Teenagers have a lot of pressure on them now in high school. They not only have to combat finding out where they fit in in the grand scheme of high school cliques, they also must figure out where they fit on the intelligence spectrum. Whether they need extra classes, extra tuition and even extra help with college applications. Add to that the peer pressure from the social aspect of high school and it’s a minefield of confusion!
Homework at both school and college is getting more demanding, with more hours required for completion. When you try and throw this in with extracurricular activities, the expectations are far higher for teenagers than ever before. This sort of pressure can have a huge effect on their mental health, so as parents, we do everything we can to help. Sometimes this help extends to a helping hand with homework but how do you find a balance between helping and doing it yourself?
Children in grade school often have science fair projects that parents help with, but teenagers have to learn to write academically. Although they may come to you with pleas of ‘write my essay for me’, you yourself often don’t have the time to help. You can advise, you can point them in the right direction of professional services that do this, and you can even have meetings with teachers and leaders at school. Ultimately, you need to be able to help without actually doing all the homework for them.
The best thing you can do as a parent is motivate your teenager to get their work done themselves. There are plenty of ways you can do this, but it all starts with knowing your teenager and understanding how they concentrate and work. We’ve put together some tips for you, so that you can get the best out of your teenager without stepping in entirely.
- Create the right environment. You need to be able to set up a location in the home for them to concentrate properly on their work. This means no electronics, no distractions and not too much noise. We each have our own way of working and you have to tap into what works best for your teen. To that end, you should ensure that you rope your teenager in to help you decide on the best location in the home for this environment.
- Set the time. Homework should always be done promptly, regardless of the deadline. This is the best way to ensure that you can help them stay on top of their work. Set a consistent time for homework each day and be there in the area so you can help where help is needed.
- Give them the tools they need. Homework isn’t just notepads and pens. It’s encyclopaedias and the best equipment you can offer. Organizational planners and highlighters and other stationery are also required, so don’t skimp on those! You need to do the best you can for your teenager and this will go a long way!
