Homework routine

What It Means

A homework routine is the agreed time, place and ground rules for schoolwork at home on school days. HealthyChildren.org, from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), suggests a consistent workspace that is quiet and free of distractions, with the TV and other electronics off while homework is underway. The routine also covers what happens before and after, such as getting supplies out first and a short break partway through.

How It Sounds at Home

• "Homework's at the kitchen table after snack."
• "Phone goes in the basket till you're done."
• "Get your pencils out before you sit down."

The Breakdown

How to set one up

1. Pick one spot and keep it. HealthyChildren.org suggests a consistent place, in the bedroom or elsewhere at home, that is quiet and without distractions.
2. Pick a start time that fits the after-school routineAfter-school routineThe same set of steps a child follows between getting home from school and dinner, usually a snack, active play, some downtime and homework. See more, and keep it on most school days.
3. Make a house rule that the TV and other electronics stay off until the work is done, which is the AAP site's suggestion.
4. Get everything out first. HealthyChildren.org's teen advice is to have pens, paper, highlighters and books at hand before starting, so there's no reason to get up.
5. Plan a short break for longer sessions. The same AAP page suggests closing the books for a few minutes to stretch when it won't break your child's concentration.
6. Check in at the end: what's done, what's due tomorrow, what goes back in the bag.

Try it today. Agree with your child on one start time and one spot for the rest of this week, and put the supplies there tonight.

A sample routine

Good to Know

HealthyChildren.org also suggests scheduling enough time for homework and weighing it when you choose after-school activitiesExtracurricular activitiesOrganized activities a child does outside regular class time, like sports, music, clubs or scouts, usually after school or on weekends. See more, so a packed week doesn't squeeze it out. The AAP site has a separate page on ADHDADHD in kidsAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children: ongoing trouble paying attention, sitting still or controlling impulses, beyond what's usual for their age. See more and homework for children who find the usual routine hard. If homework regularly takes far longer than the teacher expects, or ends in tears, talk with the teacher, and with your pediatrician if you suspect attention or learning problems.

Related Terms and Categories

• Homework station

  One set spot at home for schoolwork, stocked with the supplies a child needs, so homework starts in the same quiet place each day.

• After-school routine

  The same set of steps a child follows between getting home from school and dinner, usually a snack, active play, some downtime and homework.

• Executive function

  The mental skills that let a person plan, focus, remember instructions and control impulses: working memory, mental flexibility and self-control.

• Family routines

  The regular, predictable ways a household handles the repeating parts of the day, such as mornings, meals, homework, chores and bedtime.

• Visual timer

  A timer that shows time running out as a shrinking colored area or a row of markers, so a child can see how long is left before a change.

Family organization and routines