How to help your child with homework (without doing it for them)
Most parents want to help with homework. But there's a fine line between helping and taking over – and research suggests that how you're involved matters more than how much.
What research says
A research synthesis by Erika Patall, Harris Cooper and Jorgianne Robinson looked at studies of parent involvement in homework. The picture was mixed: some kinds of involvement were linked to better results and some weren't. Setting up rules and a routine for homework was among the more promising kinds of support, while direct help with the work itself showed less consistent results – especially as children got older.
The takeaway isn't "don't help". It's "help in the right way".
1. Build a routine
- Same time, same place. A regular homework time and a quiet spot with what they need makes starting easier.
- Phones away – or in another room – during homework time.
- Short breaks for younger children: work for a while, then stretch.
2. Ask, don't tell
When your child is stuck, resist giving the answer. Ask questions instead:
- "What is the question asking you to do?"
- "What did you do in the last problem like this?"
- "Where in your notes could you look?"
- "Can you explain how you got that?"
If they explain their thinking out loud, they often find the mistake themselves.
3. Praise the process
Research on feedback, reviewed by John Hattie and Helen Timperley, found that feedback is one of the most powerful influences on learning – but its effect depends on the kind of feedback. Comments about the task and how it was done tend to help more than general praise about the person.
- Instead of "You're so smart", try "You checked every step – that's why you got it right."
- Instead of "That's wrong", try "This part is right. Look again at the second line."
4. Let mistakes happen
Homework that comes back with mistakes tells the teacher what your child hasn't understood yet. If you correct everything first, that signal is lost. It's fine to point out that something looks off and let them find it.
5. Talk to the teacher
If homework regularly takes far too long, ends in tears or seems much too easy, tell the teacher. They can adjust it – and they'd rather know.
6. Keep practice short and regular
Ten minutes of practice every day does more than an hour once a week. That's the idea behind TONEC STUDY's daily tasks: a few questions a day, at your child's level, with an explanation after every answer. With Premium, a parent who confirms their email gets a short report every Sunday evening (grades 1 to 9) – what your child practised and how it went. How TONEC STUDY keeps children safe.
The research
- Patall, E. A., Cooper, H., & Robinson, J. C. (2008). Parent involvement in homework: A research synthesis. Review of Educational Research, 78(4).
- Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1).