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HOW TO GET YOUR CHILD
TO DO HOMEWORK
WITHOUT A FIGHT
BY CAROL TUTTLE
W When it comes to your child’s homework, do you beg, plead or bribe? Do
you threaten consequences? You can make homework easier for both you
and your children with some simple tips that honor their natural energy.

Most children have a dominant “energy type” that determines the way
they move through life. It affects everything they do — playing, talking,
eating, sleeping. And yes, it even shows up in the way they do homework!
Ready to take the struggle out of homework? Here are a few
homework tips for the four most common types of children:
THE FUN-LOVING CHILD
These bright-minded children think
quickly and like to move. Their
thought process works like snapshots
of ideas, so engaging in a linear
experience can be challenging for
them. Homework tips:
Pre-homework playtime. If your
child att ends a traditional school, they
need time to do something light and
free before jumping into homework. Let
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do. This will give them something to
look forward to during the structured
experience of school.

Homework jumping. Allow
them to jump from one activity to
another. That’s how their brain
works anyway. Extra movement of
things going on in the background
is actually helpful for them because
it allows them to disconnect from
their homework — and then connect
again. THE SENSITIVE CHILD
These subtle children work
methodically and are great with
details. They are naturally quieter, so
speaking up about what they might
need can be a challenge for them.

Homework tips:
Planned routine (one that they
plan). These children do best when
they have a plan that they have made
themselves. Which steps will they
follow to get things done? You can ask
this very young (5 or 6 years old) as
this type of child is already thinking
this way.

Invitation to connect. These
children often want their parents to
recognize the work they’re doing
without knowing how to ask for it.