Back to School: Tips for Parents to Help with the Return of Homework

As summer's sun fades and backpacks begin their invasion of the living room, it's time to trade beach balls for pencils and lemonade for highlighters. Whether your child views homework like a fun puzzle—or a mythical beast lurking in the depths of their backpack—we’ve got your back. Here are some sanity-saving, routine-enforcing, homework tips for parents to help turn nightly homework time from epic battle into epic success—with fewer tears, more giggles, and (fingers crossed) less procrastination.

Back to School Homework Tips

As families gear up for the start of the school year by setting up their child for classroom success with a shopping spree that rivals a Black Friday sale, they often overlook the sneaky beast known as homework. Having an established homework routine before school starts can make a positive difference. Part 1 of the homework routine is setting up a homework box.

Tip #1 -  You have the lunchbox, but do you have a homework box?

The homework box is as unglamorous as it sounds but can make a world of difference when it comes time to start those assignments. It is basically a container that will hold all the important supplies your child will need to do their homework. I recommend a large capacity case like this one where everything is easily visible and there are no other compartments where things can get lost.

On the other hand, there are some children who need to have things in different compartments because their brain needs a place for everything. For those kids I would recommend this one.

For families keeping their eyes on minimizing spending, a shoebox, Tupperware container or Ziploc bag is just as effective.

Tip #2 - What's in the box?

Great question! A homework box is only as useful as what is inside of it. Here is a list to get you started. Remember to just the list according to your child's needs.

• dual hole pencil sharpener like this one, a well sharpened pencil makes a big impact on the quality of the handwriting.

• Block eraser: I find the white erasers like these to be the best. Kids love them because they erase quickly and efficiently.

• sharpened pencils

• colored pencils/crayons

• scissors

• glue stick

• yellow highlighter

• markers

Tip #3 - Park the box

Find a spot in your house where the homework box is stored after every use. This makes it easy for the child to find when they need it again. This step is helpful for all kids but especially a child that has challenges with organization and attention.

I recommend storing the box close to where the child does their homework to make it easier for them to follow through on returning the box once they are finished.

For families on the go, keep a homework box in the car (FYI: don't store crayons in them if you live in Florida, melted crayons are messy.)

Tip #4 - If possible, one box for every child

Siblings can fight over the smallest things. Help minimize disagreement about pencil ownership or wanting to use the sharpener that a sibling is currently using by providing each child with their own homework box.

Tip #5 - Only for homework

If possible, I recommend only using the items in the box for homework. It makes it easier to find the items during homework time. I've seen a missing eraser lead to a big homework meltdown.

Every family has different needs. The suggestions above can be adapted to meet the needs of almost everyone.

Organized Tools, Focused Minds

By creating a simple, organized homework box, you're setting your child and family up for a smoother, more focused homework routine right from the start. Whether it’s a fancy organizer or a shoebox, the goal is the same—less stress, fewer meltdowns, and more successful homework sessions. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series, where we’ll dive into more tips to help make homework time a little easier for everyone in your household!

Why did the child eat their math homework?..... Because the teacher said it was a piece of cake!