sometimes a child leaves their pencil case at school, so plan to have these basic items at home:

• Pencils
• Erasers
• Pens
• Highlighters
• Pencil sharpener
• Colored pencils (wood, felt-tip)
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Glue
• Lined paper

For older children, it can also be useful to have a calculator and a geometry set (set square, compass, protractor) for math, as well as a dictionary and a Bescherelle (French grammar guide) for French.

Even better, organize a homework self-sufficiency station with this handy little tip! Would you like to have this little tip always at hand on your cell phone? Get it for free on our Octave app!

In conclusion, stay positive and try to have fun! Be creative! That's how you'll develop your child's love of learning!

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