Ensure Your Child Completes Homework with a Homework Contract

Is homework a problem in your home? Here are a few signs that it’s time to make some changes.

• Your child leaves projects until the last minute and then wants your help to complete the project.
• Your child realizes at the night before a project is due that he needs some supplies to complete the assignment and you end up heading on a midnight trip to the store.Your child sits down to do homework and then realizes that he never wrote down the homework assignment.
• You find out that your child isn’t turning in homework assignments, yet your child always tells you he’s done his homework.
• When it’s time for bed, your child suddenly remembers that he hasn’t done his homework.
• You find out that your child isn’t turning in homework assignments, yet your child always tells you he’s done his homework.

Many families end up struggling with these problems every school night. Over time, these problems can become extremely stressful. However, there is an answer to the problem – a homework contract.

What is a Homework Contract?

A homework contract is a contract between parents and students, and the contract gives the responsibility of completing homework to the student. The contract includes terms that both the parents and the child must follow and those terms can be individualized to meet your family’s unique needs. To ensure the homework contract is effective, the terms of the contract can be negotiated and then agreed upon by the child and the parents. In most cases, it’s a good idea to give the contract a trial period and then take a second look at the contract to see if changes need to be made. Basically, the homework contract gives the child a clear set of rules that must

Benefits of a Homework Contract

A homework contract offers benefits for both students and parents, including:

• Fewer arguments over homework
• No need to nag a child about doing homework
• Improved grades
• Reduced stress over last minute projects
• Reduced problems with procrastination
• Student learns to take responsibility for his own actions

The Terms of a Homework Contract

While every parent and child should come up with a homework contract that best meets their specific needs, it’s nice to have some suggestions. Here are some suggestions for the terms and rewards.

- Parent Terms

    Provide transportation and tools required for the completion of homework
    Provide a space for completing homework
    Offers assistance but only when the student requests assistance
    Will offer rewards when they are relevant
    Checks the assignment notebook for assignments
    Will check homework for both quality and completion

- Student Terms

    Keep track of assignments in an assignment notebook
    Provides parents of notice whenever homework supplies are required
    Sticks to a regular homework schedule
    Use homework/study time to read, review or study if no homework assignments are given
    Will ask for some help when needed
    Homework will be done without interruptions, such as games, television, phone calls or unneeded web surfing

- Weekly Reward Options

    Student will have Saturday evening free if requirements are met
    Student will not need to complete weekend chores if requirements are met
    Etc.

A homework contract is an excellent way to end the constant battle over homework. You can customize it to work for your family, helping your child improve his grades while removing some of the stress that often surrounds homework time.

Troubled Teen Help: Struggling Teens Need Structure

Troubled teens resist structure. They constantly push boundaries set by authority figures. Adolescence is about finding identity, even when seeking independence involves drug and/or alcohol abuse, hostility and breaking laws. If you're a parent seeking troubled teen help, consider a structured environment like The Pinnacle Schools.

Since 2005, The Pinnacle Schools have focused on high quality help for struggling teens. With firm, but fair behavior parameters and positive peer modeling, troubled teen help is imminent. When teenagers are in structured surroundings, they learn what signifies positive behavior, appropriate language and proper etiquette.

Your teenager will come to understand they cannot use drugs, have sex, curse, fight or harass other students and/or staff. However, punishment is never punitive; rather it always "fits the crime". Teens may have to relinquish their cell phone for fighting or face suspension for using illegal substances.

Think about it, wouldn't it be easier to enroll your adolescent in residential treatment instead of visiting him/her in a juvenile detention center? There is no blame assigned to parents who need professional help for struggling teens. Where troubled teen help is concerned, it's much wiser to be proactive than to react when their behavior escalates out of your control.

Try to understand that teens, who yell the loudest about autonomy, actually need and want a structured life, even if they don't consciously realize it. Some teens test parent's limits because they are allowed too much freedom. Others may have a brain malfunction that leads to poor impulse control, depression and/or displaced anger.

Regardless of the root cause leading to teens troubling behavior, evidence based practice and clinical research have demonstrated that constant structure is non-negotiable. But, there is a huge difference between beneficial structure and inflexibility. Parenting by intimidation, where it's "my way or the highway", usually just triggers rebellion. Adolescents typically cooperate more when they have a voice in parental expectations. Respect, compassion and even fair compromise for your teens wants and needs gain positive mileage.

Once rules are established, they should remain consistent. Changing expectations are confusing to the teen, who might think 'what's the use of trying when I never please them'.

Still, the kindest, most loving parents can't always provide troubled teen help that experienced professionals can offer. Statistics say one out of five adolescents will demonstrate emotional issues far more devastating than typical teenage behavior.

If this sounds like your current situation, mightn't be prudent to explore residential treatment centers such as The Pinnacle Schools for troubled teen help?