How to help your children with homework without doing their homework The effect of family

Involvement on educational outcomes is one of the most productive fields of educational research. The general conclusion of these studies is that students with parents more committed to their educational process present better results - grades, promotion rates, degrees and scores in objective tests - and greater basic skills: reading speed, vocabulary, etc. How to help your children with homework without doing their homework The effect of family.

Regardless of school results, family involvement also shows a wide range of positive effects:

Students with more involved parents have a more positive attitude towards school and greater self-concept, motivation and academic expectations.

The centers with greater family participation register less absenteeism and coexistence problems, and the teaching staff feel more supported in their task.

Finally, the most collaborative families know and are more satisfied with the operation of the center, assume more responsibilities and value the teachers more.

These evidences seem universal, being confirmed in different ages, social strata, ethnic groups, countries and cultures. As a consequence, European educational laws recognize family participation in education as a right to be guaranteed by public authorities.

So you can get involved

Notwithstanding what has been said, few concepts are as multifaceted as the term "family involvement", being able to speak of two major areas of involvement:

Participation in school.

It takes multiple forms: attending meetings and interviews; collaborate in the activities and associations of the center; and participate in its financing, management and governance. These modes of participation are associated with positive effects, although with some exceptions. For example, academic or disciplinary problems can increase center-family contacts without necessarily implying an improvement in school performance.

Involvement in the home.

It encompasses very diverse behaviors: motivating, transmitting high expectations and planning the academic future; discuss everyday school events and emphasize the usefulness of homework; offer cultural opportunities (visits to museums, libraries); provide means and resources for study and help with homework or homework.

While most of these initiatives are very positive, homework help is probably the most controversial area and where more (involvement) is not always better.

Negative influence of controlling parents

Why do studies show that helping with homework is not associated with good results?

In general, studies show conclusive results: a controlling family involvement style towards homework is negatively related to educational outcomes.

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In other words: students from families that daily and systematically control, supervise, correct, help or complete their homework have lower school performance.

There would be at least two explanations for this evidence.

The first is that a very directive or controlling parenting style limits the children's potential for autonomous development. Homework has a unique nature: it is the only regulated learning task that is carried out outside the school walls and, therefore, without direct supervision of the teacher.

So, in addition to reviewing the content discussed in the classroom, homework also seeks to promote the responsibility and autonomy of the students. Families that adopt a supervisory style curtail these capacities and generate undesirable academic dependencies.

The second argument indicates that the style of parental involvement with homework evolves according to the history and school circumstances of the children. It has been observed that families, sometimes at the request of teachers, offer more direct help to children with learning difficulties or less motivated.

Likewise, follow-up studies over time found that families with children with more academic problems in primary education tended to show more controlling behaviors in secondary education and, on the contrary, students with greater school success in primary school had parents who they enhanced their autonomy in secondary education.

Therefore, it could be that families become more controlling when school difficulties appear, and not that a controlling style is the cause of the deterioration of the results.

Negative influence of controlling parents

Why do studies show that helping with homework is not associated with good results?

In general, studies show conclusive results: a controlling family involvement style towards homework is negatively related to educational outcomes.

In other words: students from families that daily and systematically control, supervise, correct, help or complete their homework have lower school performance.

There would be at least two explanations for this evidence.

• The first is that a very directive or controlling parenting style limits the children's potential for autonomous development. Homework is unique in nature: it is the only regulated learning task that is carried out outside the school walls and, therefore, without direct supervision of the teacher.

So, in addition to reviewing the content discussed in the classroom, homework also seeks to promote the responsibility and autonomy of the students. Families that adopt a supervisory style curtail these capacities and generate undesirable academic dependencies.

• The second argument indicates that the style of parental involvement with homework evolves according to the history and school circumstances of the children. It has been observed that families, sometimes at the request of teachers, offer more direct help to children with learning difficulties or less motivated.

Similarly, follow-up studies over time found that families with children with more academic problems in primary education tended to show more controlling behaviors in secondary education and, on the contrary, students with greater school success in primary school had parents who they enhanced their autonomy in secondary education.

Therefore, it could be that families become more controlling when school difficulties appear, and not that a controlling style is the cause of the deterioration of the results.

Systematic help is counterproductive

In any case, what can be done?

The most effective parenting strategy when dealing with homework is to adopt a more indirect and communicative style of involvement: offering resources, setting routines, helping to plan and promoting work habits, especially by example.

Obviously, and especially when faced with a specific demand from the children, it is highly recommended to offer explanations and help in the face of specific difficulties, since the counterproductive is systematic and daily help.

Finally, there are studies that indicate that the styles of family involvement in the face of homework have effects on the results of educational centers, which indicates that the teaching staff plays an important role.

The homework policy should be guided by knowing that the ideal is to have few and frequent homework, and by offering training and information so that families can promote responsibility and autonomous work for their children.