There’s one word that is almost universally known to stress out kids and teenagers: homework. As your child grows up, they will likely encounter more and more homework throughout their academic careers. This is a stress that most parents and caretakers can understand, having experienced the same situation themselves. And while some philosophies towards homework have changed in recent years (with educators asking good questions about how much homework is too much), the vast majority of kids will experience stressful homework situations at least occasionally. For parents and caretakers, then, helping your child manage this homework-related stress becomes important.

In large part, that’s because as a parent or caretaker, you cannot necessarily control how much homework your child comes home with. And when your child does not have experience managing stress broadly, homework stress can interfere with your child’s ability to perform their work and have a negative impact on their quality of life. For parents, help could look like establishing appropriate homework spaces, helping your child manage their time, or providing strategies that can channel academic pressure in healthy ways.

Managing this stress can be beneficial in terms of your child’s emotional wellbeing, physical health, and academic progress.

How Much Homework Should My Child be Doing?

How much homework your child is assigned on a daily basis will vary depending on the grade level they are in and the rigor of their coursework. Assignments may also vary based on the subject and the instructor. 

In general, however, the National Parent Teacher Association and National Education Association tend to recommend about ten minutes of homework per grade level. So, for example, your sixth grader would expect roughly 60 minutes of homework per evening, while your 11th grader would expect one hundred and ten minutes.

Again, this will vary considerably from day to day or from student to student, but it’s a good guideline. Parents can sometimes have a direct impact on the amount of homework assigned (especially when communication between parents and teachers is already welcome and robust). In general, however, parents and caretakers can have the biggest positive impact by helping their child manage homework stress.

Steps to Help Your Child Manage Homework Stress

Set Up an Effective Homework Space

What kind of space does your child have to work on their homework? Does it encourage creativity and thought? Or is it full of distractions? An effective and dedicated homework space for your child can have a significant positive impact. That space will generally be:

• Well lit and where it is easy for your child to see and work.

• Free from distractions. This includes other family members or household tasks.

• Stocked with all of the tools your child needs to do their work.

• Comfortable. If your child is going to spend 1-2 hours of time in this space every night, the space should be comfortable enough that your child isn’t immediately itching to leave.

• Free from unnecessary screens. Most students will now need some kind of screen to perform school work. But keeping your homework space free of unnecessary screens can help your child focus.

Some children work really well with music in the background; others can find the music distracting. Work with your child to create a homework environment that really works for them. 

Help Your Child Manage Their Time

One primary source of homework stress for children comes down to time management. And while it’s a prime example, this can go well beyond procrastinating on an important project. Some highly effective strategies for helping your child manage their time include the following:

• Creating and using a planner: In some cases, a digital planner, such as google calendar, will be the best. Other students may benefit from a physical planner where they can see and write down everything that they need to do. Whatever format they choose, encourage your student to be consistent and stick to their planner.

• Set reminders on their phone: Students are busy! And when you get busy, it’s easy to be forgetful. Putting reminders on your student’s phone can help keep them on track and make sure homework isn’t slipping through the cracks.

• Create a schedule that works for your child: The same schedule isn’t going to work for everyone. Work with your child to create a schedule that suits their strengths and helps them overcome the things that are hard.

• Don’t forget the fun: Ensure that rest, relaxation, and fun are a part of your child’s day, too!

Find Healthy Outlets for Academic Pressure

Academic pressure is a real thing. Everything can feel so important and unexpected obstacles can feel absolutely insurmountable. Helping your child deal with this pressure in a healthy and productive way is absolutely critical to managing stress. Give your child space to talk about that pressure and how they’re feeling. Help them find hobbies or activities or friendships that can provide those healthy outlets.

Help Your Child Manage Homework Stress

For the most part, homework is here to stay. So too is the stress that comes with it. Many children may feel like they need to handle homework related stress all on their own. They may also feel that asking for help is a sign they aren’t up to the task. But the reality is that we all need help, especially when it comes to managing stress.

Help your child discover the help that’s available to them. Between parents, caretakers, and educators, children can find support that will help them tackle the assignment and the stress alike.

If you have questions about how homework stress may impact your child’s health, you can ask your child’s pediatrician during a regular wellness visit. If your child is already a patient at Children’s Healthcare Associates, you can schedule an appointment at our Chicago or Northbrook offices today.