Children of all ages enjoy doing homework when it’s fun. The trick is finding out how to make sometimes boring homework exciting. When homework is a chore, your child will dread doing it. Here’s what makes homework unpleasant and ten ways to make homework fun.

Table of Content:

This article is part of The Ultimate Guide to Kids Homework article series

Chapter 1: Should Kids Have Homework?
Chapter 2: Why Homework Is Important
Chapter 3: How To Get Motivated To Do Homework
Chapter 4: How To Make Homework Fun (You are here)
Chapter 5: How To Do Homework Fast

What makes homework unpleasant?

There are three primary attributes to unpleasant homework:

• Boring: Assignments that children find boring or unentertaining make it challenging to get excited about.
• Difficult: Challenging assignments can be unpleasant, especially for children who find most of their homework hard to do.
• Uninteresting: While some homework is interesting, a child who finds a particular assignment tedious can be hard to influence otherwise.

10 Ways to make homework fun

1. Be positive

The best thing that you can do for your child is to promote positivity before the homework session begins. You want to get your child engaged in learning and completing homework assignments.

Depending on the age of your child, you might need to act a little goofy or silly. You might consider acting like there’s a special job to be done, and you and your child are going to accomplish the task together. Even a simple exclamation like, “Let’s do this!” can help engage them in the activity of homework. Don’t turn homework into a chore.

2. Get comfortable

The last thing you want is your child to be irritable during their homework session. Getting comfortable can make them feel good about getting started on a task they might not be thrilled to do.

Besides sitting in a comfortable chair, consider changing the temperature if it is too hot or cold. Your child may feel better if they changed their clothes into something more comfortable, like sweat pants, shorts, or a sweatshirt, depending on the temperature.

3. Work together

Your child may enjoy working with their mom, dad, sibling, friend, tutor, or another family member. Whoever is willing and available to help your child with their homework can do them a lot of good by being present.

Some children may need help and direct attention on their homework, while others just want to know you are there to help. Depending on their age, some children would rather be left alone to do complete their assignments.

4. Play games

Young children enjoy playing games, so try making games out of their homework assignments. Determine what the tasks require, and think about how you can involve a game out of their assignments.

Turning homework into a game when your child is young can make them feel motivated and excited to do homework in the future, even when there is no game at all.

5. Take fun breaks

Every student, especially children, require breaks in between assignments. Some children may need breaks in the middle of a task. Be prepared for your child to become unmotivated to continue at times.

Knowing the signs that your child makes when they are becoming irritated can help you make the break time decision before their irritability turns into a bad temper. During your short break, do something fun like playing tag, playing a quick video game, or having a snack.

6. Prepare snacks

Preparing your child’s favorite snacks can keep them engaged in their assignments because of their enjoyment in eating their favorite foods. You can decide to have snacks at break times only, or you can let your child eat throughout the assignment.

Ask your child what snack they want before you start. Being part of the snack decision can make them feel included and more engaged in the upcoming homework session.

7. Determine rewards

Depending on how motivated your child is to do their homework, you can decide to choose rewards for them. These rewards can include food, activities, or playtime.

You might choose to reward your child after every assignment or during every break, or you may decide to select one big reward that your child receives after completing all of their assignments. You can reward them with a snack if one wasn’t already provided, playing with their friends, playing video games, watching television, or something else that they enjoy doing.

8. Don’t force it

Your child will let you know through their body language and facial expressions when they have had enough. If a homework session isn’t going as well as it usually does, it might be time to pause the assignments and save them for later.

Remind your child that if they don’t want to do the homework now, it will just have to be done later. In some cases, your child may choose to work through their irritability, whereas other times, they may decide to take a long break and come back to their work later in the day.

9. Use teacher tools

Some children become more engaged in a homework session if their parent is using the same tools that their teacher uses. These tools may include dry erase boards, markers, large pieces of paper, colored pens or pencils, and other supplies.

Take note if your child mentions certain supplies that their teacher uses, and include them in the homework session to engage them.

10. Utilize technology

Besides tools and supplies that their teacher uses, many students find it fun to use technology in their homework sessions. This may be a tablet or computer with a painting or drawing program.

Some children would rather use a tablet to digitally draw their work instead of using a piece of paper. When this is the case, utilize a piece of technology to keep them interested in learning and completing their assignments.

Conclusion

Making homework fun can sometimes be a challenge, but it’s important to try all of these strategies to see what works with your child. Some children may love technology, while others enjoy the outdoors. Your child may need a change in rewards or different snacks. There are endless possibilities to make homework fun for your child, so keep trying and make it as enjoyable as you can.

Table of Content:

This article is part of The Ultimate Guide to Kids Homework article series

Chapter 1: Should Kids Have Homework?
Chapter 2: Why Homework Is Important
Chapter 3: How To Get Motivated To Do Homework
Chapter 4: How To Make Homework Fun (You are here)
Chapter 5: How To Do Homework Fast