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PARENTING HUB

40 Top Parenting Tips for Navigating Homework Challenges

Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge

• October 6, 2023

Navigating the intricacies of homework assignments can often feel like a maze for both parents and children alike. As someone deeply involved in child development and having worked closely with many educators, I've gathered a wealth of insights into establishing a solid homework routine. 

This article is a compilation of those tried-and-tested homework tips, aimed to ease challenges and enhance productivity. Whether you're looking to foster a deeper connection with your child's teacher or seeking effective strategies to prioritize tasks, I'm here to guide you.

Homework Tips for Parents: Break the Stress and Boost Learning Hacks from a Children’s Psychologist

Homework tip: setting up the environment.

• Establish a Routine: Set a specific time and place for homework to create consistency and predictability.
• Routine Consistency: Keep the routine consistent, even on weekends, so the child knows what to expect.
• Provide a Quiet Space: Ensure your child has a quiet, well-lit, and comfortable place to work, free from distractions. 
• Limit Distractions: Keep TVs, mobile phones, and other distracting electronics off during homework time.
• Limit Overall Stimuli: A clutter-free workspace can reduce distractions. Try to minimize items on their workspace that they might fidget with or get distracted by.
• Stay Organized: Use planners, calendars, or apps to keep track of assignment due dates.
• Equip the Space: Stock the homework area with essential supplies such as pencils, paper, erasers, and rulers

Homework Tip: Instruction Support

• Clear and Concise Instructions: Ensure instructions are short and to the point. Use visuals and watch for body language signals that show understanding.

• Break Tasks Into Manageable Chunks : If an assignment is extensive, break it down into smaller steps to make it more manageable.
• Chunking Information: Divide information into smaller, more digestible chunks. This can make the work seem more manageable.
• Set Time Limits: Use a timer to allocate specific amounts of time for each task, helping children stay on track.
• Timers: Use a visual timer, so they can see how much time they have left to work. This can make the passage of time more tangible.
• Teach Time Management: Help them prioritize their tasks, tackling more challenging or urgent assignments first.
• Stay Involved: Regularly check in with your child about their assignments and progress, offering guidance when needed.
• Interactive Tools: Consider using interactive educational tools or apps that can make learning more engaging for them.
• Ask Them To Explain What The Task Is: Gage what your child understands before they start the task. This will help set them in the right direction and give you a sense of what they know.

Homework Tip: Brain Hacks

• Physical Activity: Encourage short bursts of physical activity during breaks, like jumping jacks or a quick walk around the block. Physical activity can help increase attention span.
• Encourage Breaks: For longer homework sessions, ensure kids take short breaks to rest their minds and bodies.
• Offer Healthy Snacks : Brain-boosting snacks can help maintain energy and focus during study time. Fizzy drinks such as a seltzer-magnesium drink can stimulate and calm the brain.
• Shorter Work Periods: Divide homework time into shorter, more frequent sessions. For instance, instead of a continuous 30-minute session, try three 10-minute sessions with short breaks in between.
• Visual Schedules: Use visual aids like charts or diagrams to outline the tasks that need completion. This can help them understand what's expected and track their progress.
• Tactile Tools: For some children, using tactile tools like stress balls or fidget toys can help them channel their extra energy and maintain focus.

• Background Music: Some children focus better with low-volume, non-distracting background music or white noise. But others are stressed by it , so play around and do what works best for them (not you!). 
• Color Coding: Use colors to categorize and prioritize tasks. This can help visually differentiate and organize their work.
• Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Mindfulness techniques like deep breathing, visualization, or even short meditation sessions can help center their attention.

Homework Tip: Monitoring, Communication and Positive Reinforcement

• Stay Positive : In your own mindset. Focus on the effort and improvements, not just the end result. Praise hard work and resilience.
• Encourage Independence Over Time: While it's essential to offer support, allow kids to complete assignments on their own as they build skills before you check the work. This fosters responsibility and self-reliance.
• Be Available for Questions: Make sure your child knows they can come to you if they have questions or need clarification on a topic.
• Connect Learning to Real Life: Help your child see the real-world applications of what they're learning to make it more engaging.
• Review Completed Assignments: Go over finished homework to ensure understanding and check for errors, but avoid doing the work for them.
• Explain Consequences and Establish Rewards: Positive reinforcement can motivate your child. Consider rewards for consistent homework completion.
• Encourage a Growth Mindset: Teach your child to see challenges as opportunities for growth. Emphasize the value of persistence and learning from mistakes. Talk to kids about how regular practice builds skills even when the learning is hard!
• Positive Reinforcement: Reinforce positive behavior immediately. If they've focused well for a short span, reward that effort to encourage repetition of the desired behavior.
• Active Participation: Encourage them to engage actively with their work, such as reading aloud or teaching the content back to you. This can reinforce their understanding and attention.
• Regular Check-ins: Check in more frequently during their homework sessions, offering guidance, encouraging movement to support brain alertness.
• Immediate Feedback: Give immediate feedback on their work. This keeps them engaged and lets them know they're on the right track.
• Open Communication: Ensure your child feels comfortable discussing their challenges with you. Sometimes, they might have insights into what might help them focus better.

Long Game Parent Homework Tips

• Stay Informed: If your child has a diagnosed attention disorder, like ADHD, stay updated with the latest strategies and recommendations specific to their needs. You can join our CALM Brain Parenting Community for science-backed solutions to support attention and learning. 
• Stay in Touch with Teachers: Regular communication with educators can give insights into how your child is doing and where they might need additional help. They may benefit from school accommodations or more formal IEP support .
• Seek External Support: If focus issues persist, consider seeking help from a tutor, educational therapist, or counselor familiar with attention challenges.

Reflecting on these pivotal parent homework tips, it becomes evident that with the right strategies, we can turn potential struggles into stepping stones for success. By instilling a consistent homework routine and maintaining open communication with your child, we're setting the stage for academic achievements. 

Each child is a unique individual, and it's crucial to discover what resonates best with them during homework time. It is also important to look for root causes better and better understand why your child is struggling . 

With these tools at your disposal, I'm confident in your ability to lead your child through the myriad tasks and challenges that lie ahead. Together, let's make every homework session a journey of growth and discovery and tamp down frustration!

Always remember… “Calm Brain, Happy Family™”

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to give health advice and it is recommended to consult with a physician before beginning any new wellness regime. *The effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment vary by patient and condition. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, LLC does not guarantee certain results.

Are you looking for SOLUTIONS for your struggling child or teen? 

Dr. Roseann and her team are all about science-backed solutions, so you are in the right place!

Grab your complimentary copy of 147 Therapist-Endorsed Self-Regulation Strategies for Children: A Practical Guide for Parents

You can get her books for parents and professionals, including: It’s Gonna Be OK™: Proven Ways to Improve Your Child’s Mental Health , Teletherapy Toolkit™ and Brain Under Attack: A Resource For Parents and Caregivers of Children With PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalopathy.

If you are a business or organization that needs proactive guidance to support employee mental health or an organization looking for a brand representative, check out Dr. Roseann’s professional speaking page to see how we can work together.

Dr. Roseann is a Children’s Mental Health Expert and Therapist who has been featured in/on hundreds of  media outlets including, CBS, NBC, FOX News, PIX11 NYC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Business Insider, USA Today, CNET, Marth Stewart, and PARENTS. FORBES called her, “A thought leader in children’s mental health.” 

She is the founder and director of The Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health and Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, LLC. Dr. Roseann is a Board Certified Neurofeedback (BCN) Practitioner, a Board Member of the Northeast Region Biofeedback Society (NRBS), Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP) and an Amen Clinic Certified Brain Health Coach.  She is also a member of The International Lyme Disease and Associated Disease Society (ILADS), The American Psychological Association (APA), Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR) and The Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB).

© Roseann-Capanna-Hodge, LLC 2023

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Battles Over Homework: Advice For Parents

Guidelines for helping children develop self-discipline with their homework..

Posted September 5, 2012 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma

I would like to offer some advice about one of the most frequent problems presented to me in over 30 years of clinical practice: battles over homework. I have half-jokingly told many parents that if the schools of New York State no longer required homework, our children’s education would suffer (slightly). But, as a child psychologist, I would be out of business.

Many parents accept this conflict with their children as an unavoidable consequence of responsible parenting . These battles, however, rarely result in improved learning or performance in school. More often than not, battles over homework lead to vicious cycles of nagging by parents and avoidance or refusal by children, with no improvement in a child’s school performance. And certainly no progress toward what should be our ultimate goals : helping children enjoy learning and develop age-appropriate discipline and independence with respect to their schoolwork.

Before I present a plan for reducing battles over homework, it is important to begin with this essential reminder:

The solution to the problem of homework always begins with an accurate diagnosis and a recognition of the demands placed on your child. Parents should never assume that a child who resists doing homework is “lazy.”

Every child whose parents or teachers report ongoing resistance to completing schoolwork or homework; every child whose performance in school is below expectations based on his parents’ or teachers’ intuitive assessment of his intellectual potential; and every child who, over an extended period of time, complains that he “hates school” or “hates reading,” should be evaluated for the presence of an attention or learning disorder.

These children are not lazy. Your child may be anxious, frustrated, discouraged, distracted, or angry—but this is not laziness. I frequently explain to parents that, as a psychologist, the word lazy is not in my dictionary. Lazy, at best, is a description, not an explanation.

For children with learning difficulties, doing their homework is like running with a sprained ankle: It is possible, although painful, and he will look for ways to avoid or postpone this painful and discouraging task.

A Homework Plan

Homework, like any constructive activity, involves moments of frustration, discouragement, and anxiety . If you begin with some appreciation of your child’s frustration and discouragement, you will be better able to put in place a structure that helps him learn to work through his frustration—to develop increments of frustration tolerance and self-discipline.

I offer families who struggle with this problem a Homework Plan:

• Set aside a specified, and limited, time for homework. Establish, early in the evening, a homework hour.
• For most children, immediately after school is not the best time for homework. This is a time for sports, for music and drama, and free play.
• During the homework hour, all electronics are turned off—for the entire family.
• Work is done in a communal place, at the kitchen or dining room table. Contrary to older conventional wisdom , most elementary school children are able to work more much effectively in a common area, with an adult and even other children present, than in the “quiet” of their rooms.
• Parents may do their own ”homework” during this time, but they are present and continually available to help, to offer encouragement, and to answer children’s questions. Your goal is to create, to the extent possible, a library atmosphere in your home, again, for a specified and limited period of time. Ideally, therefore, parents should not make or receive telephone calls during this hour. And when homework is done, there is time for play.
• Begin with a reasonable, a doable, amount of time set aside for homework. If your child is unable to work for 20 minutes, begin with 10 minutes. Then try 15 minutes in the next week. Acknowledge every increment of effort, however small.
• Be positive and give frequent encouragement. Make note of every improvement, not every mistake.
• Be generous with your praise. Praise their effort, not their innate ability. But do not be afraid of praise.
• Anticipate setbacks. After a difficult day, reset for the following day.
• Give them time. A child’s difficulty completing homework begins as a problem of frustration and discouragement, but it is then complicated by defiant attitudes and feelings of unfairness. A homework plan will begin to reduce these defiant attitudes, but this will not happen overnight.

Most families have found these suggestions helpful, especially for elementary school children. Establishing a homework hour allows parents to move away from a language of threats (“If you don’t__ you won’t be able to__”) to a language of opportunities (“When” or “As soon as” you have finished__ we’ll have a chance to__”).

Of course, for many hurried families, there are complications and potential glitches in implementing any homework plan. It is often difficult, with children’s many activities, to find a consistent time for homework. Some flexibility, some amendments to the plan, may be required. But we should not use the complications of scheduling or other competing demands as an excuse, a reason not to establish the structure of a reasonable homework routine.

Copyright Ken Barish, Ph.D.

See Pride and Joy: A Guide to Understanding Your Child’s Emotions and Solving Family Problems .

Kenneth Barish, Ph.D. , is a clinical associate professor of Psychology at Weill Medical College, Cornell University.

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Khan Academy Blog

Making Homework Easier: Tips and Tools for Parents 

posted on September 20, 2023

By Stephanie Yamkovenko , group manager of Khan Academy’s Digital Marketing Team.

Homework can present challenges for parents and children alike. You naturally want to provide support for your child’s learning journey and ensure they are reaching their full potential. In this blog post, we will delve into practical strategies to assist your child with their homework. From fostering understanding and offering encouragement to breaking down tasks and implementing rewards, we will explore a variety of effective approaches to help your child achieve academic success.

Step 1: Set Up Your Child for Success

Your child’s study environment can have a significant impact on their homework performance. Create a space that is free from distractions like the television, smartphones, or noisy siblings. The study space should be comfortable, well lit, and have all the necessary materials your child might need, such as pens, papers, and textbooks. If your child’s workspace is noisy or uncomfortable, they may have difficulty focusing on their homework, resulting in lower productivity. 

For example, if you live in a small apartment, consider setting up a designated corner with a small desk or table where your child can focus on their work. You can use dividers or screens to create a sense of privacy and minimize distractions.

