- Stay informed. Talk with your child's teacher. Make sure you know the purpose of homework and what your child's class rules are.
- Try giving a hint, or if it's math, show how to do a simpler problem of the same type. Giving answers means your child will not learn the material. Too much help teaches your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him or her.
- Be firm. You won't do your child any favors if one day you agree to a schedule and the next agree to throw it out the window. You will be tested. Be ready, and simply say "We agreed you'd do it now, and that's how we'll continue. I look forward to playing a round of Mario Kart Wii with you at 7pm."
- When the teacher asks that you play a role in homework, do it. Cooperate with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are a team. Follow the directions given by the teacher.
- Restrict phone calling during homework time. Be the guardian of incoming calls and tell your kid's friends that they can call back after a certain time. If your kid cannot resist texting, ask for the cell phone to be placed in a central location (it's a good idea to create a place where all of you leave cell phones overnight), and let them retrieve it once homework is completed.
- Encourage professional presentation and neatness. If they're producing messy homework, try to catch them in the process and encourage a neater effort.