As parents we usually have a plethora of helpful advice for our kids when it comes time to study. In our home, homework is done directly following the after-school snack, and is completed before any fun time involving computers, TV, video games, or other adventures. We have all read the school newsletter tips involving clean, quiet spaces and removing distractions from the immediate area. These work well for most children and adolescents, but are less helpful when dealing with parents who have gone back to school.

Priorities and parenting

While pursuing a degree through a standard brick-and-mortar institute of higher learning, it is important to make sure you plan your time wisely, and prioritize to maximize your parenting time and personal satisfaction with the situation. Adults go back to school for a variety of reasons, but the foundation of most of these is the desire to provide a better life for their families. It is hard to keep that goal in sight when feeling overwhelmed with housework, child care, Scouts, sports, and other various activities. Add to that delicate stew time with a partner, friends, and relatives and it is enough to make a grown person weep.

Here are a few suggestions:

Study at the table or desk area with your child

This will send a reinforcing message as to the importance of homework, and help your child to understand that they need to respect your efforts, as you support theirs. The children in my life get a kick out of it when I ask them their opinion on a topic to which I am assigned. Additionally, it puts me right at their fingertips when they have a question about their assignment.

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