Want a cool back-to-school trick to get your kids to do their homework? Well, here it is: Give them a little bit of your time. It sounds too simple, but it isn't. A little bit of planning goes a long way toward giving a child better homework habits. There's no better time than back-to-school season to get this done. This article gives you several tips on how it works.

1. Tips for Better Homework Habits
Want a cool back-to-school trick to get your kids to do their homework? Well, here it is: Give them a little
bit of your time.
It sounds too simple, but it isn't. A little bit of planning goes a long way toward giving a child better
homework habits. There's no better time than back-to-school season to get this done.
Here are some tips on how it works:
First off, remember: by nature most kids excel at following patterns. For that reason, they're more likely to
learn decent time management habits if you create easy homework routines they can follow.
Begin by getting your kids involved in the planning. (It's best to do this before school begins, but really,
anytime is the best time to get organized.)
Together, write out a list of their typical daily after-school
activities. Use a notebook, poster board or even a dry
erase board to create a chart in their rooms. Include the
usual things they do or that you'd like them to do:
 Homework
 Play time
 Extra-curricular activities
 Family time
 Sets of chores
 Physical activity
 Free reading
They have a lot going on! This list will serve as a daily reminder of all activities for which they need to plan
time. For pre-teens and teens, you can assign actual time segments for each activity. Now, create a
weekly chart that lists their activities and allows them to put an X-mark or sticker after each activity is
completed.
You'll want to limit some activity time—such as "screen time" with gadgets or video games—so be as
detailed as possible. Don't leave any instructions open for misinterpretation—it's always the best policy
when you're dealing with kids.
If possible, list out homework activities in detail. Chart specific subjects they study each day based on
their school schedule. It will help them balance their study time and ensure that no work slips through the
cracks. Otherwise they might avoid working on subjects they dislike.
Congratulations! You are now doing something for your kids that few parents make the effort for: focusing
their time into a clear and tangible picture. It's the first step to better homework time management.
For more tips on student time management and other topics, check out the Day Runner Success Center
(http://ow.ly/o8B9f) and be sure to visit www.dayrunner.com for the latest and greatest time management
tools and solutions.
About Day Runner
At Day Runner, our mission is to assist people in “designing their day” with a touch of fashion and
function. Many products can be configured for individual planning needs. Our loose-leaf day planners
allow users the flexibility to easily select the page formats and style that they like and put them where
they need those most. Our products are available from many office product retailers and dealers
nationwide and can also be found in office supply catalogs.
[photo by AnneCN: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anne-cathrine_nyberg/]