If the only place to do homework is in the dining room or kitchen, try to establish a routine where the area is cleared and organized before study time. This can help signal to your child that it’s time to concentrate and be productive.

Remember, it’s important to adapt to your specific circumstances and make the best of the available space. The key is to create a dedicated study area that promotes focus and minimizes interruptions regardless of the size or location of your home.

Try Confidence Boosters for Your Child Here!

Step 2: make it fun.

It’s important to make homework fun and engaging for your child. Here are some examples of how you can do it:

• Use games : Incorporate educational games like card games, board games, or puzzles that align with the subject your child is learning. For instance, use Scrabble to practice spelling or Sudoku to enhance problem-solving skills.
• Turn it into a challenge : Create a friendly competition between siblings or friends by setting goals or time limits for completing assignments. Offer small rewards or incentives for accomplishing tasks.
• Make it interactive : Use hands-on activities or experiments to reinforce concepts learned in class. For science or math, conduct simple experiments at home or use manipulatives like blocks or counters to visualize abstract concepts.
• Use technology : Explore online educational platforms or apps that offer interactive learning experiences. There are various educational games, virtual simulations, and videos available that can make homework more enjoyable.
• Incorporate creativity : Encourage your child to express their understanding through art, storytelling, or multimedia presentations. For example, they can create a comic strip to summarize a story or make a short video to explain a concept.

Remember, by making homework enjoyable, you can help your child develop a positive attitude towards learning.

Step 3: Use Rewards

Rewards can be a powerful motivational tool for children. Offering positive reinforcement can encourage them to complete their homework on time and to the best of their ability. 

Here are some examples of rewards our team has used with their children:

• Extra screen time: “I use Apple parental controls to add screen time on their iPad.”
• Access to a favorite toy: “My eight year old has a drum kit, which drives us all up the wall. (Thanks, Grandma!) But when they’ve been doing a lot of school work, we put on headphones and let him go nuts.”
• Praise for a job well done: “Specific, measurable praise is what works best.” 
• Trip to the park: “A trip to the park is good for everyone, especially for the kids to run around with the doggos.”
• Movie night: “I know every word and song lyric in Moana ; we now reserve showings for good behavior.” 
• Stickers or stamps: “Gold stars were such a thing growing up in the 80s; turns out they still work.”
• Stay up a little later: “An extra 30 minutes feels like a whole day for my young ones; use this reward with caution as it can become the expectation!”

So, celebrate your child’s efforts and encourage them to continue doing their best.

Step 4: Break Down Difficult Tasks

When facing daunting homework assignments, follow these step-by-step instructions to break down the tasks into smaller, manageable chunks:

• Understand the requirements and scope of the task.
• Break down the assignment into individual tasks or sub-tasks.  
• Splitting the middle term
• Using formula
• Using Quadratic formula
• Using algebraic identities
• Determine the order in which tasks should be completed based on importance or difficulty. 
• Start with the easiest task. Begin with the task that seems the least challenging or time-consuming.
• Progress to more challenging tasks: Once the easier tasks are completed, move on to more difficult ones.
• Take breaks: Schedule short breaks between tasks to avoid burnout and maintain focus.
• Check completed tasks for accuracy and make any necessary revisions.
• Finish the remaining task(s) with the same approach.
• Celebrate small achievements to boost confidence and keep motivation high.

By following these steps, you can make daunting homework assignments more manageable and less overwhelming for your child.

Step 5: Get Targeted Help

If your child is struggling with homework, it might be worth considering seeking personalized assistance. You have the option to search for professional tutors or explore online tutoring platforms, such as Khan Academy’s AI tutor, Khanmigo .

This AI tutor can offer personalized guidance and support tailored to your child’s specific needs, helping them grasp complex concepts and practice essential skills. Incorporating this approach can effectively complement your child’s learning and enhance their homework performance.

Enhance your child’s learning and boost homework performance!

Homework can be a challenge for both parents and children. But with the right approach, you can help your child overcome difficulties and support their learning. Encourage and understand your child, create a comfortable environment, break down difficult tasks, use rewards, get professional help when needed, and make it fun. With these tips and techniques, you can help your child achieve success, develop a love for learning, and achieve academic excellence. Remember that each child learns differently, so it’s essential to adjust your approach to meet their unique needs.

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An Age-By-Age Guide to Helping Kids Manage Homework

D o you ever wonder whether homework is gauging the child’s ability to complete assignments or the parent’s? On one end of the spectrum, a parent might never mention homework and assume it gets done independently; on the other end are the parents who micromanage to be sure every worksheet is absolutely perfect.

Being too laissez faire about homework might deny a child the support they need to develop executive functioning skills, but being too involved could stifle their independence. So how much parent participation in homework is actually appropriate throughout a child’s education?

Basic homework tips

According to Scholastic , you should follow these rules of thumb to support your child during homework (without going overboard):

• Stay nearby and available for questions without getting right in the middle of homework.
• Avoid the urge to correct mistakes unless your child asks for help.
• Instead of nagging, set up a homework routine with a dedicated time and place.
• Teach time management for a larger project by helping them break it into chunks.

Child psychologist Dr. Emily W. King recently wrote about rethinking homework in her newsletter. King explains at what ages kids are typically able to do homework independently, but she writes that each child’s ability to concentrate at the end of the day and use executive functioning skills for completing tasks is very individual. I talked to her for more information on how much parental involvement in homework completion is needed, according to a child’s age and grade level.

Kindergarten to second grade

Whether children even need homework this early is a hot debate. Little ones are still developing fine motor skills and their ability to sit still and pay attention at this age.

“If a child is given homework before their brain and body are able to sit and focus independently, then we are relying on the parent or other caregivers to sit with the child to help them focus,” King said. “Think about when the child is able to sit and focus on non-academic tasks like dinner, art, or music lessons. This will help you tease out executive functioning skills from academic understanding.”

Elementary-age children need time for unstructured play and structured play like music, arts, and sports. They need outside time, free time, and quiet time, King said. For children who are not ready for independent work, nightly reading with another family member is enough “homework,” she said.

Third to fifth grades

Many children will be able to do homework independently in grades 3-5. Even then, their ability to focus and follow through may vary from day to day.

“Most children are ready for practicing independent work between third and fifth grade, but maybe not yet in the after-school hours when they are tired and want to rest or play. We need to begin exposing children to organization and structure independently in late elementary school to prepare them for more independence in middle school,” King said.

Neurodivergent kids may need more parental support for several years before they work independently.

“Neurodivergent children, many of whom have executive functioning weaknesses, are not ready to work independently in elementary school. Children without executive functioning weaknesses (e.g., the ability to remain seated and attend to a task independently) are able to do this somewhere between third and fifth grade, but it’s very possible they can work independently at school but be too tired to do it later in the afternoon,” King said. “We need to follow the child’s skills and give them practice to work independently when they seem ready. Of course, if a child wants to do extra work after school due to an interest, go for it.”

For students who are not ready to work independently in middle school, it is better to reduce the amount of homework they are expected to complete so they can practice independence and feel successful.

Middle school

In sixth grade and later, kids are really developing executive functioning skills like planning, organizing, paying attention, initiating, shifting focus, and execution. They will still need your encouragement to keep track of assignments, plan their time, and stick to a homework routine.

“Middle school students need lots of organization support and putting systems in place to help them keep track of assignments, due dates, and materials,” King said.

High school

By this point, congratulations: You can probably be pretty hands-off with homework. Remain open and available if your teen needs help negotiating a problem, but executing plans should be up to them now.

“In high school, parents are working to put themselves out of a job and begin stepping back as children take the lead on homework. Parents of high schoolers are ‘homework consultants,’” King said. “We are there to help solve problems, talk through what to say in an email to a teacher, but we are not writing the emails or talking to the teachers for our kids.”

What if homework is not working for them (or you)

There are a number of reasons a child might not be managing homework at the same level as their peers, including academic anxiety and learning disabilities.

If your child is showing emotional distress at homework time, it might be a sign that they have run out of gas from the structure, socialization, and stimulation they have already been through at school that day. One way to support kids is to teach them how to have a healthy balance of work and play time.

“When we ask students to keep working after school when their tank is on empty, we likely damage their love of learning and fill them with dread for tomorrow,” King wrote in her newsletter.

King said in her experience as a child psychologist, the amount of homework support a child needs is determined by their individual abilities and skills more than their age or grade level.

“All of these steps vary for a neurodivergent child and we are not following these guidelines by age or grade but rather by their level of skills development to become more independent,” she said. “In order to independently complete homework, a child must be able to have attended to the directions in class, brought the materials home, remember to get the materials out at home, remember to begin the task, understand the task, remain seated and attention long enough to complete the task, be able to complete the task, return the work to their backpack, and return the work to the teacher. If any of these skills are weak or the child is not able to do these independently, there will be a breakdown in the system of homework. You can see why young students and neurodivergent students would struggle with this process.”

If you and your child have trouble meeting homework expectations, talk to their teacher about what could be contributing to the problem and how to modify expectations for them.

“Get curious about your child’s skill level at that time of day,” King said. “Are they able to work independently at school but not at home? Are they not able to work independently any time of day? Are they struggling with this concept at school, too? When are they successful?”

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100+ Positive Comments to Write on Student Papers That’ll Have a Lasting Impact

by Sara Ipatenco

Everyone loves to hear something nice, and that includes your students! Students of any age will feel so good about themselves when they read positive comments written right on their assignments. Seeing positive words will also give students the motivation to keep working hard because they know their efforts are being recognized. Positive and meaningful praise will also help students form a close bond with their teacher, which encourages children to work hard and learn a lot. Pick up your favorite pen and get writing.

Here are more than 100 positive comments your students would love to read!

• This is some awesome thinking!
• What terrific math skills you’re showing!
• You are an amazing writer!
• Wow! You have improved so much!
• You are showing excellent understanding!
• This is clear, concise, and complete!
• What a powerful argument!
• I knew you could do it!
• Wonderful ideas!
• It was a pleasure to grade this!
• Keep up the incredible work!
• My goodness, how impressive!
• You’re showing inventive ideas!
• You’ve shown so much growth!
• Interesting thoughts!
• I love your neat work!
• Doesn’t it feel good to do such great work?
• First-rate work!
• This is fascinating information!
• You inspire me!
• This is right on target!
• What an astounding observation!
• This is very well thought out!
• I can tell you’ve been practicing!
• You’ve come a long way!
• This has pizazz!
• I can tell you’ve been paying attention!
• Reading this made my day!
• This is very perceptive!
• What an accomplishment!
• You make a great point here!
• I really like your creativity!
• You are an exceptional student!
• You have brilliant thoughts!
• This is beautiful!
• Dazzling examples!
• Vivid language choices!
• You express your ideas so well!
• This was a delight to read!
• This is a persuasive argument!
• You show an impressive grasp on this subject!
• You are gifted!
• You are so clever!
• What a great learner you are!
• I value these thoughts!
• You are such a motivated worker!
• You show great attention to detail!
• You are so artistic!
• I am so proud of you!
• Lovely handwriting!
• Great example!
• You worked so hard!
• You are a star!
• You learned so much!
• You are so smart!
• You’ve made a lot of progress!
• What bright thinking!
• You rocked this!
• Great thinking!
• You did your best!
• I love this!
• You can do hard things!
• You are talented!
• You amaze me!
• You discovered something new!
• I enjoyed reading this!
• You are so ambitious!
• I appreciate your hard work!
• This is magical work!
• You did it!
• You’ve achieved so much!
• You really challenged yourself!
• I admire you!
• You are unstoppable!
• You have great ideas!
• This really sparkles!
• What a great vision you have!
• You have really improved!
• You’ve really grown!
• You are a snappy problem-solver!
• This really shines!
• You make me want to learn more!
• This made me smile!
• You are a winner!
• I love your creativity!
• You are so intelligent!
• You should be proud!
• You have amazing potential!
• This is top-notch!
• You deserve a high five!
• Way to think it through!
• This blew me away!
• These are fabulous ideas!
• This gets my seal of approval!
• This is quality work!
• You reached your goal!
• Out of this world!
• You’re on top of it!
• I can tell this is your best effort!
• I love how motivated you are!
• You are so focused!
• I’m so lucky to grade your work!
• I love your enthusiasm!

Your students will glow when they review their work as they read your positive comments. They’ll love it so much that you can look forward to even more excellent work to comment on!

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The Pathway 2 Success

Solutions for Social Emotional Learning & Executive Functioning

20+ Homework Strategies for Parents

December 13, 2022 by pathway2success Leave a Comment

Homework can be a big source of frustration for kids and parents at home. Even more, it can be a challenge that carries over from home to school when the child doesn’t complete the work and is behind in class.

If your child is struggling with homework, read through these strategies and give some a try. As a note, not every single strategy is going to work for every child. To start, pick a few and give them a try. See what works and what doesn’t. Then, move forward together.

