How can I help with my child's English homework? A parent's guide

The best help with your child's English homework is not doing it for them but setting up a routine in which they can do it themselves. You don't need to speak English to follow these steps.

Read the instructions together first

Before starting, ask your child to explain in their own words what the task asks. A child who understands the instructions has done half of the work.

Show the way, not the answer

When your child is stuck, instead of giving the answer ask “Is there a similar example in your book?” Finding the example in the notebook or book shows the way for next time too.

Keep it short and regular

Do homework at the same time each day, in a quiet corner. Split long tasks into small parts with short breaks in between.

Treat mistakes as a chance to learn

Instead of erasing mistakes, look at why they happened together. The mistakes a teacher sees show where your child needs support, so homework doesn't need to be perfect.

Review words through play

Review the homework's new words the next day with a short game. Short activities such as gap fills or matching bring the words back outside the homework too.

To keep going, see A 15-minute English routine for children at home and School English: classroom objects and the school day.

Frequently asked questions

Should I correct the mistakes in my child's homework? Instead of erasing them, look at them together and let your child fix them. The teacher learns from homework mistakes where your child needs support.

How much time should homework take each day? That depends on the task and your child's age. Working at the same time each day, with short breaks, matters more than the length.