How to get my son to do his homework
By NettieMae
@NettieMae (185)
United States
December 1, 2006 10:09am CST
My son is 14. He is pretty smart and gets 90-100% on almost all of his tests and assignments but....He is flunking some classes because he won't turn in his homework! What can I do to get him to turn this stuff in? We are pretty sure he is doing it but it just doesn't get to the teacher. We have taken away almost everything but his clothes. I don't know what to do!
7 responses
@NettieMae (185)
• United States
2 Dec 06
I have been struggling with this boy for 5+ years on this topic. His chance at "fun" with me on this topic ended a long time ago. I am not having any fun and he doesn't seem to mind at all!
@NettieMae (185)
• United States
2 Dec 06
The rewards he currently gets are some privileges back, like the computer. Also he is in wrestling and if he is flunking anything he can't participate in the meets for that week. This is a week by week thing. He seems to know just what he can get by with to keep participating and I don't want to take him out of sports. I'm afraid he wouldn't do what little he does now if he didn't have some reason to - like sports. I wish I could find something else to interest him as much as wrestling.
@icequeen (2840)
• Canada
1 Dec 06
Wow...this is exactly what happened with our teenager...last year. He is 14 as well. I think what you are doing is good...you also need to talk to him and make him understand that he needs to bring his grades up. My son was doing the work..but not handing it in. Then he lost a couple of assignments etc. It seems that it is just a learning process and that they have to adjust to being responsible. We also talked to his teacher with him present which helped. This year is his first year in high school and his grades are better than they have been in years. I think he is finally getting it together....but it may be the same for your son. Give him time..and see if things change? Good luck.
@NettieMae (185)
• United States
2 Dec 06
I have talked with him quite a bit and also talked with him with his teachers. I made him go to parent-teacher conferences with me. Every Single teacher said his grades would be great if only he would turn in homework. I made him write down 10 reasons why his homework didn't make it to the teacher. It seems that being smart isn't "cool". I'm afraid this is his way of fitting in. One thing he has 'learned' is that if he doesn't turn in homework, he still passes. I've tried explaining that high school doesn't work that way.
@rajarani (106)
• India
25 Jan 07
this is very good that he is geting 90-100% marks i think you should not force him to do the home work you should tel him the importance of home work while doing home work their is chance that he will able to maintain that good score of marks
@mbarryton (1872)
• United States
24 Jan 07
i also have a problem with my 10 yr old she doesnt right all her homework down so therefore i dont know to make her do it my 7 yr old goes crazy if we have to leave and he dont get his homework done right away i realize they r 2 differant people but id also like to know how to get my daughter to right her stuff down and stay that way so she can get it done
@craftwave (1338)
• United States
14 Jan 07
My oldest daughter did the same thing. She would do the work but not turn it in. We talked to her and said since she was doing the work she might as well turn it in and get the grade. She finally did after awhile. As to not doing it because he doesn't want to be the smart kid is another matter altogether. Hopefully you can get through to him that just because he is smart and gets good grades doesn't mean he can't be cool as well.
