Homework is here, homework is here, let the battles begin! A few weeks into the school year and any novelty to the fresh new notebooks, pens and pencils has worn off. It is homework time, day after day, night after night you dig in for a fresh battle with your child. Here are two tips to aid in that battle and to make doing the homework a little bit easier.
TIP #1
Discuss where your child will do their homework and know that there really is no right or wrong answer here. Every child and every situation is different so I 
recommend brainstorming with your child where and under what conditions they like to do homework. Just involving them in this process can relieve some of the “battles”.
Who says you can’t do homework in a tree or under the bed… as long as it is getting done! Focus on the goals of completion and timeliness (i.e. don’t let the location distract from completing tasks).
Everyone is unique in their learning preferences, look at lighting, music, type of pen/pencil, lap desk or traditional desk and help your child decide what they think works best. Changing it up every now and then can also help keep homework battles at bay.
The key to a successful location however is supplies. Use a desk caddy that can travel with your child and holds everything they could need to complete an assignment.
Whether they do their work at the kitchen table (and I would estimate at least 80% do), on the floor of the bedroom or at an actual desk, make sure that they have everything they need within arms reach. This not only saves time but also for those prone to distraction, a trip around the house looking for a ruler can be disastrous. Don’t be afraid to store supplies somewhere unique like your kitchen cabinet, or under the bed they sit next to when doing homework.
TIP #2
Almost every student from 4th grade through high school is given an assignment notebook to begin the lovely process of learning to be responsible for homework and to plan for long-term assignments.
Use a binder clip on the used pages so when the student opens the book to write down assignments, voila, they are on the right page. Pure genius!
This also works well for the dreaded workbooks, no flipping pages as they tear and fall out.
(Do have them refrain from putting a binder clip on their nose as it does hurt, a lot!)
Last but not least, it is THEIR homework. You have done your homework, and I assume if you are reading this, you passed. Set them up for success and let them work.