Dealing with a child who procrastinates over homework can be frustrating for parents — but solving it may be easier than you think. Lack of organizational skills, simple boredom, or fear of failure can all be reasons a child can’t seem to get even the simplest assignments completed on time.
“To understand your child’s procrastinating behavior, you need to talk openly and hear his or her perspective,” advises Michael Kramer, Ph.D., on Empoweringparents.com. “Typically, kids are willing to share if they feel like you’re being supportive — they need to believe that you genuinely want to understand their fear so you can help them, not issue a series of consequences that may exacerbate feelings of disappointment.”
He continues: “As you listen, try to identify which of the underlying causes may be at play. Just as a physician can’t effectively treat a headache without knowing the underlying cause — dehydration, allergies, concussion, or tumor — you can’t effectively help your child stop procrastinating unless you understand what’s prompting the behavior. For instance, offering or withholding a reward for completing a task won’t help a child who is delaying because they don’t see why the task is relevant.”
Related: Your Kid Will Get Fs in School If You Don’t Do This
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