Obviously when working as a nanny I must ensure that the kids in my care do their homework. But, I confess I resent it if I am the only adult helping the kids with their homework. I confess that I need the parents support and need them to also help their kids with homework.
As a nanny I know I play a very important role in having the kids develop good homework and study habits. In fact, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) shows that the defining factor in having academically successful children of parents that work outside the home is the household help that they hire. The NAS studies show that families that hire great childcare providers are in a stronger position to have children that are successful in school. Children of working parents that do not have the support of homework helpers are less likely to achieve as well in school.
Angela Norton Tyler, author of Tutor Your Child to Reading Success
explains that as with everything we do with children, setting a routine is important when it comes to homework.The whole point in establishing a solid routine is so that homework gets done with a minimum of stress and fuss. Homework should just be a small part of the day, like brushing one's teeth. Do not constantly talk about, debate, discuss, or fine-tune the homework routine. Set it up, and then expect every family member to follow it.
We want children to become independent and self-motivated learners. In order for this to happen, we must give kids a routine, help them follow it, and then step back so that it becomes their own. Really, we don't have to be the Homework Police forever. If we expect and allow children to be in charge of their own homework, the day will come when they do it all by themselves.
We help kids become organized by creating routines. If children do their homework in the same spot at the same time, it will become a part of how she does things throughout their school career.
Ground Rules must be short, simple, reasonable, and clearly understood by every member of the household and any regular visitors such as Grandma.
Ground Rules should be posted. Get creative and fancy or keep it simple, but post the Homework Ground Rules so that everybody can see them. We recommend putting a copy on the refrigerator, a copy in your child’s homework binder, and a copy in the ‘homework area’- if you have one.
Ground Rules must be enforceable. There is no point in setting rules if nobody is going to follow them! If the child does not do his homework or follow an agreed-upon rule, the consequence must follow. Children are masters at making us feel guilty, but enforcing rules that benefit them is part of our job.
Also have the kids, parents, and nanny sign a homework contract to ensure everyone is involved in helping the kids successfully complete their homework. Click here to see our homework contract.
You can purchase your own copy of Angela Norton’s book by clicking links below:
Tutor Your Child to Reading Success
These are some nice insights. I do have to agree on the claim that working parents with good housekeepers have better excelling children. This is because despite the absence of the parents, they have a foster mother or father figure that is efficient and serves a good example to the growing child compared to that of an ineffective or lazy nanny.
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