If you are struggling with your children to do homework, there is a simple tool that can really help. Printable chore charts have made a difference in many homes and can work in your home too.

This premise is surprisingly simple. Children, like most adults, need structure. However, most children do not understand their need for structure and will not institute it on their own. That is normal and where you, as a parent, can really shine.

Helping your student organize using homework charts is easy. Please note that you may need to make adjustments to your system during the first few weeks. Many parents are frustrated with a new system that doesn’t work perfectly the first time. Don’t fall for it! Making changes over time is called progress and should be celebrated.

Start by sitting down with your child and going over his homework needs with him.

– How many classes or subjects does it have?

– What are the daily assignments that never change; like daily reading or memorizing math facts.

– Are there days of the week when you never have homework?

Use this information to get an idea of ​​your child’s homework needs, and then head over to your computer for some printable homework charts. There is a wide variety of charts available online; some simple and some quite sophisticated. Take a look at your options and print out some charts to get started. You can always get different ones later.

Complete the task chart for the first week or month. Keep in mind that this is a new habit for your child and that he will probably need some motivation to stick with the program. It’s not so much about grades as it is about taking responsibility for doing your homework with minimal prompting from you.

Let the task chart be the “heavy” or authority on this topic. Explain to your child about this new system designed to help make life easier (which will be absolutely helpful if you add to it). Tell him there will be frustrations at first, okay, but adults overcome frustrations with a decent attitude.

Then it begins. Each day, point to the task chart and ask her if she has completed it during the day or how far she has come. Keep pointing out the natural consequences of not keeping up with homework and set your own family consequences for not keeping school a priority.

If you start this system when your children are young and just beginning their educational careers, you will find that you have no difficulty complaining about homework as they grow older. If your children are older and have already established unproductive homework patterns, then their work will take longer, but you can still do it. Let’s be honest. Adults complain loudly and loudly when they have to make changes they don’t like, so why should we expect our half-grown children to be any different? That is human nature and as parents, we can be patient and show our children the great ability to change ourselves voluntarily and intentionally.

Use printable chore charts around your home to develop strong habits of self-discipline and a healthy appreciation for education. Good homework habits are worth their weight in gold throughout the life of your family.