If you are an educator looking for strategies for kids, these can help you too. You might even want to pass them along to families to give strategies and support along the way.

Homework Strategies for Home:

Set up a binder organization system. First and foremost, it’s helpful to set your child up with a binder organization system that works for them. This might look different for different learners. One option is having one binder for every class/subject plus a dedicated homework binder. This is ideal for kids who are switching classes and have a good ability to keep track of different binders. In each binder, add a pocket folder and extra paper. In the homework binder, have your child add their homework agenda (read more about that below), a pencil pouch, and a pocket folder just for homework. If this system is too much, consider having one larger binder that contains a homework folder and all classes. You can separate the classes with dividers. While setting up a system most definitely takes time and planning, it helps keep things more orderly in the future.

Use a homework folder. A dedicated homework folder is key to making sure pages get brought home to finish and find their way back to the classroom to be turned in. Using a pocket folder, label one side of the folder “to do” and one side “done.” Explain that assignments that need to be completed, will go on the “to do” side, while pages that are finished will stay in “done.” It’s advisable to purchase a name brand folder to help make sure it lasts a bit longer and stays in the binder. Another tip is to go to the store with your child and let them choose the folder design. There are many different folders with everything from kittens to race cars. Letting the child choose the folder helps them be part of the organization process and might encourage a bit more buy-in. You can use this free homework binder template to get yourself started, or you can make your own!

Teach organization skills on an ongoing basis. Since a big part of completing homework is about organization, it’s important to teach and practice these skills often. Talk about where things should go in the house, take a 5-minute organization break when you need it, and model what organizing materials looks like. If your child struggles significantly with organization, consider reading up more on interventions for organization challenges .

Set up a homework spot. Choose one spot in the house where your child can productively accomplish work on a regular basis. This might be a downstairs office or just the kitchen table. Most importantly, aim to make it consistent and distraction-free.

Have kids use a homework log or agenda. A homework log or agenda is a dedicated place to write homework every day. Often, schools provide homework logs with spots for kids to write work down. If this works, great! Sometimes, though, one isn’t provided or the space might be too small for a child to write in. If that’s the case, you can make your own or use a journal. The key is to set it up so that your child has one spot to write homework down every single day.

Keep the homework area stocked and organized. Keep extra pencils, coloring utensils, and paper ready to go when your child needs it. Having materials organized and stocked will reduce time your child goes looking for it when they need it for an assignment.

Check over the homework log together. Before starting homework, spend a few minutes going over the homework log with your child. Ask them to show you and tell you what assignments they have to do tonight. This is also a great time for positive reinforcement when all homework assignments are clearly outlined, or constructive criticism when they are not. For example, you might say, “I noticed you wrote down ‘study’ under math. What do you think might be more helpful than that for next time?” Then, talk about how you could write down the chapters or topics to study. This homework log check also helps build accountability for your child.

Find alternative ways to check homework. Kids and teens aren’t always perfect about writing their assignments down. Check to see if your child’s teacher has a website where homework is listed. Bookmark the site and have your child use it when they forget to write assignments down. It’s important that it becomes their responsibility to check. If a teacher website isn’t an option, have a homework buddy from class that your child can touch base with. Again, this should be your child’s responsibility when possible. The idea is to teach your child that it is actually easier just to write it down correctly in class the first time!

Be a motivator. It’s no secret that homework isn’t often a favorite activity for kids and teens. Help make it easier by providing encouragement and support in a positive way. You can even start with practicing some positive self-talk and positive affirmations .

Use a timer. A timer can be a valuable tool to help set boundaries and allow breaks. Choose an amount of time that your child should be working, such as 20 minutes. Set the timer and make this a working time. Once the timer goes off, allow a 5 or 10 minute break before heading back to work. A visual timer can be especially helpful in this case because it shows kids and teens just how long they have left until they get their next break. Of course, a simple timer on the oven works, too.

Keep distractions away. We all know that kids and teens love their cell phones. The truth is that these devices are extremely distracting during working times. Make it an expectation that electronics stay away during homework time. Of course, it’s important to mention that this might be incredibly difficult for some kids at first. Work at it to make it a habit for the long-term.

Schedule breaks. It’s healthy to take breaks during long working sessions. Plan to take a break after each course assignment, or after a period of time. Of course, the number of breaks is going to vary greatly depending on your child.

Plan homework times. When it comes to homework, routine is a big part of the puzzle. Plan and schedule daily homework times when possible. Aim for shortly after your child gets home from school if that’s an option. This can allow a short break but still the time to finish the work they need to before dinner and night-time routines. Again, this is going to vary depending on every family situation, since parent work schedules and sports might interfere. If that’s the case, choose any time that works for you. It’s most important to stick with it so that it becomes a routine.

Model focused work. When it’s homework time, model what focused work looks like. While your child is working on assignments, read a book, do crossword puzzles, write in a journal, or complete some work of your own!

Build in choice. Give kids some say when it comes to homework! This will help them feel more empowered and independent. You can let them choose which assignment to start first or how they’d like to start a project. A little bit of choice can go a long way.

Create a homework checklist. Help your child create a daily checklist for homework each day. Encourage them to list out everything they need to accomplish on a piece of paper. Then, prioritize what is most important and start there. Have them check off each assignment on the checklist as they go. This can be done on paper or on a mini whiteboard.

Find a homework buddy. Make sure your child has a friend or classmate they can reach out to when they need homework support. This can be beneficial if they don’t know the assignment or have a question on a specific problem.

Be flexible. If your child wants to do homework a little bit differently than you would recommend, let them try. For example, maybe your child needs to spread out and work on the floor. Perhaps they might really do better while listening to music. These are all recommendations, strategies, and ideas, but remember that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Be open-minded and find what works for your child.

Recognize when something is taking too long. You know your child best. If he or she spending two hours on a homework assignment, consider taking a look at it together. Provide support and encourage strategies to help them move along. When nothing seems to work, you can also consider adding a note to the back of the page and sending an email to the teacher letting them know the challenges you encountered.

Check homework when finished. Depending on the needs of the child, it may be important to check over and review homework together. Not only it is important to check for completion, but for quality of work. If work isn’t done well, it is worth going back and having your child add or fix what they need to. Eventually, the goal is that they will learn that it’s just easier to do it right the first time!

Plan fun activities after homework. Family game time, watching a favorite show, or heading out for ice cream are all great ways to naturally reward being finished with work.

Develop a home incentive plan. If completing homework is continually a struggle and you suspect motivation is the culprit, consider an incentive or reward plan. Talk with your child about what they would like to earn, such as a movie night with friends or a weekend sleepover. Come up with the terms (such as homework completed every night for a week) and make it happen. The goal with an incentive plan is to develop positive habits and create independence.

Keep in touch with teachers. Remember to stay in contact with your child’s teachers. They are often a source of helpful tips and strategies, but they can’t provide that information if they don’t know your child is struggling. When talking to your child’s teacher about homework challenges, be specific about the difficulties you are seeing an open-minded to trying some strategies. Avoid the blame game. It’s always best when families work with schools on homework issues. If issues continue, do your best to document them and request a face-to-face meeting to discuss further and come up with ideas. Using actual homework samples might also be helpful.

Be a united front with teachers. Even if homework becomes a source of frustration, it’s helpful to remember to act as a united front with your child’s teachers. Certainly, it’s helpful to voice your concerns (and even frustrations) with your child’s teacher privately, but doing it in front of the child can send the wrong message. Again, working together always works best.

Remember to start with just a few strategies, give them a fair shot, and see where they take you. The goal is always that your child can complete the homework independently and feel successful. This may take time, practice, and changing up the strategies along the way, but homework success is possible!

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168 Sample Report Card Comments (Plus a Printable Version)

Help has arrived just in time for report cards!

Each progress report and report card provides an opportunity for you to give parents insight into their child’s performance beyond a letter or numerical grade for conduct or academics. Parents want to know how their child is doing, but they also want to know that you get their child. Report cards also help students understand what they are doing well … as well as areas where they could improve. The best way to get these points across is via meaningful comments. Need help? We’ve got dozens of sample report card comments below that are sorted for students at every level: emerging, developing, proficient, and extending standards, plus comments that address behavior, social skills, and more.

Get a free Google Slide version of these comments by submitting your email.

Tips for report card comments

Before using the list below, it’s important to know that teacher comments should be accurate, specific, and personal. The comments below are structured to allow you to fill in the blank for a particular subject or behavior, and then expand the comment. Sometimes you might require an action like a meeting with the parent. Other times you may be encouraging the student to do something in school or at home to improve on a skill or get more practice. Either way, these sample report card comments will establish the how that attaches to the what of any number or letter grade you are documenting.

Sample report card comments for students with emerging skills

It’s often difficult to know the cause of why a student’s skills are still emerging. In these situations, parents can often help you get to the bottom of it. Be specific about areas of difficulty in these comments, and don’t be afraid to ask for a parent’s help. Here are some ideas:

• Your student could use some extra practice in [subject]. Please have them study [skill] for [time] each night.
• Your student hasn’t yet had the chance to master [specific skill]. Review sessions are available [time frame].
• Your student may need additional assistance with [skill/subject]. Completing classwork and homework is the first step to improving.

• Your student needs more practice with [specific skill]. Please check that they have completed their homework each evening.
• We will continue focusing on reinforcing your student’s positive efforts.
• Your student should put more effort into [subject area] to avoid incorrect or incomplete assignments.
• Your student would benefit from more active participation in small-group activities.
• This semester/trimester, I would like your student to work on …

Sample report card comments to encourage a follow-up phone call

We can think of many situations where a report card comment can be the first step in scheduling a phone call or meeting to discuss a concern. Write something positive about the child’s personality while requesting a parent meeting or phone call. Some examples are:

• Your student is always respectful, but I am concerned about their work. When can we meet?
• Your child is inquisitive and engaged in class, but they have quite a bit of missing work. Please call me to discuss some strategies.
• Your child has a wonderful sense of humor/is helpful/is kind but fails to turn in their assignments. Let’s meet to come up with a plan to move forward.

• Let’s work on strategies that will help your student follow through on their assignments.

Sample report card comments about (negative) behavior

Parents want to know how their child has behaved, even if they are not surprised by the behavior. Behavior can be even more difficult to write about than academics. Be careful to avoid personal attacks or statements that can make the parent or child feel judged. For difficult behaviors, stick to statistics and/or basic descriptions. Try things like:

• Your student struggles with [DESIRED behavior]. We will continue to work on this behavior at school.
• Your child struggles with [UNDESIRABLE behavior] and needs to focus on [DESIRED behavior].
• When your student is focused, they are a pleasure to have in class. Let’s meet to discuss strategies to keep them on track.
• Your student often struggles to focus in class, which harms their ability to engage well with class activities and assignments.
• [Student] is working on independent work production and staying on task.
• [Student] often struggles to focus in class, which impacts their ability to engage in class activities.
• I encourage [student] to use time wisely to finish tasks in a timely manner.
• I encourage [student] to be more responsible in completing tasks without frequent reminders.
• I encourage [student] to show that they are properly engaged in learning by improving quality of work and use of class time. Please support this at home by [idea here].
• Your student needs to slow down in order to produce quality/carefully done work.

• Your student needs to follow classroom rules more closely throughout the school day.
• Your student has exhibited [UNDESIRABLE behavior]. We will continue to reinforce appropriate behaviors.
• Your student exhibited [UNDESIRABLE behavior] [this many] times this quarter. Let’s work to reduce the incidence of this behavior to [goal] times.
• [Student] is encouraged to demonstrate more responsible attitudes and behaviors in the classroom.
• [Student] is working on using appropriate language at all times.
• [Student] requires encouragement to listen attentively during group instruction.
• [Student] requires frequent reminders to remain attentive during instruction.
• [Student] is working on voicing feelings and opinions and listening to others.

Sample report card comments for students with developing skills

For students who are still developing, focus on any improvement while also providing suggestions to keep the momentum going. Try these comments:

• Your student has come so far in [subject]! Focusing on [important skill] is the next step.
• Your student has made so much progress! They still struggle with [important skill], so that should be our next focus.
• Your child has done well, but I am concerned that their lack of [listening/focus/motivation] has contributed to a lower grade than I know they could achieve.
• Let’s work on motivating your student to reach their potential.
• I would like to see your student pay closer attention to [subject/topic] in order to get a better grade.

• If your student works as hard on [important skill] as they have worked on [improved subject], then they will be caught up in no time!
• Your child is very engaged during whole-group [subject instruction] but struggles to work independently.
• Your student’s persistence is exemplary.
• When motivated, your child does well on class assignments. We need to extend that motivation further.
• Your child has improved significantly but still needs to slow down and check their work to make sure that all answers are correct.
• Your student is struggling to understand new concepts in [subject]. Paying closer attention to the assigned reading and class lecture would be beneficial.
• The hard work is paying off! Let’s keep it up when we start working on [next skill].
• Your child is enthusiastic but still doesn’t understand [topic]. Additional work on this topic would be incredibly helpful.

• Your child requests a great deal of adult assistance when completing school work. Let’s work on encouraging independent work.

