Some children need the soft background noise of a radio or tapes to study, while others need quiet. The TV distracts both the eyes and ears, and does not mix well with studying.

Provide the necessary supplies, and make sure they are kept all together just for homework. Nothing is more distracting than hunting for a pen or having your sisters use up your notebook paper.

Take an active role in supervising homework and asking about assignments. Remember, there is a big difference between ‘supervising’ and ‘doing.’ If your child is having trouble, do not hesitate to offer guidance, but make sure she or he has learned the subject material.

Set an example of respect for learning

• Ask your child questions about school and what he or she is learning. Tie it into current events or family/household activities.
• Attend school functions and activities at your child's school. Become familiar with teachers and other parents. Use school resources.
• Make sure to attend parent/teacher conferences.
• Let your child see that you read—newspapers, books, magazines—and not just watch TV.
• Use your local library for more than books—for story hours, getting videos, attending special activities—to help your child see that learning is a lifelong process.

Praise your child for efforts, as well as accomplishments

• Celebrate milestones: reading a first book, learning a times table, passing a biology exam.
• Compliment your child for spending time working hard on a project—even if it didn't win a prize in the science fair—but always be sincere. Don't say something is good if it is not. Just recognize the child's efforts and hard work.

If you feel your child is not doing his or her best

• Don't compare one child with another, or with yourself at that age.
• Keep a positive attitude for all by encouraging and supporting your child. Threats and punishment don't improve a child's outlook about school.
• Work with your child's teacher to set standards and expectations that are fair.

A Circle of Parents handout: Circle of Parents is the National Network of Mutual Support and Self-Help Programs in Partnership with Communities, a collaborative project of Prevent Child Abuse America and the National Family Support Roundtable. This project was made possible by Grant No. 90CA 1668 from the Children's Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the views or policies of the funding agency, nor does publication in any way constitute endorsement by the funding agency.