Timeouts are an effective, powerful way to teach your children to behave. Timeouts can, however, be manipulated by a smart young child that wants to avoid doing their homework. Some children would rather sit in timeout than do math, spelling, or English homework, and you have to be able to effectively deal with this problem as they rise in school and age. Fortunately, we as parents have some tricks up our sleeves as well. Here is a step by step method of utilizing timeouts effectively while still getting that homework done:
1. First, sit the child down in a quiet, uninterrupted area. No television, distractions or toys should be available to the child during homework time. Make yourself available to them for help, but largely let the child do the work in silence.
2. If the child begins to squirm, or otherwise avoid doing the homework, let them know that they are being watched. Inform the child that for every time you have to tell them to get busy, you will add one minute to a timeout session at the end of the homework.
3. Keep a record of the number of times the child is told to get started. Some children will push the envelope and try to see just how far you will go by playing games. A corner is the most effective place to put a child for timeout because it offers no stimulation whatsoever. If they will not even begin to try to do the homework, give them a timeout right there on the spot. They will be allowed to come out of timeout when they are ready to start working.
4. When it comes time to deliver the timeout, do not be flexible in their minutes earned. Any timeout that is longer than the kids age, (five year olds get five minutes, etc) is ineffective and a waste of your time. That said, you should deliver the timeouts as they reach that time limit. Do not let a large session of timeout accumulate or you will find yourself cornered into letting them take a shorter one.
5. Spend plenty of time making sure the child understands the homework. Some children will avoid homework simply because they do not know how to do it. Help them to understand and make sure they are capable before punishing them.
6. The first few days may be a bit long and daunting, but over time the child will see that not doing homework equals time in the corner. The connection will be made, and the method is far better than corporal punishment in the long run. The child will eventually adapt and accept the necessity of homework.
7. Make sure that you teach the child the joys of learning as well. Do not make every single day quiet homework time. Occasionally take the child outside and let them do their homework on a park bench. Maybe allow them to sit on your bed with you as they study sometimes. Whatever the case, you should try to make homework and schoolwork fun as well.
Image Credited to Flickr User Cayusa
Using time efficiently is very important task . which i think every parent should know it .
Comment by Ronak Jain — April 29, 2009 @ 3:46 am