Sample report card comments for students with proficient skills

Let the parent know all the positives about their child and perhaps encourage students to dig just a little bit deeper.

• Your student comes to school each day prepared to work hard.
• I appreciate that your student does their best every single day.

• Your student is an enthusiastic member of the class and shows a willingness to learn.
• I enjoy how invested your child is in their learning.
• I appreciate your child’s dedication to their studies in my class.
• Not only is your student strong academically, but they are also a leader in the classroom.
• I appreciate that your student is always committed to doing their best.
• Your student understands the material well. Let’s find a way to help them shine.
• Your child has the potential to be at the top of the class.
• With a little more effort, your child could move up to the advanced group in [the subject where effort is lacking].

• Your child puts in great work in [preferred subject]! If they apply those skills to [non-preferred subject], there’s no stopping them.
• Your child excels at applying what they learn in the classroom to real-world and real-life situations. With a little more work, they could really go far!

Sample report card comments for students with advanced skills

Positive behaviors deserve just as much (if not more) attention as negative behaviors. These comments can be the most fun to write. Begin with a simple stem and then fill in the personal details that will make the parent smile. Example sentence starters are:

• Your child exhibits exceptional focus and diligence in their work.
• Your student is excellent at taking ownership of their learning.
• I appreciate that your child is committed to doing their best.
• Your student seeks new challenges.
• Your child has a fantastic work ethic.
• Your child exceeds expectations on a regular basis.
• Your student avoids careless errors through attention to detail.

• Your child sets high standards for themself and achieves them.
• Teaching your child is always an adventure! I love it when they …
• Your child conducts themself with maturity.
• Your child is able to focus and stays on task during independent work times.
• Your student uses instincts to deal with matters independently and in a positive way.
• I have enjoyed your child’s sense of humor in our classroom, as well as …
• Your child has an impressive understanding and knowledge about their interests.

Sample report card comments to showcase students’ strengths

Students who excel at helping out others deserve to have their skills mentioned in comments!

• [Student] is confident, positive, and a great role model for their classmates.
• [Student] is a valuable part of class. They are among the first to help and mentor classmates.
• [Student] has shown an ability to set goals and work to achieve them.
• [Student] is engaged and able to set their own learning targets.
• [Student] is an active participant. They listen attentively and make an effort to avoid distractions that could disrupt their learning.
• [Student] is accountable for their actions and takes opportunities to improve.
• [Student] relates well to classmates and appreciates peers’ perspectives.
• [Student] demonstrates emotional maturity and responds appropriately to feedback.
• [Student] always looks for ways to be helpful in the classroom.
• [Student] is dependable and reliable and follows through on commitments.
• Your student relates well to classmates and is appreciative of different perspectives and experiences.

• It is a joy teaching your student! I can always count on them to …
• Your child makes the classroom a brighter place. They often …
• Your student’s conduct is exemplary. They …
• Your student works well with classmates and often takes a leadership role.
• Not only is your child a strong student, but they are also a wonderful human being.
• Your student displays good citizenship by assisting other students.
• Your child demonstrates responsibility daily by caring for the materials in our classroom conscientiously.
• Your child is exceptionally organized and takes care of their things.
• Your child is thoughtful and kind in their interactions with others.
• Your student plans and carries out group activities carefully.
• Your child is a very special student and one that I will never forget. I will miss them next year!

While all of these comments can supplement the grades on a report card, you don’t have to wait to use them. Sending notes home between progress reports and report cards with little comments like these can bolster the parent-teacher relationship. Write them in communication folders or on postcards for that extra school-home connection.

Sample report card comments to highlight positive behavior

Sometimes you’ll have a lot to say about a student’s positive behaviors. Parents love to hear that their kids are model citizens. Here are comments that communicate all the good behaviors you see in class.

• [Student] works well with classmates on group work and often takes a leadership role.
• [Student] shows a positive attitude when working with peers. They take and give suggestions and directions effectively.
• [Student] excels at applying what they learn to real-world situations.
• It is a pleasure to have [student]’s enthusiasm and maturity in class.
• [Student] is an enthusiastic member of class and shows a willingness to learn.
• [Student] shows responsible behavior, works well in a group, and shows appreciation for classmates’ efforts.

• [Student] is focused during class activities and participates in discussions.
• [Student] works on independent work with focus and confidence.
• [Student] has overcome big challenges this year.
• [Student] follows directions promptly and accurately.
• [Student] transitions easily between classroom activities without distraction.
• [Student] is polite and uses good manners in the classroom.
• [Student] responds appropriately when corrected.
• [Student] takes classroom jobs seriously and demonstrates responsibility when completing them.

Sample report card comments for math

Providing specific information about how a child is doing in core subjects helps parents know exactly what to expect on the grades portion of the report card. And providing a positive statement about a subject can help you lead into a statement about what the child needs to work on.

• [Student] has a good understanding of math concepts taught this year. They continue to complete work correctly and enjoy math activities.
• [Student] has a positive attitude toward math but has trouble in a few key areas [list here]. Practicing every night at home will help them improve in these areas.
• [Student] demonstrates a good understanding of math concepts and communicates clearly and with strong justification.
• [Student] seems to need continuous encouragement in math. They continue to struggle with foundational math concepts for [grade level].

• [Student] is having a difficult time with certain concepts in math. Areas in need of extra work include [list here].
• [Student] is struggling to maintain pace in math. They could benefit from [practice activity here].
• [Student] is easily distracted during math and this impacts their learning.
• [Student] does well on math assignments but struggles with tests. Please make sure they study and prepare for tests as they approach.

Sample report card comments for reading and writing

Just like with math, it’s good to comment on the specific aspects of academics that students are doing well and those that they can work on. Use these comments to explain where a student is in their reading and writing progress.

• [Student] has made great improvements in [spelling, comprehension, reading] and could use support in [spelling, comprehension, reading]. Please reach out if you need supplemental learning materials to use for practice at home.
• [Student] always puts effort into their writing work.

• [Student] is able to take new skills and apply them to writing assignments.
• [Student] is able to offer responses to text and supports ideas with sound reasoning and examples.
• [Student] reads with fluency and comprehension.  
• [Student] is working on reading fluency. They would benefit from reading aloud at home.
• [Student] is able to understand and discuss text read aloud.
• [Student] consistently reads grade-level material.
• [Student] is able to choose books to read that they really enjoy.
• [Student] uses editing skills to edit writing to improve grammar and punctuation.
• [Student] organizes writing well and organizes thoughts into complete paragraphs.

• [Student] is able to analyze character actions and story plots and make inferences from what they read.
• [Student] is thoughtful and insightful in class discussion and written work. They express their ideas clearly.

Sample report card comments about social skills

As much as school is about academics, parents also worry about social skills and how their child is doing in terms of fitting in, making friends, and managing social situations. For some kids, this will be a strength and for some it will be an area of focus, but make sure to include whatever information parents need to know.

• [Student] has made many friends in the classroom.
• [Student] is well liked by classmates.
• [Student] treats other students with empathy and fairness.

• [Student] handles disagreements with peers appropriately.
• [Student] appears comfortable in new situations.
• [Student] chooses to spend free time with friends.

Sample report card comments about communication

Communication is another important skill that students are learning and honing in school that you can report on. Particularly for kids whose communication skills are either a strength or something they need help with, a comment about this can be very helpful to parents.

• [Student] has a well-developed vocabulary.
• [Student] expresses their ideas clearly.
• [Student] has a vibrant imagination and uses their imagination in storytelling and writing.
• [Student] always participates in whole-group discussions.
• [Student] can make a logical and persuasive argument in oral discussion or in writing.

• [Student] listens to the comments and ideas of others without interrupting.
• [Student] is working on participating in class. Please encourage them to raise their hand or engage in group discussion.
• I would love to hear from [student] more. Please encourage them to participate in class.
• [Student] is working on using their words to solve problems/communicate well with peers.

Sample report card comments about group work

Group work gets at a child’s ability to work with peers, solve problems, and communicate. It’s also often a barometer for social skills. Giving comments about group work can tell parents a lot about how their child is able to succeed in teamwork and if there are any red flags.

• [Student] offers constructive suggestions to peers.
• [Student] accepts recommendations of peers and acts on them when appropriate.
• [Student] takes various roles in group work as assigned or as needed.
• [Student] welcomes leadership roles in groups.
• [Student] shows fairness in distributing group tasks.
• [Student] plans and carries out group activities carefully.

• [Student] works democratically with peers.
• [Student] encourages peers during group work.
• [Student] is working on accepting their share of the work during group assignments.

Sample report card comments about time management

Managing time is a skill that gets more and more important as kids move through school, and it is something that all parents can help with at home. Help parents know how their child is doing managing time with these comments.

• [Student] approaches classroom assignments, tasks, and group work in an organized way.
• [Student] is on time and prepared for class each day.
• [Student] works at an appropriate pace.
• [Student] is able to pace their work for long-term assignments.

• [Student] completes makeup work in a timely fashion.
• [Student] is working on using time wisely.
• [Student] is working on managing time, especially when there are multiple tasks to complete during a work period.
• [Student] is working on organizing their materials and using organization to support work completion.

Sample report card comments about work habits

Same as time management, comments about work habits are helpful for parents because they explain how a student is approaching their work and how their academics are impacted because of these habits.

• [Student] is self-motivated.
• [Student] exceeds expectations with the quality of their work.
• [Student] readily grasps new concepts or ideas.
• [Student] produces neat and careful work.

• [Student] checks work thoroughly before submitting it.
• [Student] pays attention to work and submits work that does not have errors.
• [Student] is working on producing neat work.
• [Student] is working on checking work thoroughly before submitting it.
• [Student] is working on submitting work that does not have errors. They frequently require additional review to ensure that all errors are corrected.

Do you have sample report card comments to add? Share them in our We Are Teachers Helpline group on Facebook!

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The Value of Parents Helping with Homework

Dr. selena kiser.

• September 2, 2020

The importance of parents helping with homework is invaluable. Helping with homework is an important responsibility as a parent and directly supports the learning process. Parents’ experience and expertise is priceless. One of the best predictors of success in school is learning at home and being involved in children’s education. Parental involvement with homework helps develop self-confidence and motivation in the classroom. Parents helping students with homework has a multitude of benefits including spending individual time with children, enlightening strengths and weaknesses, making learning more meaningful, and having higher aspirations.

How Parental Involvement with Homework Impacts Students

Parental involvement with homework impacts students in a positive way. One of the most important reasons for parental involvement is that it helps alleviate stress and anxiety if the students are facing challenges with specific skills or topics. Parents have experience and expertise with a variety of subject matter and life experiences to help increase relevance. Parents help their children understand content and make it more meaningful, while also helping them understand things more clearly.

Also, their involvement increases skill and subject retention. Parents get into more depth about content and allow students to take skills to a greater level. Many children will always remember the times spent together working on homework or classroom projects. Parental involvement with homework and engagement in their child’s education are related to higher academic performance, better social skills and behavior, and increased self-confidence.

Parents helping with homework allows more time to expand upon subjects or skills since learning can be accelerated in the classroom. This is especially true in today’s classrooms. The curricula in many classrooms is enhanced and requires teaching a lot of content in a small amount of time. Homework is when parents and children can spend extra time on skills and subject matter. Parents provide relatable reasons for learning skills, and children retain information in greater depth.

Parental involvement increases creativity and induces critical-thinking skills in children. This creates a positive learning environment at home and transfers into the classroom setting. Parents have perspective on their children, and this allows them to support their weaknesses while expanding upon their strengths. The time together enlightens parents as to exactly what their child’s strengths and weaknesses are.

Virtual learning is now utilized nationwide, and parents are directly involved with their child’s schoolwork and homework. Their involvement is more vital now than ever. Fostering a positive homework environment is critical in virtual learning and assists children with technological and academic material.

Strategies for Including Parents in Homework

An essential strategy for including parents in homework is sharing a responsibility to help children meet educational goals. Parents’ commitment to prioritizing their child’s educational goals, and participating in homework supports a larger objective. Teachers and parents are specific about the goals and work directly with the child with classwork and homework. Teachers and parents collaboratively working together on children’s goals have larger and more long-lasting success. This also allows parents to be strategic with homework assistance.

A few other great examples of how to involve parents in homework are conducting experiments, assignments, or project-based learning activities that parents play an active role in. Interviewing parents is a fantastic way to be directly involved in homework and allows the project to be enjoyable. Parents are honored to be interviewed, and these activities create a bond between parents and children. Students will remember these assignments for the rest of their lives.

Project-based learning activities examples are family tree projects, leaf collections, research papers, and a myriad of other hands-on learning assignments. Children love working with their parents on these assignments as they are enjoyable and fun. This type of learning and engagement also fosters other interests. Conducting research is another way parents directly impact their child’s homework. This can be a subject the child is interested in or something they are unfamiliar with. Children and parents look forward to these types of homework activities.

