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Is homework time a nightly battle at your household? Perhaps your child is a notorious procrastinator.

Maybe he or she struggles to sit still for more than a few minutes. Whatever the situation, it isn't uncommon for children to avoid or dislike homework. However, homework is a great way for parents to stay involved in their child's education. Use homework time as an opportunity to work with your child and stay apprised of his or her learning progress.

How can parents guide their children toward homework success? Here are a few dos and don'ts:

Do pay attention to how your child learns best. As most parents know well, no two children learn the same way. Some need silence and privacy to concentrate, while others prefer background music. Some need a short break from school and activity before diving into homework, while others would rather tackle it as soon as they get home. Know your child's learning style and be flexible on how and where he or she prefers to study.

Don't over-schedule your child, inadvertently pushing homework to the back burner. Homework should be a non-negotiable part of your family's daily routine. After-school activities are an important component of your child's balanced life, but be sure that he or she has sufficient time-and energy-each evening to dedicate to his or her studies.

Do let your child take the lead on homework. Ask which assignments he or she would prefer to work on first. Make sure your child is clear on what he or she needs to do (by reading directions together or asking him or her to describe the assignment to you) and be on standby for help.

Don't do your child's homework for him or her. Many parents make the mistake of stepping in to complete their child's homework for fear of him or her receiving a poor grade on unfinished or incorrect work. Not only does this send the message to your child that the result (the grade) is more important than the learning process itself, it is unethical. More importantly, a child who doesn't complete his or her own homework isn't practicing the material taught in the classroom.

Do encourage independence. Confidence and independence go hand in hand, so remember to give your child frequent praise for his or her efforts and improvements. Guide your child, but whenever possible, let him or her experience firsthand the excitement of getting a problem right or understanding a difficult concept. Children who are confident tend to approach school and homework in a positive way and are more likely to be willing to try doing homework on their own before turning to a parent for assistance.

Don't talk badly about a teacher's assignments or abilities in front of your child. If a problem arises or you disagree with how your child's teacher has approached a lesson or situation, discuss your concerns with the teacher privately, but never make negative comments in front of your child. Doing so encourages your child to blame the teacher for his or her struggles and may give him or her the impression that it's okay to be defiant at school.

Article provided by Huntingtong Learning Center http://huntingtonlearning.com/resources/p-homeworkdos/