I have 3 children; they are in Kindergarten, second grade, and fifth grade. Evenings at our house have turned into a nightmare as I try to help each of them with their homework. Do you have any tips on how to manage the chaos?
The first thing I would recommend is to set aside a particular time for all three of your children to do their homework, and then stick to that time, every day. On days when your children do not have any assignments, they can read or start planning for long-term projects. Of course, your younger children will not have as much work as your fifth grader, and you may decide not to have them sit for the entire time. However, setting up these habits now will help your younger children to manage their homework better in the future.
Make sure this homework spot is well-lit, comfortable, and well equipped. A dictionary, paper, rulers, scissors, glue, and plenty of writing utensils are good items to have on hand to start with. You may want to add other supplies later as the need arises.
Try to follow a routine that you would just as if you were a teacher and your children were your students. This means that the television should be off, your children should stay in their seats, and you should be available to answer questions but not do their work yourself. Check over their work to make sure they understand the concepts, but do not feel the need to re-work every single math problem to make sure each is correct. Set firm consequences and stick to them if your children do not stay focused. Offer small rewards at first if all three children stay in their seats and busy with their work for the entire homework period. You should have homework tamed in no time!
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