Parents helping students with homework has a multitude of benefits. Parental involvement and engagement have lifelong benefits and creates a pathway for success. Parents provide autonomy and support, while modeling successful homework study habits.

• #homework , #ParentalInvolvement

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100 Sample Report Card Comments and 5 Strategies for Simplifying Report Cards

April 7, 2020 by Evan-Moor | 1 Comment

I don’t know any teacher who looks forward to doing report cards. This time always seems to be packed to the max with additional testing days and long to-do lists. Despite this, report cards are an important tool that schools employ to show parents how their child is progressing in school and should be completed with careful consideration.

Report card comments should be personalized for each student and provide meaningful feedback to help parents understand their child’s progress. The most important concept to remember when writing report card comments is to frame each statement in encouraging and positive language.

Here are a few tips to help you provide honest and valuable feedback while being encouraging and professional, including 100 sample report card comments that you can use today.

Download a free PDF of 100 Report Card Comments here! 

5 strategies for simplifying report cards, 1. employ the sandwich feedback technique:.

• Always begin with a positive comment and end with a positive comment. This approach can help parents receive any negative feedback with the understanding that you “see” their child and are approaching his or her learning with a “growth mindset” and not criticism.

2. Highlight areas of growth

• Every student has areas of growth throughout the school year. Find an area he or she has improved on and mention it. It could be in a field of study such as reading comprehension, fluency, math facts, handwriting, asking important questions or a personal attribute such as persevering, helping others, leadership in the classroom, etc.

3. Expand on areas of improvement

• Highlight important areas for improvement and provide practical advice/examples of how to work on this at home. Provide simple strategies that parents can implement that will give them a tangible tool to help their child at home. Even if you think the parent won’t or isn’t interested, it is a good idea to provide documented options for your school files.

4. Be transparent

• Being honest about students’ progress takes careful consideration. Be tactful in your comments and back up your observations with specific examples. (I recommend taking notes on students’ progress throughout the semester and using this documentation during report card time.) This is also a great time to include helpful strategies/ resources and offer advice on how parents can support their student at home.

5. Proofread

• Always proofread your reports before sending them. Report cards reflect you as a teacher and should be treated with the same consideration you show your students in the classroom.

100 Report Card Comments

Participation/behavior/attitude.

• Takes an active role in discussions.
• Consistently cooperates with the teacher and other students.
• Listens well and shares ideas frequently.
• Works democratically with peers.
• Shows self-confidence in…
• Works well in groups, planning and carrying out activities.
• Follows directions well.
• An enthusiastic learner who enjoys school.
• Tackles new challenges with a positive attitude.
• Has a positive attitude about school.
• Consistently makes good choices during the school day.
• Shows respect for peers and teachers.
• Transitions easily between classroom activities and is not a distraction to others.
• Is sensitive to the thoughts and opinions of others.
• Is a leader and positive role model for students.
• Is enthusiastic about participating.
• Takes an active part in discussions about (topic).
• Speaks with confidence.
• Volunteers often.
• Has a great sense of humor and enjoys our class assignments.

Needs Improvement

• Has difficulty staying focused and on task. · Needs to actively participate in classroom discussion.
• Needs to work on not distracting others during class.
• Is learning to be careful, cooperative, and fair.
• I would like to see him/her work on…
• One area for improvement is…
• Eager to participate in class but needs to raise his/her hand.
• Is becoming more independent when completing class assignments.
• Needs frequent reminders to stay focused throughout the day.
• When motivated, does well on class assignments.
• Needs to work on following written and oral directions.
• Needs to actively participate in classroom discussions.
• Frequent absences are affecting (name’s) schoolwork.
• Needs to work on treating others with respect.
• Needs to work on completing homework assignments on time.
• Frequently comes to class unprepared.
• Often seems tired at school.
• Gets upset easily when (topic).
• Although _____________’s growth in social skills and maturity is continuing, it is not consistent.
• _______ continues to make nice progress this year concerning his/her attitude in the classroom and on the playground.

Time Management/Work Habits

• Uses class time wisely.
• Is a self-motivated student.
• Completes work on time.
• Is very organized.
• Demonstrates problem-solving skills and is persistent.
• Has done a great job facing and overcoming big challenges this year.
• Is very responsible and turns in work on time.
• Is a flexible learner and adapts to changes easily.
• Has made improvements in the area of…
• Has strengthened his/her skills in…
• Does not complete assignments on time. Seems unable to finish.
• Is encouraged to use time wisely to finish tasks in the time required.
• Struggles to stay organized and find appropriate materials (paper/pencil).
• Needs to slow down to improve the quality of his/her work.
• Is not working to full potential.
• Is easily distracted.
• Needs to listen and follow directions more carefully.
• Needs more opportunities to…
• Grades are suffering because of missed assignments.
• Would benefit from…

Growth Mindset

• Has demonstrated very good progress this year.
• Is learning how to be a better listener and takes direction well.
• Has worked very hard this year and has made strong gains in the area of ______.
• Has shown great improvement with ______.
• Is progressing nicely and shows consistent improvement in many areas of schoolwork, including ______.
• Is learning to be cooperative when working in groups.
• Is developing more positive ways to interact with others.
• Is listening to directions more carefully.
• Has continued to make steady progress with…
• Has shown noticeable improvement in…

General Subject Area Comments

• Has good reading and decoding skills.
• Is reading well at level…
• Uses reading strategies to increase his/her reading comprehension.
• Is reading smoothly and with good expression.
• Struggles with reading comprehension.
• I would like to see (name) read for 15 minutes each night.
• Is choosing books that are too simple for his/her level.
• Has difficulty using reading strategies to decode new words.
• Needs to learn basic sight words to improve decoding skills.
• Needs to build reading vocabulary.
• Uses various strategies to solve one- and two-step word problems.
• Demonstrates a good understanding of math concepts.
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills.
• Has strengthened his/her critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Has difficulty understanding/solving word problems.
• Understands skills and strategies but has a difficult time explaining processes.
• Would benefit from memorizing math facts.
• Has difficulty solving multi-step problems.
• Needs to slow down and check work.
• Memorizing basic math facts would be helpful to…
• Is willing to learn new writing skills and quickly applies these skills within his/her writing.
• Understands and applies the correct use of punctuation within writing.
• Writing is clear and follows grammar and punctuation rules.
• Enjoys writing stories and can construct unique and interesting sentences.
• Is able to create clear and effective writing that is interesting to read and easy to comprehend.
• Has shown great improvement with his/her writing skills and is consistently increasing his or her writing comprehension and techniques.
• Has difficulty writing clear and understandable sentences.
• Words are often misplaced throughout his/her writing.
• Frequently displays grammatical errors within his/her writing.
• (Name) needs to slow down and review his/her writing.

Report cards are used to show parents what students have learned, areas they excel in, and areas for improvement. Although report card grades reflect how well a student is performing against a set of standards, I would refrain from any comparisons on report cards. Every student matures and develops at a different rate, and it is important not to focus on how well children compare to their classmates, but rather to highlight how they are excelling in their personal goals/growth.

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The Burden of ‘Parent Homework’

This is not about a parent helping with homework. It is work given from teacher to parent, passing directly over a child’s head.

By Karen Barrow

On one recent Tuesday, I received two emails with requests from my daughter’s teacher: Send in a collection of 100 things for the 100th day of school, and find something starting with the letter Q for show-and-tell. I already had to get a Dr. Seuss costume together for the next week, and don’t forget silly sock day, crazy hat day and everything else planned for a weeklong celebration of Dr. Seuss. And that’s just for one of my three kids.

The children in this class are 4. They cannot complete these assignments themselves, let alone even read the email.

I refer to these types of assignments as parent homework. This is not about a parent helping with homework. It is work given from teacher to parent, passing directly over a child’s head.

[The topics parents are talking about. Evidence-based guidance. Personal stories that matter. Sign up now to get NYT Parenting in your inbox every week.]

“There should never be preschool homework,” said Jessica Lahey, author of “The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed.” “Research shows it has no academic benefit, it’s a terrible idea for family time, and it’s just a waste of time.”

Parent homework comes in many forms: from finding show-and-tell items and “All About Me” posters for the littlest, to the large-scale science projects, historically accurate costumes and more as children go through the ranks at school.

“We need to pause and ask ourselves if we’ve lost sight of the end goal,” said Phyllis Fagell, a licensed clinical professional counselor and author of “Middle School Matters.” “A 4-year-old will learn more playing pretend fairies and ponies with a friend than filling out a work sheet or collecting 100 paper clips.”

Ms. Lahey agreed. “As a teacher myself, I have to call foul,” she said. “Teachers have to stop assigning projects to kids that aren’t kids’ projects.”

She suggested that the next time I am sent an assignment my child can’t do herself, I first contact the teacher (in person or by email) and ask, “What are the expectations of this assignment?”

“That will force the teacher to reflect back to you what they assigned,” she said.

Then, you can ask the following:

What is the assignment expected to assess?

How much parental involvement is expected?

How long should it take to complete?

This a way of pointing out to a teacher that the assignment is beyond your child’s ability to complete herself, or is perhaps too long for her attention span.

“Teachers don’t want to create frustration at home,” Ms. Fagell said. Often by alerting them to what is going on, they will be willing to modify an assignment to help your child complete it himself.

And if the teacher doesn’t get the hint, be blunt and say that the assignment is simply beyond your child’s ability to complete alone.

“That’s feedback that the teacher should want,” said Laura Guarino, associate dean of children’s programs at Bank Street College of Education.

But if you complain, will the teacher be offended and take it out on your child?

“People always worry that if you ruffle feathers, it will impact how your teacher will look at your child,” said Ms. Guarino.

So enter the conversation with the goal of impressing on the teacher that you want to be able to understand the school’s goals around homework, and how they fit into the curriculum.

“The people who enter a conversation from a place of curiosity are the ones we know are willing to partner with our school to do the best for their child,” said Jed Lippard, dean of children’s programs at Bank Street. “Try inquiry before advocacy.”

So I mentioned to my daughter’s teacher that I felt a little daunted by dressing my daughter as one of the fuzzy, bulbous creatures from the Dr. Seuss books, and she steered me toward printing out a photo of a red fish and taping it to her shirt, as in “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.” That lowered the bar, and my stress level. Not wanting tape on her shirt, my daughter ending up dressing in a white shirt, black skirt and red bow as Sally, the do-gooder little girl from “The Cat in the Hat,” and I didn’t have to sew, glue or print out a single thing.

But I couldn’t bring myself to ask out of the 100-object assignment. And while my daughter wanted to bring in a box of 100 straws, that just felt like a cop out. Wasn’t she supposed to learn what 100 represented by counting?

She had barely any interest in counting, but I felt I’d be doing her a disservice if I sent her to school empty-handed when everyone else would bring in something.

I felt guilty, overburdened and needing to impress.

We tried counting out 100 Lego bricks in 10 stacks of 10. But, two and a half stacks in, she lost her patience, so with my apologies to my daughter’s teacher, I asked my older daughter, a first-grader, to complete the assignment. (She made it a few stacks further, until I just went in and found the last 23 bricks.)

Was I somehow failing as a parent since my 4-year-old was unable to do it herself, and didn’t even want to do it with me?

Ms. Guarino suggested a different approach. If my daughter’s attention span allowed her to stack only 10 bricks at a time, I could have broken up the assignment and had her stack bricks before dinner, after dinner, before bath time, and after tooth brushing.

If I had thought this through earlier in the school year and spoken to my child’s teacher in September, Ms. Lahey suggested, I could have explained that my goals for the year were for my daughter to become more autonomous.

She could have gone to school with the two and half stacks of Legos she counted, even if it fell far short of 100, and I wouldn’t have had to feel guilty.

“If the child gets things wrong and messes the assignment up, that’s a great opportunity for the entire class to learn from the mistake,” Ms. Lahey said.

Now, especially in light of recent discussions of snowplow parenting in the wake of the college bribery scandal , I feel guilty instead for the help I gave her. I robbed my daughter of an opportunity to see me advocate on her behalf, and I also robbed her whole class of a learning opportunity.

In the interest of transparency, I told my daughter’s teacher I was writing about this. Her response? “Oh, that? The kids in class were asking for homework, so I thought collecting 100 things would be something fun for them to do. But I didn’t care if they did it or not.”

A Guide to Parenting Now

Some anxious parents are choosing “sleepunders” picking kids up just before bedtime  — or even staying over with them. Here are the pros and cons to that approach.

Many parents feel the need to stuff their children’s days full of activities to keep them entertained and engaged. But boredom has its virtues .

Being a modern parent means juggling many opinions on how to do it correctly. The good news is that there’s no one way to do it right .

Parental burnout is real. Take this test  to clarify how depleted you feel — so hopefully you can get the help you need.

More American women are having kids later in life. We asked mothers who had children after 40  to share their experiences.

Millennial parents, guided by influencers, are now proudly try-hard, and they're embracing a new “gentle parenting” approach .

47 Examples of Feedback for Teachers from Parents

Giving feedback to teachers can help ensure your teacher does their best job to serve you and your child.

