If your child

isn’t careful, she can become overwhelmed by the stress of it all.

Doing these things can help increase your child’s ability to complete schoolwork on time:

• Have a positive attitude. Let your child know you value schoolwork—that it’s important to his learning.

• Know what teachers expect. Make sure both you and your child understand what kinds of homework teachers assign and how often. Ask about timelines for special projects.

• Keep your child healthy. Make sure she eats, sleeps and exercises enough—so she doesn’t miss school and get behind on assignments.

• Set up a comfortable study area, where your child can study with the fewest distractions.

• Agree on a homework schedule and help your child stick to it.

• Help your child learn to break down larger homework assignments into manageable steps.

• If your child gets stuck, suggest he switch gears. For instance—change to spelling, then go back to math.

• Build confidence. Remind your child of what she can do and has done successfully.

• Don’t expect perfection. Praise efforts as well as achievements.

• Don’t hesitate to talk with teachers and arrange for homework help if your child needs it.

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