Message from CDA, Ms. Ludwig
Does your child struggle to sit down and get their homework done? We've all heard those "Later" or "Five more minutes" responses…
Here’s a magical phrase (borrowed from Frozen 2) that can help your child when they’re struggling with homework procrastination:
"Just do the next right thing."
This simple yet powerful phrase can help with breaking down those seemingly huge and overwhelming tasks into manageable steps.
For example, if your child has a reading assignment they're putting off, the next small step could be finding their book. Then, find a cozy reading spot. Then, reading just the first page, and so on.
And if your child is not used to breaking tasks into small steps, you can guide them at first. You can say something like:
“Hey, I know that sometimes we may get overwhelmed by big tasks. I find that it’s helpful to just think about one small step at a time. So, for example, for your reading assignment, what’s the next small step?”
Wait for them to answer, and if they’re not sure, you can say:
“How about the next small step is to grab the book off the shelf?”
By breaking down that intimidating task into bite-sized steps, you're making it much easier for your child to start and keep going.
Save this week’s guide “How to Reduce Homework Procrastination,” as a reminder of this powerful tip!
