Planning, Rest & Bean Bags - Six Tips to Take the Stress Out of Homework

The return to school after the long summer break can be bitter-sweet for many children. There’s the excitement of seeing and catching up with your friends. But there’s also the anxiety of a new year, a new teacher, maybe a new school. And, of course, homework. According to FE News, two in every three children experience school-related anxiety and stress. And the most prominent cause is homework. So, what can you do to help make things feel better for your children?

Six Ways Parents Can Help to Take the Stress Out of Homework

Create a homework planner

Part of the problem that many children have with homework is finding time to fit it in. And knowing what to do when. By creating a schedule for your child to stick to everyday, homework becomes routine. So, as long as you also leave time for leisure, children learn to put up less resistance. And if you can plan individual subject areas ahead of time, then you’re never going to face the stress of the ‘last minute’.

Create a comfortable study area

Children can’t be expected to produce their best work if they don’t have a comfortable study area. But it’s worth looking beyond the traditional desk and chair set up. While that is certainly an option when handwriting is required, if your child works on a laptop, a gaming bean bag chair may be a better option. It provides physical support (which helps to prevent fidgeting) and promotes better posture while delivering a comfortable way to work on a laptop or to read set texts.

Remove distractions

In the digital world, it’s not always wise to send children to their bedrooms to do homework in isolation. But it’s hard to eliminate distractions when children are working in communal parts of the home. Especially if you have more than one child. So, try to create a time when all children are focussing – if not on homework, on reading or crafting, just something that they can do quietly. Make sure the television is off. And make homework time a phone-free period.

Talk to teachers

Teachers want your children to do well. And they understand that all children are different. So, if your child is struggling with a particular subject, get in touch with their teacher. This not only gives you a chance to find out how you can help. But to let the teacher know that your son or daughter is struggling, so they can take this into account in class. If the issue is not with a subject but a single piece of homework, help your child to create a list of questions to clarify what the issue is. That way, they will be armed to ask their teacher for more guidance before completing the work.

Create a space for down time

We’ve all been there at one point or another – faced with a piece of work that just feels beyond us. Having somewhere to walk away to, where you can just chill out and forget about the problem for a while, can make a huge difference. An ultra comfy super sized bean bag can’t be beaten for floompfing yourself down in for serious relaxation. Add in a good book, your favourite tunes, or a meditation app, and the stress just slips away.

Sleep

OK. So, getting kids of any age to have a good night’s sleep is a perennial problem. But a well-rested child is a calmer, happier child. Children aged 6-13 years need to have 9 to 11 hours of sleep every night. Teenagers need at least 8 hours of sleep, ideally 10. So, while it might feel like a completely separate issue, working to help your child have a better sleep routine can have a profound effect on their ability to face stressful or annoying issues, such as homework.

Homework is a vital part of any child’s education. It’s not intended to add stress. But rather to allow independent thought and expression, and to support organisation in preparation for the adult world. By initiating good homework practices, you can help your child to develop better learning and working habits that will carry them through life, allowing them to avoid stress and frustration, and enjoy a calmer, happier working and learning experience.

If you’re looking for furniture to help your children to study or relax better, check out the full Big Bertha kid’s bean bag collection.