Teachers are used to feedback from parents and aware of its importance.But sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what to say and how to say it.

Use these templates to get some ideas on how to give feedback to teachers that will help both you, the teacher and your child.

Key Points:

• Positive feedback to teachers can help brighten a teacher’s day
• Negative or constructive feedback needs to be polite and collaborative
• Make sure the feedback helps to improve your working relationship
• Use the below templates and examples to develop your own feedback.

Related article: 51 Thank you Messages for Teachers (from Students)

Examples of Positive Feedback for your Child’s Teacher

• “Thank you for your hard work in supporting my son / daughter as they develop. Your patience and commitment to supporting my child has mean a lot to our family.”
• “With your guidance, our son / daughter has developed into a confident and capable child. Thank you for being such an important part in our child’s development.”
• “Your expertise in teaching has put our minds at ease. We are so grateful to have you as our child’s teacher.”

“The past year has been difficult for our family, and you have been a stable and supportive part of our son / daughter’s life through this time. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

• “It is clear that our child’s literacy and numeracy skills have developed considerably while under your care. Thank you for helping him / her to develop the skills and confidence that he / she will carry forward into the next school year.”
• “Our child comes home every day telling us stories about how fun it is to be in your classroom. Your play-based learning approach is amazing! Thank you for instilling this love of learning into our child. It has been such a pleasure watching him / her grow this year.”
• “We are well aware of the effort you put into each child in your class. Thank you for going above and beyond for our son / daughter and being such a caring and important part of our community.”

“Teachers put in so much more than 9 – 5 work hours. You’ve shown your commitment and love for our child and put in so much of your own time and effort. You are truly a godsend!”

• “Teachers require so many positive qualities like care, compassion, patience and commitment. You have all these qualities in abundance. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
• “We didn’t want a teacher who simply educates our child. We wanted someone who cares for our child. By helping our son / daughter develop his / her social skills and feel confident in your classroom, you have been exactly what we were looking for. We couldn’t be more thankful that we have had you in our lives.”
• “It’s great to see how visible and accessible you are around the school. We need a teacher who is available for discussions about our child, and we’ve found that with you. Keep up the great work!”
• “I wanted to share a sweet something to brighten your day – I asked my daughter how school is going this term and she said she LOVES you and her new friends. Thank you!”

Examples of Critical and Constructive Feedback for your Child’s Teacher

• “Our son came home the other day feeling like he was unsupported in your classroom. He has told us that he was distressed from something that happened in the classroom yet his complaints were dismissed. We are concerned that he has been overlooked. While we’re aware that you have many children in the classroom and that you have a tough job, but we would like to request that you pay special attention to the care you provide for the children (including our son!) when they’re distressed. We’d be happy to discuss this further with you by phone.”
• “We have noticed that what is being taught in the classroom appears to not be age appropriate. We’re not happy with our child being exposed to content such as inappropriate books / images before we as the parents feel our child is ready. We would like to respectfully request that this content be removed from the classroom.”

“We have not had communication from you in several weeks. We are concerned we have not been kept in the loop about what is being taught in our child’s class. Would you please send out a newsletter outlining what is being taught in the class and how the students are developing at the earliest possible opportunity?”

• “I wanted to get in touch with you about a concern my daughter has about her classmates. It appears there is bullying in the classroom that needs to be addressed. I am concerned that the classroom needs to become a safer and more inclusive space for our children. What intervention strategies might you be able to suggest be put in place to address this issue?”
• “It has come to our attention that our child is seated near some other children who are a distraction for their learning. Please work with our child to change their seating arrangement so that their learning is not disrupted by other children.”
• “We are concerned that we haven’t seen much progress in our child’s work over the past few months. Would we please book in some time to meet with you to discuss this further. Perhaps you could share with us what is being learned in class at the moment, and how you are supporting our child’s learning.”

“We have noticed that the homework coming home over the past few weeks has been too hard for our child. She has not been able to complete her homework as she does not understand it. We would like to request that work be provided at a more appropriate level. We want the work to be challenging but achievable.”

• “The work coming home for our child over the past few weeks has been far too easy and she is becoming bored. We would like to request that more challenging work be provided so that she can move forward and meet her potential.”
• “Having talked with some other parents, we feel that each time we enter the classroom it is noisy, disorderly and unfocused. We are concerned that discipline needs to be restored in order for learning to take place.”

“Our child is unprepared for the upcoming test. We would like to request that additional homework or schoolwork be provided so that our daughter feels more confident going into the exam. Could you please share with us insight into what you’re currently doing to help prepare her for the exam?”

• “Our son came home last Friday soaked and dirty from playing sports in the mid. We worry that playing in the cold rain may cause him to get sick. We would like to request that alternative indoor play arrangements be made on days when the weather is inappropriate for outdoor play.”
• “Our daughter is coming home telling us she is not playing with any other children during her breaks. We are worried she is being bullied in class. Can you please keep an eye out on her social interactions and report on any issues that may be taking place during class?”

Examples of Feedback for the Teacher at the end of the First Week of Class

• We always get nervous when our son / daughter starts with a new teacher, but you have set our minds at ease with your focus on creating a welcoming classroom environment.”
• “We were so happy to hear that you would be our child’s teacher this year. We can tell why you have such a good reputation in the school. The first week has gone off without a hitch, and we’re excited for the year to come!”

“In this first week at school you have helped our son / daughter feel comfortable in his / her new classroom. It has been a busy week, but knowing you’re there looking out for our child has been comforting to our family.”

• “We wanted to send through a quick note of appreciation at the end of the first week. Our child appears to have settled in well and we’re happy the year has gotten off to such a positive start.”
• “I’m just sending through a quick note with some feedback from the first week of class. The year started off a little bumpy and our son is still a bit intimidated about class. We appreciate your hard work over the past week, and would appreciate you staying in touch about how things progress over the next few weeks. We trust that you will work hard to care for all the children in the class and provide a safe and welcoming environment.”

Thanks to a Teacher after an Event

• “The school play / fete / event was a great success! Thank you for putting this together for our children. They will hold this memory in their hearts for many years to come.”
• “Thank you for your extra work and effort in the past few weeks. Preparing for this event has required additional time above and beyond your own workload, and we wanted to let you know we’re grateful for that. It really shows how you’re in this job for the good of the kids.”

“Wow it’s been a crazy time at school! I just wanted to send in a quick note of thanks for all your work in preparing the play / fete / event. Our son loved it and keeps saying he can’t wait for next year’s event!”

• “We wanted to let you know that while the play / fete / event had some problems, we do appreciate the hard work you put in. Hopefully next year we’ll sort out some of the initial teething issues and it’ll be more and more successful each year from hear on out!”
• “It was so great to see our beautiful daughter on stage singing with her friends at the play. Thank you so much for making this happen and for all the memories this has created for our child and ourselves. It was a smashing success!”

Feedback to a Teacher after Receiving a Report Card

• “Thank you for taking the time to write personalized information on our child’s report card. It is good to see how they are progressing in their learning. Your time and effort in teaching our child is appreciated by myself and my husband. I was wondering if we could take some time to discuss in person how we can work together to address some of the issues that you have raised. Do you have some time available one day after class next week?”
• “Thank you for the report card that you completed for our child last week. We are happy to see how she is progressing. We are concerned about some of the lower scoring criteria for our child, especially because we did not have advance warning that these lower scores were coming. We would like to meet soon to discuss how to move forward and improve these scores. Could you suggest a time that we could come in to meet with you?”
• “Thank you for the report card that you have prepared for our child. While we appreciate the brief report on the progress of our son, we’d like some more personalized input. Could you please share with us some personal insights into our son’s progress academically and socially this year?”
• “Hi, we just wanted to leave you a quick note to say my husband and I are thankful for the meaningful report card comments you provided for our son. We’re so glad to see he is progressing well in class with you. We look forward to a positive working relationship for the remainder of the school year!”

Examples of Feedback to the Principal

• “We wanted to send you a quick note to say that we’re so glad to have chosen your school for our child. Your leadership in creating a positive learning atmosphere across the whole school is very much appreciated and we look forward to a great relationship for the years to come!”
• “We wanted to pass on our concerns about some changes taking place in the school this year. The teachers are never available anymore after the new policies have been implemented and our children say they are less happy with their classrooms. If the school spirit does not improve shortly, we will have little choice but to remove our child from the school.”
• “We wanted to let you know of some concerns we’ve had about our child’s teacher. We have shared those concerns with the teacher, but as the supervisor, we wanted you to know as well. We were wondering if you could sit them down and have a discussion about our concerns about the lack of discipline in the classroom?”

“Hi. After giving our child’s teacher the time and patience to settle our child into her class, there still appears to be a clash between our child and her teacher. We would like to request that she be moved to the other class with the more experienced educator. Hopefully this will help our child start again with a blank slated. We’d be happy to discuss this more with you in person.”

• “I wanted to send you a note to let you know that we (and other parents) are disappointed with the new direction the school is taking. There seems to be a fall in morale among parents and teachers, and we’re concerned that this is impacting our children’s happiness in the school. Please re-focus on creating a happy learning environment for our children.”
• “Hi, I’d like to get in touch about some concerns we have about our son’s teacher. We are worried that the class is very unstructured and disorganized. Our child needs a clearer and more organized timetable to help him in his learning. We are hoping to get your help in getting the classroom teacher to provide a more structured learning environment. Can you help us with this?”

Examples of Feedback from Parents to a New Teacher

• “Hi, it’s so great to see you’ve come into teaching with such enthusiasm for your profession! You’ve set high expectations for our child and we think she’ll meet them! I wanted to let you know you’re doing a great job and we support you so much in what you’re doing. We look forward to working with you more throughout the school year!”
• “Hi, thanks so much for teaching our son this term! We wanted to get in touch with some feedback and to let you know of a few small concerns. We think you’ve done such a great job getting our child excited about school. However, we’re also a little concerned about the lack of discipline in the classroom. We’d like our son to work in a more structured, calm learning environment. We were hoping you’d be able to provide a more controlled environment next term, including through more structured classroom table layouts and preventing unfocused chatter.”
• “Hi, we’d like to get in touch to say you’re doing a great job in your first year of teaching. Our daughter loves to come to class every day. We only ever hear about class from her, though. Would it be possible to provide more newsletters or direct communication between yourself and the parents next term?”

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Forest Schools Philosophy & Curriculum, Explained!
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori's 4 Planes of Development, Explained!
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori vs Reggio Emilia vs Steiner-Waldorf vs Froebel
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Parten’s 6 Stages of Play in Childhood, Explained!

1 thought on “47 Examples of Feedback for Teachers from Parents”

Thanks for the post and the great examples. I would also suggest there is value in being in contact throughout the school year. People are much more open to criticism when an ongoing relationship has been established. Working through a challenge may be more difficult if it is the the first/only interaction.

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Follow our news, recent searches, commentary: should holiday homework be banned, advertisement.

The June school holidays have started, but many students and families are experiencing a familiar mix of anticipation and dread, says Dr Eugenia Koh-Chua, a former lecturer and mother of two.

This audio is AI-generated.

Eugenia Koh-Chua

MELBOURNE: The June school holidays  have started for primary and secondary schools as well as junior colleges.  With school out, the fun should begin - but does it really?

While many look forward to a respite from the daily grind of school , the burden of holiday homework hangs over them.

For many parents and tutors, the mid-year break is also the perfect time for an extra academic boost. Let’s not forget June holiday boot camps and intensive revision programmes arranged by teachers and enterprising tuition centres for Primary 6 students taking their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) this year.

The term “holiday homework” itself is contradictory, prompting the question: Should school breaks be a protected sanctuary from homework, or is the expectation of holiday assignments an unavoidable reality?

A BAN ON HOMEWORK? 

The debate surrounding holiday homework extends beyond the borders of Singapore.

In the Philippines, legislative attempts to enforce a weekend homework ban have been ongoing since 2016.  In 2021, the Chinese government enacted the Double Reduction Policy , which includes a limit on homework and a ban on private tutoring classes.

Meanwhile, in Poland, a ban on graded homework for students in lower primary took effect in April. Homework for children in upper primary levels is optional and does not count towards a grade.

These efforts share a common goal: To alleviate the burden of excessive homework and promote greater student well-being.  However, the effectiveness of these measures remains questionable.

In China, the mandate has driven the industry underground and led to exorbitant rates , exacerbating educational inequity. The Chinese experience suggests the potential pitfalls of using a simplistic solution like a hard legislative ban to address a complex social issue.

Drawing lessons from these global examples, I wonder: Should the focus shift from eliminating homework to understanding why parents and schools perceive it as necessary?

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Is homework beneficial.

While the debate on homework rages on, educational research has acknowledged the many potential benefits it serves.

Homework helps to reinforce academic concepts at home, develops time management skills, and encourages independent learning in children. 

Learning at home can offer a more adaptable environment that caters to individual student’s learning pace and needs, particularly benefiting those who thrive with additional support.  Moreover, homework functions as a crucial link between school and home, allowing parents to stay informed of their children’s academic progress.

