What is your child's homework routine? What are your rules?

My son's home work routine has changed since the beginning of the school year. His teacher sends home a mega amout and we used to do it the minute he got home, but it was such a struggle. So I let him play, snack, watch Tv, and while I am cooking dinner he does his homework, it's been working so well like that because he get's time to relax before he has to go back into school work.

It depended on the day and their activities. When they were little, I let them take a break to play and then start either before or after dinner, depending on how much. As they got to their teens, it was their soul responsibility. If they fell behind, in any way, they lost their activities and/or social fun. I also did not allow much tv, only five hours per week during the school hear and ten during vacation. They got used to not watching much, anyway.

my son came home from school went out to play until supper, ate and did his homework, if he had finished in time he got so see some tv before bedtime.

I let my son have some playtime when he gets home from school. He is in school long enough during the day without having to get his books out again as soon as he gets home.... We have dinner early in the evening, then its time to get on with his homework. It only takes about half hour to get it all done, and he does it in his bedroom. Its the only place that he has a bit of peace and quite to do it. :-)

My 8 year old doesn't get nearly enough homework for my liking. In fact it is week 5 of the new school term and she is yet to bring any home! Lucky for me she loves to learn so we have our own little system set up. It is not really a routine as such as it just sort of happens as it happens. Through out her time at home I make sure she spends time reading and writing and we have even begun 'researching' topics that she is interested in. As long as she has done a little of everything before she goes to bed I am happy. However should her teacher ever decide to give her some homework she will definitely have to do some before she starts playing

This is a great discussion. Every child is different so every child is going to have their own routine, and it might very from what we the parent feel works for us. Each one of my older children have their own personal preferences. The oldest likes music on in the background, has a snack first, watches a bit of television, and then does her work. The second oldest is a bit more astute getting her homework out of the way, yet she hates to practice her instrument. I can recall having battles with my mom over my homework style, and to this day she's still griping about how children do their homework. My neices have very different styles and my mom (because she lives close to them and feels she can) still comes down on them telling them the same things I heard "Do your homework in a quiet place, don't place music, don't eat while you do homework, do it at your desk-don't spread out" etc. The fact is, each child has their own learning style. I would suggest that all parents learn what that is, give up a bit of the ego, and encourage their child to do what works for them. Namaste-Anora

When CJ comes home we sit down together and do his homework. He knows that he has to finish it all before he can play because I've tried to give him a break and let him play a bit but then he gets all "grumpy" when it's time to do it. I usually let him have Friday's off but then we have to do a little bit of study on Saturday and Sunday's. He's really good about it. He's been on the honor roll since the beginning of the year and I'm so proud of him. We do it in the dining room on the table and I make sure that the T.V. is off.

when I went to school, I had to come home and finish my homework and then I could go out and play. In highschool, I did my homework and then I would practice the violin.I have no children but I would set the same rules. I think it is makes it easy to relax if you get all youe work sone first. Then you have the rest of the night.

My son only goes to prep now and they dont have homework apart from the reader that he gets every day. He loves school so he is still very excited aboutbeen a big boy and all of that. So every day after school I have to sit down and he will show me his bag and what he did and we read his book. As he used to hate computers and didnt even know how to use the mouse (they are starting computers at school I didnt want him to be behind) I got him some fun educational games that now he can play and he loves them and he is learning a lot. So he does that for about 1 hour. And then we eat. Then he is free to do what he wants untill about 30 min before bed and after that we have homework time. That is not been set by the teacher but by me. As he has mild autism its important for him to learn and repeat things. I have lots of card games (like conect mother animal to baby animal that sort of thing) and we read a lot. If he dosnt want to do it I dont force him to we just play together. But I hope that he is going to be all set for next year when they will have real homework

My kids used to do homeork right after school, but now, since they have papers todeliver, they do papers first. Then , if it isn't a practice day, they come home, sit at th table and do their homework. Normally, this is quiet time for all of us. If they do have practice, they do papers, go to practice, then come home, sit at he table and do homework.

I usually let mine some home and settle in a bit before homework. Usually it's 6:00 just after dinner we do it. I think they do better when they are a little rested and have full tummies before homework..at least with mine. A ot of people have better luck with their kids doing homework right away and getting it over with.

