When we think of giving people gifts, we often forget the most basic kinds; the gift of time and self. As families with school children begin winter breaks and have more time together, it’s the perfect time to begin a lasting tradition that has a ‘payoff. It’s the gift of a family homework hour. The payoff is family time together.
Before you brush away the idea of a family homework hour, look at the benefits to your family.
1. It’s a quiet time when everyone is focused; students can focus on homework, parents can focus on helping their children with homework or on quiet projects. Everyone needs time away from the rush of the day, away from electronics and busy-ness. A family homework hour provides that quiet time.
2. We all have projects we ‘plan to do when we have time’. Family homework hour will free up one hour for reading, handcrafts, letter-writing , bill paying or other quiet time activities. With electronics turned off, a lot can be accomplished.
3. Family homework time demonstrates that quiet homework time is important not just for students, but for every member of the family. While students and parents work, preschool children can look at books or use the time to manipulate blocks, Legos or such. Then when the hours ends, the family can transition into reading together before bedtime, providing everyone a calm shift to a restful night. Missed TV programs can be saved/recorded for a time (Plus that eliminates those pesky commercial breaks!).
Think about our harried days. One hour each evening will calm things down. It’s time to assist students with homework as well as creating an hour for quiet activities we seldom find time to complete. Give it a try. Let me know how it works.