Homework Tips for Back to School

by Dorothy Lefford,OTR/L, VP Clinical Services, Easterseals Northeast Central Florida 

It’s back to school time again (post Hurricane Dorian), and getting back into routines can be quite a challenge for children...and parents!

Tackling the return to school alone can be a monumental task, so Easterseals Northeast Central Florida is here to offer some help with that other monster: homework! 
Try these tips: 
• Identify homework/study zones
• Establish regular study time in the daily routine 
• Keep distractions to a minimum 
• Help children make a plan or organize their assignments while supporting them in accomplishing their own work. 

A change in the day-to-day operations is a struggle for all of us, but presents an extra challenge to children with autism or other diagnoses that thrive off routine and knowing expectations.

Here are some additional tips to help everyone be successful: 
• Make a "to-do" list. This helps keep homework sessions predictable.
• Consider the child's sensory needs and strengths. How can you set up the environment for success? Accessible movement breaks? Adapted utensils? Open space vs. more defined space? 
• Consider reward charts. Always praise and reward your child for taking initiative and completing daily work.
• Break up the assignments into smaller segments. This also gives you more opportunity to praise your child, offer a needed movement break or a chance to gain  a reward to reinforce the completion of a task .

Ask your teachers and or therapists about resources they can provide to you or direct you to for use at home particularly those which might carryover successes had at school. Always work closely with the classroom teachers; you have valuable insight into your child’s learning and they can learn  from you too!

Lastly, enlist siblings, friends and relatives to serve as mentors and tutors as needed. This helps generalize skills and encourages socialization, as well as gives mom and dad an occasional break. 

It takes a village to raise a child. Keep building your village!

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