While you can certainly make a case for the educational importance of homework in the Elementary Grades, if it were up to me I would assign playing outside, reading and hanging out with your family. That said, it is critical to help our children learn to complete their homework independently, and to help them learn this important skill as young as possible. I am particularly concerned regarding the amount of fighting and stress that often occurs when it is time to sit down and "get it done". This struggle can take plan regardless of your parenting style and insisting it get done right away, or after taking a break does not magically end the struggle if your son or daughter decides to "go on strike". The next time you find yourself in this position I would like you to quietly tell your child that it is fine with you if she chooses not to do her homework provided she tell her teacher the truth the next day, "Mr. Smith, I don't have my homework as I decided I did not want to do it." If you can deliver this option to your child in a quiet, firm voice and then turn and walk away, you may be very pleasantly surprised with the result.
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