Bulldogs Game Plan for Homework: Strategies for Families

During a child’s academic journey, homework can often be a challenging aspect as families and children navigate through assessments, assignments and deadlines. Just like a well thought out strategic game plan, implementing effective strategies for homework can ensure a positive experience for children and parent alike. When starting Kindergarten children typically don’t have structured homework. However, getting children into the routine and preparing them for the responsibilities and increased workload from homework can be beneficial.

Routine

Much like the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs who follow a strict training regimen, children often benefit from consistent routines which include homework. It is a great idea to have a designated space and time for homework. This ensures that any distractions are minimised, creating a focused environment where children become familiar with the space and their tasks to be completed.

Breaking it down

The Bulldogs understand the importance of breaking down their games into halves, focusing on one play at a time. Similarly, with homework it can be beneficial to break it down into smaller tasks making it less overwhelming for yourself and child. Perhaps create a weekly schedule or to do list allowing homework to be tackled into different smaller portions.

The home environment

Ensure a quiet, well-lit space is available for children to complete their homework with any materials and resources required such as pencils, glue, computers etc. Just as the Bulldogs players need their jerseys, boots and mouthguards, children also require the right gear for homework to be completed. Remember to minimise distractions such as TV and excessive noise.

Breaks

Halftime in NRL marches provide the much-needed time to rest and recharge. Likewise, children benefit from regular breaks during homework sessions. These breaks can assist in maintaining focus and prevent boredom, burnout and feelings of overwhelm. Perhaps during the short break, encourage children to grab a snack or go outside to engage in some quick physical activity.

Teamwork

Utilise the family structure for homework. As parents you can provide guidance, offer encouragement and assist with answers and questions. To ensure team success, the Bulldogs rely on collaboration from team member to team member and need to work together to achieve their collective goals. Involve siblings in the homework process creating a positive environment where they can each assist each other.

Every win from the Bulldogs is celebrated and the same should apply to academic achievements. Remember to acknowledge and celebrate your child’s achievements whether this is big or small. The positive reinforcement received will further motivate and increase children’s confidence to continue with their homework schedule. By adopting the Bulldogs game plan for homework, families can transition to making homework a productive and positive experience. ‘

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