Raising Independent Learners

As parents, we all want our kids to succeed. Sometimes that means helping with their homework – but too much help may do more harm than good.

It can be a nightly struggle to get our kids to buckle down and complete their homework, so helping them get it done seems only reasonable. If they are in Immersion and are finding French homework especially challenging you may find their motivation and confidence are particularly low. However, offering too much help can backfire: kids who cannot complete their homework independently will only suffer as schoolwork gets tougher. So how can we help them become independent learners without a fight?

Help Them Help Themselves

As a parent, you might have an idea of the best way to get things done. After all, you’re used to managing multiple projects and deadlines at work. But as tempting as it may be to dictate the homework schedule, instead let them create their own plan. Sit down with them, and ask them how they want to tackle their assignments. Creating a plan helps kids take ownership of their responsibilities – and a plan set on their terms is far more likely to be followed. You might consider making suggestions if you think your child’s plan is way off base, but try to let them work that out on their own.

Create a Homework Space

Not all kids thrive in the same environment. Some kids need a quiet study spot away from the hustle and bustle, and some much prefer to be right in the middle of the action. Resist the temptation to impose your own work preferences on your child – let them choose their study space.

Make it Fun

Concentrating intensely for hours on end is tough. But it’s all too easy to “take a break” that turns into hours of mindless web surfing. Instead, schedule in fifteen-minute “game breaks” every forty-five minutes. Set a timer, and as long as your child has been diligently focusing on their work for the allotted time, do something fun when the timer goes off! Toss a ball around, play a quick game: whatever activity you chose, try to make sure it gets your child moving. You can also use this time to gently ask how they are progressing with their French, if that’s a challenge for them. You don’t have to be fluent in the language yourself. Ask them to summarise a story they’ve been reading, a fact they’ve learnt or to translate something into French for you to copy out loud. Be prepared for them to laugh at your accent!

Make Yourself Scarce

If your child has a habit of asking you for help the nano-second they have a question, try making yourself scarce. Move to a different section of the house during homework time, and insist that your child come to you with any questions. Climbing a flight of stairs just to ask a question might inspire your child to work it out on their own. If you do speak French it can be tempting to be their own living & breathing dictionary. However, encourage them to learn to use a dictionary independently You could offer to sit with them the first few times they need one, then challenge them to consult it themselves the next time.

Answer Questions with Questions

If your child comes to you with a question, ask a question in return. Asking something as simple as “What do YOU think you have to do to figure this out?” can often motivate children to think out loud. Talking things through helps clarify their existing knowledge, and it is likely that your child will come to the answer on their own! This is also an effective strategy with French reading comprehension. Ask them to give you the gist of a story they’ve been reading or to tell you how that story made them feel.

Using these techniques to help your child do their homework independently can ease the homework struggle, and set your child up for future success in school.

What tricks do you employ at homework time?

By Marie-Claire Thauvette

Marie-Claire is the founder and owner of Fast Forward French, one of Ottawa’s largest French tutoring centres. She has nearly 30 years’ experience teaching French. Visit fastforwardfrench.com to sign up for tutoring classes.

Many parents often seem to forget what kid’s educational toys are for, only buying as little as possible for their children or even relying on tablets to do the job. Playing is actually the “work” of childhood – it’s their way of acquiring skills, learning how things work, and interacting with their environment. The toys we buy for our children tells us so much about ourselves as well as our children. The thing is, this is a great opportunity to reach out and provide our kids with the best possible learning materials and toys that will shape their personality and worldview in the future – all the while having fun.

There are always colourful and new toys for the choosing and many have good play value. Here are some of the most important toys that you may provide your children.

Quick Tips Before Choosing Your Child’s Next Set of Toys

Play toolbox and play kitchen stuff. For both genders. Kids just love imitating their parents and other adults around them. These types of toys help them get more comfortable with doing different things and even learning how to do certain tasks.

Legos. Lego blocks have been around for decades, and its popularity isn’t just about the new shiny and cool updates. Along with other manipulative toys, Lego encourages the development of the fine motor skills and creativity.

Unit blocks. Lots of plain wooden blocks in diverse sizes encourages hours of construction, alone or with others.

Baby dolls and accessories. We suggest getting dolls with different skin tones in the playroom. When children play and care for their dolls, they actually practice loving people who look different from themselves.

Dress-ups. Hats, scarves, leotards, animal masks. Hunt your closet or the local thrift shop and collect stuff in a box for hours of creative and interactive play.

Finger paint. Let them play and get messy once in a while. You might also add an inexpensive plastic tablecloth to spread on the floor when finger paint time’s about to start.

Art stuff. Get as much as possible! Cookie cutters, playdough, paper, and chunky crayons for little kids. Older kids prefer glitter, glue, scissors, and lots of coloured paper.

Sturdy plastic or rubber animals. This includes zoo animals, farm animals, and of course, dinosaurs, and a few vehicles scaled to work with the blocks. I’m telling you, your kid will spend hours making zoos, arms and dramatic scenes. Have them watch Jurassic World first, and watch their imagination grow.

Musical instruments. Prepare your kids for the real one by purchasing toy guitars, pianos, harmonicas, xylophones, flutes, etc.

Dollhouse. Coupled with a lot of accessories, some basic furniture and durable dolls that represent everyone in the family. The house should be big enough for the kids to get in and play. Also, don’t be surprised to see a dinosaur or other zoo animals in there.

Toys that encourage physical activities. Balls, jump ropes, basic sports equipment, skates, age-appropriate toys, etc. Too many of today’s kids lack physical competence and confidence. These toys will help bridge that gap and bring the action into play.

Board games. Board games help to encourage cooperative play and problem solving.

That’s it. Now you understand that play is the “work” of childhood, kid’s educational toys will help your child learn new skills as well as practice relationship with others and their world. Time to go shopping.

What is your child’s favourite toy or activity?