August 27, 2003

Balancing The Pressures Of Homework, Work And Activities

Genesis Behavioral Health Expert Gives Advice On How To Make It Work

Davenport, IA - As summer turns to fall, families everywhere face the return to school, work and hectic schedules. These sudden changes can zap energy from parents and children, leaving them tired, stressed and even prone to illness. With some planning, you can ease the transition from vacation to education.

"The adjustments of returning to a normal schedule can be difficult," Teri Hughes-Paulline, a social worker at Psychology Associates, a division of Genesis Behavioral Resources, says. "Parents can help their children by making sure they get enough sleep and are eating a healthy diet. Children and teens require a minimum of nine hours of sleep to stay healthy and alert at school. And a balanced breakfast can be the ultimate 'brain booster' for improved concentration, attitude and performance."

When classes start, so does the nightly battle with homework. How can parents help their children balance the pressures of school, sports and part-time jobs in a healthy and positive way?

Understanding how to identify sources of stress and finding ways to ease stress are important to help teens put their lives into balance. Teens face a lot of expectations about how they will do academically and socially. Not meeting these expectations can result in a lot of stress that can make it even more difficult for teens to meet their goals. Not all stress is from school.

Studies indicate that three out of four juniors and seniors in high school work part-time. Though some seek employment to help support a family, 97 percent of working students do so by choice, not necessity. Work may help teens learn responsibility, hard work and the value of the dollar, but many employed teens get overtired and find their enjoyment and involvement in school or other activities negatively affected.

Working teens, just like working parents, may have difficulty managing their responsibilities. A growing body of evidence supports the theory that working as an adolescent can do more harm than good. Though, Hughes-Paulline says that a realistic amount of part-time work can be healthy and is an important step in the maturation process.

"Work experience now can aid teens later in life, but parents and students should discuss some limits in advance," advises Hughes-Paulline. "They need to come to a decision on acceptable start and stop times for work, and the number of work days and hours per week. Families must also agree on goals and expectations for grades, homework and family obligations."

For younger children, establishing regular homework habits will build success in the classroom and beyond. When parents get involved in their children's schoolwork, children will do better in school. Here are some tips to help your youngsters:

• Keep in touch with the teacher or teachers. Cooperate with your child's teacher, and show them school and home are a team. Make sure you know the purpose of the work, and follow the teacher's instructions.
• Create a home "study center" for your child to work in. A well-lit place with few distractions will help kids concentrate on the task at hand. Make sure children have the materials they need available; keep pens, pencils, paper, etc., on hand, and ask if anything special is required.
• Establish a study schedule. Set aside time each day for doing homework -- include both a beginning and ending time. Allow bathroom, drink and snack breaks as needed.
• Be positive! Tell your child how important school is; your attitude is contagious. Demonstrate that the skills they're learning now will be used later on. If your child is reading, you can read, too.
• Reward progress using direct praise. For example, "You've done 18 out of 20 math problems correctly today. That's the best you've done this quarter
• Learn to recognize signs of frustration or failure in your child. It's easy for kids to get overwhelmed with stress. Find an activity that you can do together to release tension. Try taking a short walk or listening to music.

"Parents need to set realistic expectations for each child," says Hughes-Paulline. "Your child's capabilities - both strengths and limitations - can be accurately assessed by visiting with your child's teacher, monitoring assignment effort, and minimizing other stressors in your child's day."

Parents who become concerned about possible learning problems may want their child to see a health care provider to discuss their concerns and identify causes. The best thing kids can do is learn strategies for success so they can quickly reduce their stress and feel in control.

For more information about this an other back-to-school issues, visit the Genesis Health System website at www.genesishealth.com.