Daily struggles over homework can be stressful and exhausting and may have a negative impact on your relationship with your child so how do you motivate them to complete it in the long term and avoid the daily battle? First, it is important to understand the benefits of homework yourself: if you are not convinced that homework matters you will have a much harder time convincing your kids.
Even if you hardly ever did homework yourself, it is beneficial to recognize the real reason for homework and embrace its necessity in order to get your child to perform.
Not only does homework reinforce lessons taught during the school day, it sometimes contains extra skills not covered due to time constraints that will be required down the road and may be tested.
But more importantly, it the essential skills of self-discipline, time management, organizational skills, and self-responsibility that will be crucial to their success later in life.
Everybody has to do a few things in their life that they do not enjoy and it will be easier to learn that at a young age.
Once you have accepted the necessity of homework it is time to get your child to do the same.
Here are some great tips for how to handle the homework problem in your house:

1. Be a Facilitator not an Enforcer

While threats of punishment or withdrawing privileges may work in the short term, this is not a sustainable strategy.
Instead, work to change their attitude towards homework by making it as easy as possible to complete.
Provide a distinct, comfortable, and well-lit area for them to work in and make sure they have all necessary supplies to complete any special projects.
Invite or encourage your child to tell you about interesting things they learn while working and remain available to help them if they require it but never do homework for your child as this will undermine your hard taught lessons.

2. Discuss Homework

Sit down with them and go over their assignments to make sure they have what they need and do not have any immediate questions.
Find out if they are struggling with any specific subjects or tasks and help them figure out which homework is most difficult and get that done first.
Allowing your children some input on their homework schedule is a good way to make the task feel less onerous.
Set aside homework-free times such as Friday evenings in which to have fun as a family.

3. Praise Them don't Bribe Them

When children do well in school and complete their homework, be sure to praise them for doing well in order to further encourage the behavior but do not bribe them continuously with special treats as this will not be effective in the long term.

4. Make it Their Responsibility

One of the most important lessons to be learned from homework is that of self-responsibility.
Make it clear to your child that you expect them to complete their homework but do not chase them down about it each day: they will soon learn that they must take responsibility for completing their homework or they will face consequences at school the next day.

5. Do Your Own Homework

A great way to drive home your point about getting important tasks done even if we do not enjoy them is to do your own homework at the same time.
Balance your chequebook or complete some tasks from work.