At the same time, however, an Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) survey published in 2017 showed that 66.7 per cent   of parents with primary school children agreed or strongly agreed that they were stressed over assisting with homework and ferrying them to and from school, and tuition or enrichment classes.

Additionally, nearly 94 per cent of parents in the study expressed a need for the primary school curriculum to be more manageable, reflecting the struggle many parents face in grasping the modern curriculum while balancing work demands in typical dual-income Singaporean households.

In my doctoral study on Singaporean parents’ tensions within education reform, one parent candidly remarked on this struggle: “I don’t think I can impart the (knowledge) skills to them. And I don’t want my children to lose out."

Consequently, many parents delegate homework guidance to educational experts - tuition teachers.

Families spent an estimated S$1.4 billion (US$1 billion) on tuition in 2018, based on data from the last Household Expenditure Survey in 2017 and 2018, up from S$1.1 billion in 2012 and 2013.

These insights highlight parents’ challenges in supporting their children’s learning at home due to a lack of knowledge, skills, time, and energy. Consequently, schools must consider these factors when designing and assigning homework.

Daily Cuts:

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Perceived benefits of after-school learning.

Research consistently emphasises the importance of play in nurturing the holistic development of children. What then motivates parents to enrol their children in tuition classes during school holidays?

Many parents I’ve spoken say they feel like they have “no choice” as they mitigate the pressures of a high-stakes education system.

They question how much play alone can contribute to children’s social-emotional well-being if they fail to perform academically. One parent stated, “I don’t need (my child) to be at the top, but I don’t want him to be at the bottom either”.

Parental guilt also motivates many to enrol their children in out-of-school classes. As one parent explained: “If my kids are idle or roaming around at home, I will feel bad as a parent … because it feels like my child is wasting his life away”.

Teachers participating in my doctoral study also reluctantly acknowledge the value of tuition classes for “weaker students”. Unfortunately, in a class size of 40, teachers lack the time and staffing to cater to each child’s learning needs while covering the school curriculum.

They also cited pressure from school leaders and managing familial expectations to assign homework as an indicator of a “good teacher”.

FIND HARMONY, NOT BALANCE 

Amid the ongoing discussion on finding the right balance between work and play for students, the term “balance” implies a rigid 50-50 split between “work versus play”, overlooking the unique needs and strengths of each child, family, and school.

Rather than fixating on achieving a static “balance”, might it be better to consider striving for a harmonious blend between work and play? This approach encourages families and schools to identify the optimal mix that suits their specific contexts, fostering an environment where children can thrive in both learning and well-being.

The ideal combination of work and play will naturally vary in each family, classroom, and school, based on their diverse values, cultures, and aspirations. Nonetheless, this optimal mix should be viewed as fluid and dynamic, constantly adapting to suit the evolving needs of children.

Student agency is an essential ingredient in this optimal blend. Schools should actively seek student input on their homework experiences and understand their preferences for how it is assigned and evaluated.

This not only empowers students but also ensures that homework policies are responsive to their needs and interests.

Schools could consider moving away from compulsory holiday homework towards recommended assignments. Allow parents to determine and decide the homework load that best suits their child based on their family values and aspirations.

Many teachers are already offering non-mandatory assignments in the Student Learning Space online portal during mid-year and end-of-year school holidays. However, it is crucial to complement these assignments with online explanatory videos that provide solutions.

This approach is essential to support struggling students and enhance their self-efficacy by ensuring they understand how to approach and solve the questions independently at home.

Ideally, homework tasks should prioritise inquiry-based learning, embracing a play-based approach that fosters engagement and creativity.

Given the absence of time constraints in the classroom, these tasks can encourage students to explore core learning concepts with scaffolding prompts, developing learner autonomy, and stimulating greater engagement and creativity.

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Through collaborative efforts, schools and families can create a supportive environment that fosters student success and well-being.

In an ideal scenario, if schools and families can embrace a unified approach to revamping homework practices and reimagining the objectives of holiday assignments , we may just be able to find that sweet spot between work and play during the June holidays.

Dr Eugenia Koh-Chua is a sessional lecturer and educational researcher at Swinburne University of Technology (Melbourne). She is a mother of two and a former lecturer in Singapore.

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Captions in World Languages Help Parents Understand Homework to Help Their Children at Home

We all know the importance of parental involvement in our students' education. But how can we bridge the language gap to ensure every parent can effectively help their child with homework?

That’s where Screencastify’s World Language captions can help!

With Captions in World Languages, viewers can easily translate your content into their preferred language with just a few clicks. This exciting update empowers teachers and admins to offer their audience seamless translation of captions into over 90 languages from English. Additionally, you can effortlessly record your content in any of our supported languages and then translate the captions into English. 

In the US, more than 80% of parents believe that homework is important for learning . Even though 51% of parents reported that students should do their homework on their own , on average, 73% of parents reported helping their child with homework completion. ( https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01048/full ) 

Many parents might not be fluent in English, but they're still eager to support their children's learning. By providing translated captions alongside our instructional videos or materials, we empower parents to understand the content and assist their kids more effectively.

For example if we have a video tutorial on long division with English captions, we could also include captions in languages spoken by our students' families, like Spanish, Mandarin, or Arabic. In addition translating homework assignments directions and details can also help parents and children understand the purpose of the homework.

With Captions in World Languages, you can create a unified video experience, allowing viewers to easily translate your content into their preferred language with just a few clicks.

Always lending a helping hand to ensure your Screencastify experience is seamless

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Alexa, can you help me with my child’s homework?

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What did you do when you couldn’t solve a tricky maths equation?

Did you search for the answer on Google, skip doing the homework altogether and tell your teacher dog ate it, or watch as your parents asked Alexa for the answer?

As bizarre as it may sound, the latter scenario is happening at an alarming rate, as parents and grandparents struggle to help kids complete their homework – particularly mathematics. 

There comes a time when homework becomes a little too advanced for parents to help with, especially as many forget how to do tricky long divisions, algebra or the names of all the triangles once they finish school . With over 500 million Alexa-enabled devices sold worldwide, people are using technology to their advantage when it comes to maths.

New data commissioned by the Department for Education ’s Skills for Life campaign and Kindred found that 54% of parents would say they ‘would struggle to know where to start’ if left to their own decisions when helping children with their maths homework.

The Skills for Life campaign is encouraging adults of all ages to up their skills and learn something new, and to boost their confidence when helping their children at home and potentially improve their own career prospects. 

Of the 2,250 adults surveyed, 69% said they use the internet to help solve schoolwork problems and 20% reported using virtual assistants, like Alexa and Google Assistant, to help tutor their kids at home. Maths was revealed to cause the most angst and was voted the least favourite homework subject among parents and grandparents.

The data comes as education groups raise concerns about the growing use of AI in students’ work. Asking a virtual assistant for help on a task you plan to finish yourself is quite different to asking ChatGPT to come up with the answers for you, it raises questions about how much we rely on technology. 

A 16-year-old student identified only as Fiore previously told Metro.co.uk that he turned to ChatGPT when he realised an English essay was due the next day. It’s 2024 after all, and his story serves as a stark reminder that the days of cramming the assignment into an all-nighter or turning to SparkNotes for help are long gone.

Although many people would fear plagiarism detectors or eagle-eyed lecturers spotting AI-generated essays , the student wasn’t afraid about being caught. 

However, not all students are using AI to cheat and not all are using ChatGPT, with some turning to Gemini, which was developed by Google. Chatbots have also been found to be helpful for students with dyslexia when it comes to comprehending in-depth academic texts. 

Jane Basnett, director of digital learning at Downe House School in Berkshire admits that homework can be tricky for parents. ‘In the old days, parents turned to the Encyclopaedia Britannica to find responses, visited the library with their child or they asked a more informed friend,’ she told Metro.co.uk. ‘They had conversations and made discoveries about different topics that perhaps they had not known about before.’ 

This practice, however, has changed drastically now that technology is just one tap, swipe or voice command away. ‘Finding the knowledge is one thing, understanding it and engaging with it properly is another.

‘Parents need to encourage their child to understand the GenAI output and to put their own responses together.

‘These are just the sort of conversations that teachers are having with their students in classrooms across the country. Gen AI (generative artificial intelligence) is a tool that can very quickly do your homework for you but in doing so, it takes away the key important elements of education: learning, discovering and critical thinking.’

One dad, Paul Duggan, 68, from London made a huge life change after realising he couldn’t help his daughter with her homework. He completed a Skills for Life Numeracy course in 2020, when his daughter Rebecca was 10, after she inspired him to sign up.

He has since gone on to achieve a Functional Skills qualification in maths, which is equivalent to a Maths GCSE. 

‘I always had a difficult relationship with maths,’ he said. ‘I think a lot of people do. When my daughter, Rebecca, started needing more help with her homework I realised that if I didn’t tackle my fear of numbers now, not only would I be unable to help, but I’d also risk passing on my negative relationship with maths, which I certainly didn’t want to do.’

Not all parents will be able to find the time to brush up on their maths skills, as they often have to balance full-time jobs, the needs of other children, the cost of living and general life stuff. But for those like Paul who could, it has proven to be invaluable.

‘Signing up to the Skills for Life course was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s helped boost my confidence with everyday sums, and I’ve also grown a lot closer to my daughter, Rebecca, in the process, helping her solve equations and more complex problems as she studies for her maths GSCE.’

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• Hackers Stole Ticketmaster User Data And Tried To Sell It On The Dark Web, Parent Company Live Nation Says

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In an unsettling end-of-week regulatory filing, Ticketmaster parent Live Nation Entertainment reported Friday that it had caught a hacker trying to sell user data via the dark web.

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The incident is awkwardly timed, as Live Nation has come under the microscope of federal antitrust regulators. Last week, the Department of Justice sued Live Nation, seeking to separate it from Ticketmaster due to what it describes as monopolistic behavior.

Performers and fans have grumbled about Ticketmaster for years, but the complaints spilled into the halls of Congress in 2022 after Taylor Swift and her fans became the epicenter of the fight over the cost and scarcity of tickets. Live Nation operates and books most of the leading concert venues, with ticket sales for those shows managed by Ticketmaster under the same corporate roof since the companies merged in 2010. The government alleges that setup is a form of self-dealing that harms consumers by enabling prices to go ever higher. The company has denied it inflates prices or abuses its market position. It derided the DOJ lawsuit as a “stunt.”

The hacking episode, Live Nation said in the filing, has not had a material impact on its overall business operations or financial condition or results. “We continue to evaluate the risks and our remediation efforts are ongoing,” the company added.

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What does it take to buy a house? Increasingly, Mom and Dad.

More first-time homebuyers are relying on their parents to co-sign loans and contribute to down payments.

Home buyers are increasingly turning to family members, most often parents, for help buying a house in overpriced and undersupplied markets, reflecting a shift in the way many families finance homeownership.

The share of young home buyers relying on older mortgage co-signers is as high as it has been in at least 30 years, according to a Freddie Mac analysis of its home loans. In 1994, 1.6 percent of first-time home buyers under 35 had a co-borrower age 55 or older. By 2022, after a pandemic-era spike, that figure had more than doubled to 3.7 percent, matching a high set in 2015.

A separate analysis of federal mortgage data set by Redfin suggests the trend in co-signers above 55 years old on younger home buyers’ purchases picked up even more in 2023.

Meanwhile, the share of home buyers in their 20s, 30s and early 40s receiving financial help for a down payment is also rising, after declining for much of the past five years. Overall, 12 percent of home buyers relied on down payment help from friends and family as of April, up from 9 percent last year, according to survey data from the National Association of Realtors. The youngest buyers — ages 25 to 33 — were the most likely to receive familial help, with nearly 1 in 4 receiving cash gifts or loans toward their purchases.

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“The housing market is an incredibly unaffordable place right now,” said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, a national real estate brokerage. “People who are succeeding are coming in with a lot of cash and large down payments — and often, family support.”

The trend of more younger home buyers, who are more often first-timers, seeking parental help to reach a middle-class milestone is just the latest sign of growing disparities between younger generations and older ones who have had more opportunities over the past 20 years to lock in cheaper mortgages. And it’s happening at a time when more young people are living at home and mortgage rates have hit 20-year highs.

As home buying becomes increasingly out of reach to first-timers, Realtors confirm that more parents are stepping in to help, sometimes taking out loans against their existing homes to fund their children’s. More parents are also getting involved in the homebuying process from the beginning, considering joint purchases less of a handout to their children and more of a long-term family investment, brokers said.

Eve Brown, who lives in Cincinnati and works two jobs, received a $16,000 down payment from her mother, a retired accountant. And when her income wasn’t high enough to quality for the $92,000 mortgage, Brown’s mother co-signed her loan as well, giving the 42-year-old her first inroad into the housing market.

“I always wanted to buy a home, and I really didn’t want to have my parents’ help,” Brown said. “But it got to the point where it was just obviously better to buy — and no way I could do it on my own.”

