How do you get 11yr old boy to do home work?

Question

My 11yr old son fights me each night about home work. It takes us 2 or 3 hrs to do 15/20 min worth. I'm at my wits end. My son is blind and has ADD. Please help me, I've tried every thing. Does any one know any tricks?

Answer 1

Hmm, he needs to be able to see an end in sight. Instead of sitting him down to do all his homework b/f being able to do anything, maybe try dividing it to smaller, do-able tasks, and come up w/ small rewards, short breaks, and make sure he knows he has to go back and do more hw when the break/reward is over. This keeps his attention focused on smaller things at a time, which may help.
good luck!
Also, I dunno if you're already working on it w/ him, but you can't leave him in a room by himself and not expect him to get distracted. I didn't need TV, radio, etc, all I needed was my pencil eraser, or the decor on the wall!! lol!

Answer 2

First of all I would let him come home and unwind from the day. Then I would ask him how was school. Get involved, he might be having problems at school, or in general.
I would just encourage him and say if you do good for the next two weeks, we will do something you want to do with in reason. He is only 11 and he is realizing that things are getting more harder and difficult and this can become fustating to a blind person, because visualy we can't understand what he sees and how he feels from his eyes. I would also speak with the teacher and see if she has any advice for you. For one of my family memember is was more of internal issues then study issues. Like knowing that they have to work harder at life then others can be bothersome. I would also get him involved in a study group with other blind ppl that are his age. Mabye he might need some encouragement from his peers that deal and go through the same struggles. Is he in a specail shool for the blind? You might want to cheek into that if you are not already doing so. Good Luck, in time he will come around. Last thing that comes to mind, when was the last time his medication was and record of medication was evlauated? They might need to change it, due to getting older and might be able to handle more or need more because he is growing? Stay strong, and be the best more that you can be. Which I can tell it's not easy but you sound like a mother that is up for the challenge and a mother that has a lot of love. Good Luck.

Answer 3

Watch Supernanny, one of the episodes addresses this problem directly. Unfortunately, I don't remember it too well.

Try doing homework right before an activity that he likes to do. Remind him that he can start that activity as soon as he finishes his homework.

Try to make a game out of it. Can he get the answer faster than you or have him stand on his head while you read the question and he gives the answer. or how many answers can he get in 5 minutes then take a break.

Make sure there are no extra noises in the room that he is working in.

Most memorizing can be practiced while he is doing a repetitive exercize like jumping jacks. He can recite the spelling of the word with one letter at each jump or count his jumps 2 at a time, or 3 at a time. That will help him learn multiplication.

Try to stick with positive reinforcement rather than taking privledges away. And give him some time to play between school and homework.

Answer 4

Perhaps consider getting a para, at least for a short time. Your son's school can recommend someone who is trained in working with blind children. This person will come by your house on a daily basis (for a fee, of course) and work on homework with your son. Paras are people who specialize in special ed, and ADD is an area that that includes.

Of course, there is also what my parents did. If we didn't do our homework, we lost privileges. My brother, who also has ADD, was most affected when his favorite things were specifically taken away, not just general grounding. "If you don't do your homework, first you cannot do (thing). If you don't do it again, you can add (other thing) onto what you can't do. If this happens 3 days in a row, you are completely grounded--no contact with your friends or the outside world whatsoever."

Answer 5

Stop fighting. That's just a bad habit for both of you.

Instead, come up with habits that will work for both of you.

He's old enough to start taking responsibility for this himself & face the consequences when he doesn't do it. Make sure he understands what the natural consequences will be if he does not complete his homework adequately.

He will have consequences at school. And, at home, you can put limits on any non-homework activities that he enjoys. You can justify this because your job as a parent is to make sure that he learns what he needs to learn from school. If he isn't learning it, you need to help him find the time to do so.

Once he understands his responsibility & the possible consequences, ask him if he'd like your help formulating a plan to get it done. Set him up with good habits & do your part to help him. But... This is important... Let him know that your help stops at a certain point - that this is not your responsibility - that you will not jeapordize your emotional health struggling with him about this.

Answer 6

Our son has an hour a night where he has to do homework and if he does not have any he has to read or do math problems. I would make him sit every night until he had it done. If it was from 5:00 - 9:00 that is what he would do just sit. Don't say anything, just every night make him sit there rather he does it or not. He will finally break down and do it because he will get tired of just sitting.

Answer 7

If it's only 15-20 Min's of work, get him to do it as soon as he gets home from school, of course let him get a snack and use the bathroom, then to business, with the TV or radio off, also get the phone off the hook, no distractions at all. He and you will both be happy with not having to worry about the work later.

Answer 8

Have no distractions. No radio, music, TV nothing on in the background.

He can do nothing until the homework is done, but eat and go poddy once every hour.

Giving him a protein snack and a glass of water, before the session may help.

Answer 9

let him know that he only has to do a bit of work, and once it's done, he can play and do whatever he wants to, for the 2-3 extra hours he used to be arguing

Answer 10

Talk to his Favorite teacher, explain the Situation to Him/Her, and see if they can do anything. Tell your son that None of us has to LIKE everything we have to do- we just HAVE to DO IT. If he insists on doing nothing (homework wise)- then Nothing is what he'll get to DO in everything else. He's NOT going to like THAT- either... -But boredom can be a convincing teacher... Good luck. :)