A homework trapped child is one who persistently fails to
complete his assignments. I use the male pronoun, not to be sexist, but because
this problem affects boys so much more than it affects girls. Being homework trapped is a lifespan problem
that starts in elementary school, moves on to middle school and high school,
and continues throughout adult life. It manifests differently at each stage,
but the consequences can be extremely serious, if it not correctly addressed. Unfortunately,
most common approaches to secure homework compliance work against that goal.
They diminish, rather than increase, the chance that the homework will get done.
Your homework noncompliant child can be viewed as one who frequently
fails to do his homework. If he tries, he only gets some of it done. He is
proud of his effort, but still gets low grades. Eventually, he stops bringing his
assignments home. If he brings them home (or if you rush back to school to get them
for him), he tells you he does not understand what he has to do. If he gets the
work done (or if you end up doing some of it for him), he frequently fails to
take it back to school. If you rush back to school and leave it there for him, there
is a good chance that he won’t hand it in. Despite this, he does better in class
than he does at home (at least until he gets totally turned off), and there was
a time when he was truly enthusiastic about school. You realize that your child
will endure almost any consequence rather than get his homework done.
Next: The Homework Trapped Parent
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Next: The Homework Trapped Parent
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Contact me
