Do you help correct your child’s homework without giving him/her any explanation for the same, or provide answers outright instead of guiding them to find it themselves? If yes, it’s time to pause and reflect on your approach. While most parents do these activities to help their kids finish their homework fast, its negative effects are witnessed in the long run. We at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, a well-known CBSE school in Gurgaon, believe there’s a fine line between supporting and over-involvement that every parent must know.
A healthy parental involvement in homework is all about being available to guide children when they’re stuck, clearing their doubts, creating a conducive study environment, and offering encouragement when needed. On the other hand, over-involvement means taking full control of the homework process and providing answers or finishing assignments on behalf of children.
Many parents unknowingly indulge in over-involvement for various reasons, but it primarily happens because of their busy schedules. If you’re curious how something as simple as doing the child’s homework can hamper your child’s academic journey and future success, the following points will clear all your doubts.
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Stunted Academic Growth and Skill Development
We at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok have seen that one of the biggest consequences of parents finishing their children’s homework is the missed opportunity cost. Since parents pour in all their efforts while doing the homework for their kids, children don’t get the opportunity to practice what they learned in school. It eventually creates a knowledge gap in children, making it difficult for them to grasp advanced concepts at a later stage. Even if your child is attentive during school lectures, they may quickly forget the learned information because they aren’t actively involved in the homework process.
It not only hinders their academic growth but also halts their skill development. You can only avoid it by encouraging your kids to first attempt solving homework questions independently. If they still struggle with their homework, then guide them through the process of solving the question rather than doing it yourself.
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Reduced Self-Confidence and Self-Efficacy
While parents often finish their children’s homework with the good intention of helping them, it causes them more harm than good. Consistently doing your child’s homework sends them a subconscious message that they aren’t capable of solving problems independently. It gradually chips away their self-confidence, making them overly reliant on external help.
Even if your child is a bright student, they may start doubting their capabilities, and their academic performance can take a massive hit. The best way to prevent it is by constantly reminding your children about their intelligence, capabilities, and strengths. Whenever they get stuck while doing their homework, guide and encourage them to foster a resilient and growth mindset.
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Unrealistic Expectations and Increased Anxiety
We at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok have noticed an interesting pattern in cases where parents finish their child’s homework. When parents consistently keep doing their ward’s homework, especially the complex ones, it creates a false impression of their child’s abilities in front of their teachers. It can earn them praise initially, but when children sit for independent examinations or assessments, they experience extreme anxiety and pressure to match to a level that doesn’t reflect their true capability.
The only way to avoid such situations is to let your kids do the hard work and maintain authentic communication with teachers about your child’s true progress and growth. This will ensure that your child doesn’t feel pressured to attain unrealistic results and receives appropriate support from others around them.
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Long-Term Consequences in Higher Education and Career
If you want your children to thrive in their careers, you must shape their habits accordingly. When kids get accustomed to getting work done by others, they struggle with doing things independently. Whether it is learning a new skill or keeping up with various project deadlines, they find it nearly impossible to do it alone.
This inability can cost them a lucrative job, an opportunity to study in one of the world’s best universities, bagging the best internship, etc. If you don’t want your kids to experience any of these situations, prepare them for future success from a young age. Let them handle their homework independently while you become their mentor. You can gradually start increasing their share of responsibilities and work so they witness a smooth transition into their adult life.
Conclusion
Whether your child is in pre-primary or higher secondary, he/she will receive homework almost regularly. Having said that, we at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, a highly trusted best school in Gurgaon, understand that lots of kids may not like doing homework, but as parents, you must encourage them to finish it regularly. Trust us, this simple task can shape your child’s future, strengthen their skills, and bring immense academic success to them. It is the only guaranteed way to improve their understanding of any subject so they can effortlessly grasp and link basic, advanced, and interdisciplinary concepts for remarkable success. As parents, you must only become their guide and supporter, not the action taker on their behalf. If your child still refuses to do the homework, do not feel shy in collaborating with teachers and other parents to find viable solutions.