And in summer... do we do homework?

Several tips to make our children's homework not a problem during the vacations.

We are already immersed in school vacations, and some of our sons and daughters are faced with the reality of combining the circumstances of reconciliation of their parents, live new experiences in summer camps, return to the village with grandparents and / or relatives and enjoy in one way or another of that well-deserved rest.

And before all this, we also find that, sometimes, the school sends them "homework" or "homework" to "review" during the summer and in others, we think as parents that it may be that the children are not able to do the "homework" or "homework" during the summer, we think as parents that it may be good for them to have those moments of review if they have not been proposed by the school..

But... How can we manage these moments? Let's take a closer look at these two realities.

Addressing homework during the summer vacations

If the school has asked them to do these tasks, we should ask ourselves where this request comes from.

Is it a non-mandatory request? Great

If it is just an entertainment a proposal for entertainment and from a more recreational point of viewthen it will be easier to make and plan those moments with our sons and daughters.

We can see with them what is proposed to them, plan at what times and days we can do it, specify the possible needs that may arise. The aids or what they may want to do first.

We can plan all of this in a vacation calendar where we can specify what they are going to spend their time doing each day while we, the adults, are working and when we come back, the time they are going to spend and when we return what time we will spend together.

We can specify at what times or from what day will be when we start with these non-mandatory tasks and with the vision and premise of not being something tedious for them, lowering demands and expectations as they are on vacation and it is logical that they do not feel like doing such tasks.

Surely, if we turn it into a moment to share with the family, it will be much easier for them to agree and do it with pleasure. and do it with pleasure.

In the case of a mandatory request with a subsequent review by the teacher, the first thing we should perhaps consider would be to know why it is mandatory.

Is it a generalized request to all students in class or only to particular students?

Does my son/daughter need this review to start again next year? If there is no apparent reason for such a request, we should try to manage those times of homework and/or chores in such a way that we can make our children feel that they are part of those decisions. make our children feel that they are part of these decisions, and that at home the and that at home the demand is reduced, even if we explain the obligatory nature of the tutor.

• Inform the children of what is asked of them and what is expected of them.
• Agree with them the times of dedication to carry out the tasks.
• Agree on the days on which they will perform the tasks.
• Specify in a calendar everything agreed upon.
• Be flexible with them. They are on vacation. They need to rest, relax, play, entertain themselves? Chores can often take a back seat.

Finally, it is important to reduce the demands, with them and with ourselves. Sometimes we are not aware that that we transfer our own adult demands to our children.It is necessary to relativize with them at this time. If they do not have everything done in September, surely nothing will happen. Above all, if they receive an explanation from the parents.

And although everything explained above can be applied in the case that we know that our child could benefit from keeping that routine, we, as his or her family, also know what his or her interests are and what tasks he or she is interested in. know what their interests are and those tasks, activities, games that can help them to maintain those learning processes, and even expand them, without the need of having to do so.We also know what their interests are and those tasks, activities and games that can help them to maintain and even expand their learning, without having to be explicitly exposed by the school, so for us, the most important thing would be the last point described above.

Concluding

Let us reduce our own demands and the demands imposed on them and let us promote moments, moments and daily routines of learning, discoveries, new experiences, new interactions, new trips, which can give them and contribute as much or more than those school tasks.

Let's explain it to the teachers when we return. They will surely understand and share it.

Author: Irene de la Granja Muñoz, Special Education Teacher, Master in Psychopedagogy and member of Centro TAP.