The housing market has slowed precipitously since the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates two years ago. Mortgage costs have gone from all-time lows of about 2.6 percent to more than 7 percent, making it several times more costly to finance a home purchase. The last time borrowing costs were this high was in the early 2000s, a generation ago.

At the same time, home prices, which spiked during the pandemic, remain high with the median at $420,800, according to census data. The result is an increasingly unaffordable market that isn’t likely to improve any time soon: Goldman Sachs this month said it expects home values to rise another 4.3 percent in 2024, straining a housing market already hovering at record-low affordability.

José Matos, a guide at a Miami art museum, is searching for a home with his mother. The 24-year-old, who still lives with his parents, says they have come up with an arrangement: His parents will cover a $50,000 down payment and co-sign the mortgage, as long as Matos makes monthly payments.

His mother, Lizet Rodriguez, who emigrated from the Dominican Republic in 2014, bought her first home at 43, which gave her an “intense sense of joy and security,” she said. Now she wants to pass on this milestone to her children.

“As a mother, I want to do all I can to give my children a better future,” said Rodriguez, 61, who runs a short-term rental business in Miami. “We are first-generation immigrants in this country, and we have to stick together and help each other if we want to get ahead.”

Matos is among a growing group of 20- and 30-somethings who are moving straight from their childhood bedrooms into their first homes. Roughly 1 in 3 young adults are living with their parents, often to save money, an arrangement that picked up during the pandemic and has continued, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of census data.

That shift reflects a new economic reality in which parents are playing a bigger role in supporting their children financially, well into adulthood. Some 44 percent of adults in their 20s and early 30s said they received financial help from their parents in the past year, most often for household expenses like groceries or utilities, according to a January report by Pew .

Increasingly, those financial ties to Mom and Dad are stretching into the homebuying process and beyond. Nearly 1 in 5 young adults said their parents have helped with rent or mortgage payments in the past year.

“These days it almost feels like, ‘Duh, I have to use my parents’ money, there’s no other option,’” said Kristina Modares, a real estate agent in Austin who works primarily with first-time home buyers. “It’s definitely harder for younger people to buy right now, and the boomer generation has a lot more money than Millennials or Gen Z has.”

A record 16 percent of her firm’s clients “partnered” with a friend or relative to purchase a home last year, up from 7 percent the year before, Modares said.

Hayden Smith, who works for a tech start-up in Camarillo, Calif., was hesitant to accept help from his parents when they first offered it. He had saved up for a down payment by living with them during the pandemic and finally made enough to comfortably cover monthly expenses. But with home prices and interest rates steadily rising in the past couple of years, the 29-year-old felt his purchasing power slip away.

“Part of me wanted to say, ‘No, I don’t want to take it,’” said Smith, who bought a $420,000 condo this past summer. “But I don’t see things getting easier or better or more attainable in the future. It sounds bad to say out loud, but I finally thought, ‘I may as well take what I can now, before the market gets even worse.’”

The increased reliance on parental help is widening the divide between those who can afford a house and those who can’t. Parents who own homes are more likely to have the resources to help their adult children, reinforcing the crucial role of homeownership in lifting long-term wealth. As a result, economists say it has become even harder for first-time home buyers without familial help to break into the market.

“The bigger problem is that young Americans who don’t have family money are often shut out of homeownership,” Fairweather of Redfin wrote in a recent report. “They don’t have a pot of family money to dip into. This contributes to wealth inequality and often prevents young people from gaining economic ground on their peers who come from more privileged backgrounds.”

In the past decade, homeowners have seen their e quity balloon by more than $100,000 on average, giving them 40 times the wealth of renters, according to an analysis by NAR. Some parents have been able to tap into that extra wealth — by borrowing against their homes at low interest rates, to help finance their children’s purchases at lower rates than banks.

In Orange County, Calif., Khang Nguyen and his wife bought their first home last year for $1.2 million. They were able to put down nearly 50 percent as a down payment, thanks to a $325,000 loan from his parents, who had taken out a home-equity line of credit a few years ago when interest rates were low.

Now Nguyen makes two monthly payments each month: $4,700 to the bank and $5,000 to his parents.

“I was prepared to take out a 75 percent mortgage, but my folks were like, ‘Actually, why don’t you use this money and avoid the interest,’” said Khang, 36, a physician. “Obviously it’s a challenging market here in Southern California, but having access to capital from family at essentially no cost is really helpful.”

The increasing role of parents in the housing market is a precursor to what economists say will be a massive generational transfer of wealth in the coming years, as older Americans leave behind trillions to their heirs. Some of that is already making its way into the housing market.

Emily King, 30, and her husband are preparing to buy their first home in Akron, Ohio, thanks to a $17,000 gift from King’s mother, who inherited the funds from her father. Without it, King says there’s no way they would have been able to buy and fix up a $260,000 house.

King, a bakery manager, and her husband, who works for an electronics distributor, make about $115,000 a year. Still, she says, the $2,200 monthly mortgage payments will be a stretch for their budget after the $1,500 a month they spend on child care for their two young children.

“My husband and I never thought we could buy a house, especially with day care. It’s so wildly expensive and impossible to save any money,” she said. “The only reason we were able to afford this is because of the state it’s in — no AC, no dishwasher, with a septic tank and a well. And because of my mom.”

The fan site authorities say is 'profiting from the exploitation and sexualisation of children'

In one photo Rosie lounges on the ground, wearing a tight crop top, staring into the camera. In other photos she poses like a model, looking over her shoulder, pouting.

These images have been posted to an online platform where "fans" can subscribe for "exclusive" pictures of their favourite influencers.

Fans need to be over 18 to subscribe. In other words: adults only.

But Rosie is a child. She's only allowed on the platform because one of her parents manages the account.

Warning: The following story contains graphic details readers may find confronting.

Comments such as "beautiful", "bloody hot", "gorgeous", "so cute", "so attractive" or "babe" flood Rosie's page, often accompanied by fire or heart emojis. Many of these appear to be from men.

They tell her she has the body of a "goddess", compliment her "cute" feet, tell her they're "in love" with her and that they "want to see more".

Subscribers pay about $30 a month to see photos of Rosie and some pay even more to send her personal messages.

This is just one example uncovered by Four Corners where men are making inappropriate — and at times violent and sexual comments — about young girls.

Often the girls are child influencers – or "kidfluencers" – who are using social media for innocent reasons, like showing off their dancing skills or trying to secure brand deals.

But some of their accounts are being targeted by strangers who lust over them, make sexual comments on their pages and sometimes even download their images, exchanging them on other social media sites.

In the worst cases, children's photos are being downloaded and transformed into pornographic deepfakes, then uploaded into private chat forums.

Some parents Four Corners have spoken to feel resigned to live with this attention, seeing it as a price to pay for making their child a social media star.

Others appear to be actively courting the men to make money.

"There are many parents who know exactly what's going on," says Lyn Swanson Kennedy, who works with Collective Shout, a not-for-profit organisation that lobbies against the objectification of women and children.

"They wilfully turn a blind eye, justifying the means by the ends, whether it's fame or profit."

Four Corners is not publishing the real names or images of the children we describe in this story to protect their safety. "Rosie" is a pseudonym.

Parents selling 'exclusive' online access to their children

One of the sites enabling this sort of activity is BrandArmy.

Like OnlyFans, it allows people to start a channel and make money from subscriptions, tips, private messaging and live streams, but it doesn't allow nudity or sex on its platforms.

BrandArmy describes itself as a place for athletes, musicians, models and creatives to grow their brand and get paid.

It has allowed children aged 13 and over to have their own channels if they are managed and run by a parent.

Meanwhile, the people subscribing to these children's channels must be over 18.

Four Corners has found several children's accounts posted with suggestive captions and attracting inappropriate comments.

Among them are young Australian influencers with parent-run accounts, whose pages contain photos of the girls wearing tight clothes or swimsuits.

For a monthly fee, their subscribers get a "behind the scenes" look at the girls' lives, which includes photos, videos and other content.

For even more money, they can send the girls messages or unlock extra "exclusive" photos.

BrandArmy says it no longer allows children to sign up but Four Corners has found dozens of underage girls still on its platform.

Some international accounts offer shots of the girls wearing a bikini and riding a horse, wearing "short shorts", as well as doing dance stretches. They are also often littered with suggestive emojis, including winking or poking a tongue out.

After being shown Rosie's BrandArmy account, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant described it as "gross".  

"This is a child," she said.  

"This is selling and commodifying your child's innocence, and we're never going to be able to sterilise the internet. These images will follow this young woman throughout her life.

"That's [BrandArmy] profiting from exploitation and the sexualisation of children." 

When Four Corners flagged accounts featuring sexualised content with BrandArmy, the company took them down.

BrandArmy declined to comment for this investigation but says on its website that it interviews the parents of junior account holders before they're given a channel and that it actively moderates the site.

Young girls getting 'sugar baby' requests on Instagram

BrandArmy is a small website, but one of the most popular social media sites in the world is also putting children at risk.

Many kidfluencer accounts on Instagram — usually young girls into dancing, modelling and gymnastics — are attracting unwanted, sexualised attention, Four Corners has found.

Even a cursory perusal of these types of accounts on Instagram shows men making sexual comments about the children's photos publicly.

A Sydney woman we'll call Kate, who ran her nine-year-old daughter's Instagram account to promote her acting career, told Four Corners she had to take a step back from posting after being bombarded with messages.  

"Every day I get up in the morning and delete at least 15 to 20 accounts," she says.

"You can tell they are paedophiles. No-one is following them and they are only following young girls.

"I receive one or two direct messages a week asking, 'Can you dance for me' … 'Can you send pics of your feet'."

Others tried to start video calls.

Kate once reported a user who messaged saying "you look extremely beautiful and attractive" and asked if the nine-year-old would like to become his "sugar baby".

Instagram's parent company Meta responded to her complaint with: "Because of the high volume of reports that we receive, we couldn't review this chat."

Kate said she received that response to most of the inappropriate content she reported.

Like BrandArmy, Instagram allows followers to subscribe to accounts – which means for a fee, they can get exclusive content not available on their main channel.

In response to questions, Instagram told Four Corners it had recently stopped this feature when the focus of the account was children.

But Four Corners found multiple children's accounts were still taking subscriptions at the time of publication. 

In response to the sexualised comments and messages on its platform, Meta said it had "developed a range of features that help people protect themselves from unwanted contact, including Hidden Words, which lets you filter comments and messages that contain certain phrases, as well as blocking and reporting".

Ms Inman Grant says parents need to think twice about giving their children public profiles.

"We're not going to put our kids in short shorts and midriff tops on a dark street corner in King's Cross in the middle of the night to see what kind of response they get from young men," she said.

"But we're doing the same in the online world where there are literally millions of people.

"We seem to think that there's a degree of safety because they're online, but there's just a different kind of harm."

Public children's photos found in private online channels

At its worst, that harm can be seen on encrypted chat channels, where obsessed fans discuss their favourite child influencers and share their social media pictures and videos.

Four Corners has found private chats where users share deepfake porn with young girls' faces superimposed on the bodies.

A user on one chat about a 15-year-old American child influencer shared an image the girl posted that day, and asked: "Is it me or [are] her parents … slowly [starting] to sexualise her a bit more? Like her post[s] are just a tiny bit more, like, revealing?"

A user responded: "I think so, they're content creators and they know that cute lil ones bring in a lot of views."

Dozens of posts have men referencing masturbating to her photos. Others upload photographs of their genitalia next to pictures of her face. Some users offer to pretend they are the girl in private messages with another user.  

One user posted: "I need to see her in person, they live near me. I just saw the mom post the park near my house."

Other chats include violent rape fantasies, including thoughts of following a girl to school and abducting her.

Another encrypted chat channel dedicated to an Australian teenage dancer has more than 200 subscribers and is filled with pictures of her as a young child, with love-heart and banana emoji reactions, often used to represent male genitalia.   

Paedophile 'hunting grounds' on social media

Making sexualised images of children, or sexual comments about them, can be deemed a criminal offence in Australia, says Commander Helen Schneider, who runs the Australian Federal Police unit tasked with fighting child exploitation.

"My warning to any individual who is talking in a sexualised way, or in a sexualised abusive way, about a child image, is that you are at risk of committing an extremely serious offence under Australian law," she said.

But some families Four Corners spoke to said when they had reported this content to their local police, they were told there was nothing they could do.

The eSafety Commissioner, who has civil powers under the Online Safety Act, can currently order child sexual abuse material to be removed.

In cases where suggestive content posted by parents could be considered sexualised but may not fit the definition of "child sexual abuse material", Ms Imnan Grant says it is difficult to take action.

She says the government could consider expanding the act so her office can deal with it.

"I think it's something that we should look at. It needs to be something that's effective, implementable and achievable," she said.

"The [platforms] are creating the hunting grounds on which these paedophiles are seeking out and sexualising our children, and worse, grooming and exploiting them." 

Watch the Four Corners documentary, Kidfluencers, tonight from 8:30pm on ABC TV and  ABC iview . 

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