Your Son and HW Organization: Can the Two Coexist?
School has begun! If your son is a young adolescent, maybe 11-12 years old, your patience will likely be tested from the first day of school as you try to motivate him to get organized with his school work.
You might think that you are the only frustrated parent out there, but you are not. As a young adolescent, his brain is rapidly developing. Sadly, the part of his brain that helps him be organized is one of the last parts to mature. The emotional part of his brain is going strong and will tend to express itself as you push your son to get his plans together. This results in lots of emotion and little planning.
Here are a few suggestions to help both you and your son:
• As much as possible, set a consistent homework time each day. It would be great if your son could have a little fun and active time before he sits down to study.
• Go over with him what he needs to study and show him how to prioritize the tasks. This is a learning experience of its own as he watches you decide how to do this.
• Separate the topics into about 15-20 minutes pieces. Make sure your son takes a break between each study piece. Snacks will certainly help make this a happier time.
• Give lots of positive feedback along the way. Even if he is not achieving at the level you want, find something positive to say to motivate him.
It might seem like a lot of extra work to approach homework this way with your son, but most young adolescent boys need help getting organized. Their emotional response only slows the process, so be patient with them and find out what works for the two of you. In this way, you are celebrating puberty!
No comments yet