You should let your child do homework on their own—here’s why

When a child comes home from school with a massive bundle of homework, it’s hard for a parent not to think, “When am I going to find time to do this?”

Nearly half of all parents have done homework assignments for their kids. It’s not uncommon for a parent to scrape together a volcano for a science project and slap their child’s name on it, or to fill out a few math questions your child just doesn’t have time to get through.

On paper, we know that our children’s homework is meant to be for them, but, in practice, it doesn’t always end up that way. Part of the reason we get so frustrated about the amount of homework our children get is that we know we’re going to be the ones who end up doing it. Even if we don’t do our kids’ homework for them, most parents believe that we need to help out.

Here’s why you should encourage your kids to do homework on their own.

Doing your kid’s homework doesn’t mean better grades

Studies have consistently found that getting involved doesn’t lead to better grades. It’s the opposite, in fact. We often want our kids to have the best project at the science fair or get a perfect grade, but we’re really just taking away from a learning opportunity.

When parents regularly do their work, they usually perform worse. The kids with the best grades, on the other hand, usually study on their own.

Teaching kids the way you learned creates confusion

When a child comes home with Common Core Math, some parents want to throw it out the window and say, “Listen, this is how I learned it, and it’s a lot better.” Even if your way really is better, though, teaching it to them that way only makes things worse.

Studies have also found that trying to teach your kids at home usually leaves them more confused. You also run the risk of ruining your child’s attitude toward school. Your child will adopt your attitude to homework. If you’re telling them their teacher is doing it wrong, they’re going to believe you, and they’re going to have a much harder time listening and learning in class.

Letting kids do their homework alone helps

You’re not going to be able to do their homework for them in college. And let’s be honest—when your kids get to high school and start bringing home two hours of homework every night, you won’t have time to do that for them, either. The best way you can help, according to a review of 20 studies on parental involvement in homework, is to set rules. Don’t do the work with your kids, but do make sure they’re actually doing it.

Not only do kids do better when parents back off, but it lets them grow up to be better people. Doing homework on their own teaches kids to manage their own behavior, and that’s a lot more important than getting good grades in elementary school.

Homework expert, Dr. Harris Cooper has a few tips on how parents can help their kids succeed at completing homework:

1. Set up a distraction-free zone

Make sure your child has a distraction-free zone to work. Help them manage their time and make sure they have all the materials they need to succeed.

2. When your child does homework, so should you

If your child is reading, read the newspaper. If your child is doing math, balance your bills. That way, you let your child know that these skills are going to be essential later in life.

3. Help your child manage frustration

Part of doing well is learning how to handle frustration. If your child struggles, let them know that’s okay, and allow them to take a break.

4. Reward progress

Kids can view homework as a way to appease their parents. Keep a positive attitude about their work and if your child improves, let them know you value their hard work by giving a small reward.

Remember, your kids’ homework doesn’t have to take up all your time. Just make sure they’re doing it and only step in if they need help.

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