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Handling homework

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Often dreaded by children and parents, homework is a fact of school life. So how can you make it easier?

Make a routine for homework time and provide somewhere quiet, where your children can concentrate on the work. Homework comes in all shapes and sizes, so be open-minded about the amount.

Encourage your children to talk if they're struggling with something. If they seem reluctant to do any at all, it can be a useful indicator of other problems. Perhaps they're struggling with their work, or having friendship issues.

The amount of help they need give will reduce as your child gets older. But you can still support your older kids, taking them to the library, helping with research, or discussing the work with them. Try to present homework in a positive light. The right attitude will stand them in good stead all the way through school.

It's up to individual schools how much homework is set, but the Department of Skills and Education has issued the following guidelines:

Years one and two: 1 hour a week
Years three and four: 11/2 hours a week
Years five and six: 30 minutes a day
Years seven and eight: 45-90 minutes a day
Year nine: 1-2 hours a day
Years ten and 11: 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours a day