Helping with homework is a balancing act: you want your child to succeed, but you also want them to develop ownership and confidence. The goal is to coach, scaffold and model strategies — not to provide answers.
Start with routine
Build a predictable homework routine: same place, same time, short warm-up task (5 minutes), and a clear finishing ritual (put materials away, one sentence reflection).
Use guiding questions (scripts that work)
- "What do you think the first step could be?"
- "Show me where you got stuck — what part is confusing?"
- "What have you tried so far?"
Teach 1–2 strategies, not the answer
Model a strategy (like breaking a word into syllables, or drawing a diagram), then step back and say, “Now you try with the same steps.”
Encourage reflection & independence
At the end of the session, ask: "What helped you most today?" and "What will you do first next time?" This builds metacognition and planning skills.
When it's appropriate to step in
If your child is stuck after trying and is anxious, offer a small hint or scaffold. If they repeatedly avoid work, focus on routines and motivation rather than doing the homework yourself.
Support for different ages
- Primary (5–8): Provide structure and short, concrete instructions.
- Upper primary (9–12): Teach planning: break tasks into steps and set mini-deadlines.
- Teens: Focus on independence, offer to review drafts and give feedback, not rewrite.
Conclusion
Be the coach, not the doer. With consistent routines, guiding language, and small strategy-teaching moments, children develop the skills to solve problems on their own — and that’s the real win.