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Show How Not to Help Your Child with His Homework You mean O r well certainly but are you hindering your youngster's school progress? Arizona Yumo ; Daniels Jewelry Co. By VIRGINIA B. WARREN Author of "Tetterf Ways to Help Your Child Uam" California Bakersfield: Bye's of Balersfield Fine Mdse. Co Glendale: Dahnken Inc. of S. Col. Hayward : Devon, Inc. CO J. C. Penney Co. Hollywood: E. H. Gold Jewelers Merced: Besco Enterprises Newport Beoch: Costom ESA of homework THE amount children has gone up, up, up in recent years, according to a National Education Association survey. As homework has increased, so have parents' panic and puzzlement about it IIMMI f Parents all over the country are wondering: should we help? How should we help? Should we interfere if Junior has too much or too little homework? What if he tells us he doesn't have any homework? parents usually blunder along and do what they think is best. But they're often so wrong! Here are some of the mistakes educators say are most frequently made when parents get invoked with homework: Doing homework for the child. "The parent who does a student's homework for him is contributing about as much to his intellectual growth as eating his dinner for him would add to his physical growth." So says a homework guide distributed to parents by the Brevard County, Fla., school system. Resist that temptation to solve tough math problems for him or write reports he doesn't have time to do. His teacher would be evaluating your knowledge of the subject, not his, when grading time comes. She wouldn't know where his weaknesses are, where he needs help. And remember, when he's taking tests, you won't be there to help him. His teacher doesn't want you to do homework for him, or even show him how to do it. Failing to provide a quiet atmosphere. Many parents want to help but fail to do so in the most important way of all. It doesn't occur to them that a child can't accomplish much if he studies while sprawled in front of the television set. If you don't provide him with a Well-meani- 4 ng Family Weekly, November SO, 1969 aaMtm ' quiet place to work, with a desk or table where he can spread his papers and with a good lamp don't be surprised if he can't concentrate. Criticizing the way he has been taught Sometimes, when parents don't understand such new teaching techniques as the new math, they try to downgrade them. 'They didn't teach math like this when I went to school and I learned it all right." This attitude has a negative effect on kids. Why struggle with tough homework if it's taught wrong? If you don't understand the work your child is doing, don't try to help him and don't comment on it in his presence. If you disagree with the teaching method, ask his teacher to explain why it's being used. Turning homework time into an emotional scene. When your child objects to your help or becomes upset, the time has come to stop. When homework precipitates a struggle or argument between you and your child, you're no longer a help but a severe hindrance. Making the child feel burdened by homework. Some parents berate the school in their child's presence for the amount of homework assigned. "I don't know how they can expect a mere child to do all this." Few youngsters could resist that golden opportunity to goof off. Haven't their own parents said the work was too much for them? If you sincerely feel your child has an overload of homework, speak to his teacher about it not to him. Not helping him develop good study habits. Many parents allow their children to study in slipshod, disorganized ways. Yet children must budget their time and study efficiently; if they're to succeed in school. ABC Premiums The student who follows a schedule is never a student who is failing. On the other hand, the student who is failing never has established a study schedule. Giving more criticism than praise. When you criticize your child's sloppy papers, his lack of concentration, his errors, you miy be giving him exactly what he wants your undivided attention. He may have found that when homework goes well, you don't notice him as much. So cool your criticism and look for things to praise a neatly written paper, an improvement in spelling, an hour of quiet concentration. Don't overdo your praise: hell detect such phoni-neimmediately. Not keeping in touch with his teachers. There are many situations in which you must find out from the teacher directly what's going on. If your child comes home regularly with the report that "I don't have any homework" or "I did it all in school" check with his teacher. If the work consistently (not just once in a while) seems too difficult for him, find out from his teacher where the problem lies. He may need tutoring. Chances are you haven't made all of these mistakes when helping with homework o you don't get a failing mark. But try and do better this year anyway! , ss Improve Your Child's Skills Reader who want to help their children get more out of school may tend for either or both of these bookt: for better elementary school grades, send tlJSS for "87 Ways to Help Your Child in Sehoor to "87 Ways" 50800, Dept. 2008, 1500 N.W. 185th St., Miami, Fla. For improved high-schogrades, send $i for "How to Succeed in High Sehoor to "High Sehoor 58508, Dept. t008, 1500 N.W. 135th St., Miami, Fla. ol Sacramento: Gloser Bros. San Fernando: Henderson's Son Luis Obispo : Besco Enterprises M. Krulak & Co. Madonna Inn San Mateo : Steiners Jewelery Santa Monica: King Jewelers Santa Rosa: Jewel Box Torronce: Swonder Cost. Jewelry Colorado Colorado Springs-- . S Pueblo: Gibson Co. Dept. M.&S.-Jewe- lry Idaho Boise: Weisfield's. Inc. Idaho Falls: lensen Jewelers Lewiston: Great Western Dist. 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