Hi miamilady...My children are now all grown so I can only speak from what I did back then. I have 4 kids and I gave them their choice of when to do homework...EIther when they came home, and then they had to be home by a certain hour at night, or they could play first and have to be in earlier to do homework. I let them choose. Setting the same old time often gets ruined when something else comes up like maybe a school activity or appt during the week. By giving the choice, they can still follow within guidelines. I think If I said it had to be done as soon as they got home, and it wasnt always possible, that they would be less serious about following the rules if they often had to be broken. This way with 2 options, things could be worked around

homework is horrible at my house. My 14 year old get about 90 minutes a night which is too much based on her busy schedule. She has been over programmed since she was five. My other daughter is in kindergarten and she get homework three night a week. So the five year old needs help all the time atleast once a night the 14 year old needs help with something school related. Sometimes i feel like i am in school myself all over again. we try to get them done after dinner before any TV can be watched.

My 8 year old has to do his homework as soon as he gets home from school. There is no playtime until everything is done, checked and cleared. He has to study for at least 1 hour each day with his weaker areas, ie: math, science and reading, so that they improve his grades. When he does sports, the routine changes. He usually has sports right after school and doesn't come home until around 5:30pm, so after sports, then he does his homework right away. Whatever time if leftover, he can go play with friends and whatever else. His bedtime is 9pm, so that gives him enough time and on the weekends, the time is his to do with what he wishes unless we have plans.

My kids are supposed to come home, get an after-school snack, then get right on their homework. It's a responsibility thing. If they start their homework right away, they have plenty of time to get it done right. If they wait until 8pm, their time is limited and they tend to rush through it. That results in more incorrect problems, more frustration, less sleep, and less positive education. Also, it's one less thing I have to bug them about, the rule is set so they already know what is expected. If they want to go out, of watch T.V., or play video games, their homework needs to be finished and correct.

interesting topic here. my son has to rest from school then have his snack time then play over the internet for 30minutes, then this is the time he hits the book. after which his tutor comes around 6pm for an hour they discuss what my son's lessons. this became a routine and now even when his tutor does not come to our home, he opens his books and reviews on his own.

My son is 11 and in 5th grade, he comes home and has a snack, then goes to his room, he has a desk in there and has to do homework and then dishes before he can have his Xbox. His homework usually only takes about a half hour to 45 minutes for him to finish. We have been doing this routine for a few years now and it works out great.

Well, when my son gets from school, I will let him take off all of his clothes. He will put on his play clothes. I will then give him something to eat. And he will watch T.V. Maybe 2 hours from that time, I will get out his homework. And there are times that he will be very tired when he comes from school, so I will let him rest for a few hours, then I will get out his homework so that he can do it. I try not to let him do his homework when he gets right from school. I will give him a break.

Well I don't know that I really count yet because only my 5 year old (in Kindergarten) is doing homework and she gets a whole week to complete her packet. She is really an individual and loves to learn at this point so after lunch (she only goes to school half days) she usually pulls out her packet and finishes some of it. After that time it's chores and then I gotta get dinner ready and usually try to find some time to read with them and work with my 4 year old to get her ready for Kindergarten. I have to say that she usually just does it on her own though and asks me if she needs any help. After she is done I'll go over the packet to make sure everything has been completed correctly though. Even with just one child in school, I find that having my 4 & 1 year old does make things really busy and sometimes it is hard to find time to do it among all the other things that life brings my way!

My children 11 and 9 does their homewprk when they like. As long as they get them done before they will turn them in it's fine with me. They both do very well at school in all subjects and here in Sweden it's not much homework at all. They have maximus 3 each week and almost never from one day to another. Small / young children have to be abled to play and have fun! Loads of homework are not good for them - first spend almost all day at school and than get home and keep on the school! Where is the time to run around and play?! I grew up with freedom under responsibility and I do the same for my children. I think it's important that children take part in cooking and baking and gardening - this will teach them a lot - not only about food and flowers - in cooking and grocery shopping there are a lot of maths, when it comes to gardening and growing your own food that will teach them a lot about biology. My children does their homework in their rooms if they want - the housework doesn't stop or their 3 year old sister plays as she plays when they're not doing homework. For us that works well - forcing them would make it take more time! I use to think like this - after 7 hours at school they need a break from school!