NieCat supports, empowers, mentors and motivates parents, teens and all clients alike to identify measurable goals and objectives to accomplish long lasting Self Improvement.
Is homework an ongoing battle at your house? Well, you’re definitely not alone. Though we all want our kids to succeed in the classroom, it’s exhausting to nag them to get their homework done every single evening. With these helpful strategies from NieCat Life Coaching, you may be able to make homework a little less painful in your household.
Provide internet access
Even if you limit screen time in your family, your kids likely need access to the internet for their homework. According to Speak Up, 79% of high school students and 69% of middle schoolers use the internet to do their homework at least a few days a week. When it comes to internet service, your best option is typically an unlimited plan, especially if your kids occasionally have to do their homework outside of their home.
With unlimited service, even if the base price is higher, you won’t have to worry about overage charges, which can add up very quickly. It’s also important to teach your kids aboutsafe internet practices and establish some online rules for your family to protect them while they are using the internet.
Set up a homework station
No matter how big or small your home is, consider designating a specific area where your kids can get their homework done. Many children like to lounge in their bedrooms while doing their homework, but that isn’t always the best solution. It can be more productive if they are sitting in an appropriate chair, at a desk or table, and in a well-lit area of the house that is free of distractions. This area should be free of clutter and messes to keep them focused, and you can add some indoor plants to relieve stress.
Parents should be relatively close by and available to provide feedback whenever possible; however, if you’re working from home, know that you may need to establish some boundaries to prevent work interruptions. Work with your child to create a schedule that meets everyone’s needs.
Another thing to consider: believe it or not, the temperature can have a profound impact on your child’s work habits. If the study space is drafty, take steps to fix it. There are DIY steps you can take, but damaged windows should be repaired. Luckily, Angi has plenty of listings for residential window repair, with the national average repair cost around $290, depending on your area.
Break up the routine
Some kids just can’t pound through all their homework without a break. If your kids work better in spurts, set a timer and provide breaks often, but make them short. Also, gauge your child’s interest and energy level to figure out a routine that works best. Some children prefer to start on homework as soon as they walk through the door. Others need a snack and time to decompress before they can get started. Other children, may work more quickly and productively after dinner.
Get some help
If your child is truly struggling with the work, a tutor might be your best solution. As a parent, you can help them but many children respond better to an outsider when it comes to teaching – and sometimes the subject is out of mom’s and dad’s comfort zone. Additionally, it never hurts to get an outside perspective, so if you’re having a hard time getting through to your child, you can also benefit from the expertise of a teen coach.
How much is too much?
According to Edutopia, The National Education Association and the National PTA agree with the standard of 10 minutes of homework per grade level each night. However, in many schools across the county, the amount of homework that is being assigned these days is excessive. Too much homework can lead to family conflicts, as well as lack of focus, a decrease in comprehension, an increase in stress, and even physical illness. If you feel like your kid has too much homework, it may be time to meet with the teacher or administrators to discuss your options.
Homework can be challenging at every age, and frustrating for both children and their parents. However, by working with your kids to establish a consistent routine, as well as utilizing technology and assistance, you can make things a little easier on your children and yourself.
NieCat Life Coaching specializes in personal growth, parental skills, and teen coaching.
Back to Basics: (Non-ecommerce) Business Ideas for Stay-at-Home Parents
If you’re a stay-at-home parent, it can be difficult figuring out how to start a business from home. This issue is further complicated if you want to avoid the crowded, competitive ecommerce markets. To succeed, here are a few good ideas to consider, courtesy of NieCat Life Coaching.
Pet Care
For millions of Americans, pets are a major stressor throughout the working week. If you’re good with animals and you have patience, you could provide a solution for this dilemma with pet daycare, walking, or training. Whilst not mandatory, it’s a good idea to go down the route of correct accreditation – this means, for example, earning your NAPPS Certification, with education in pet safety and pet first aid.
Musician
The internet has done a lot for the democratization of music, meaning that everyone has the opportunity to find success via apps like Tiktok or sites like Soundcloud. If you have a musical talent and you want to earn from it, you could try collaborating with other artists, streaming your music live to build a following or playing in good old-fashioned venues. The options are truly unlimited for a skillful, wilful musician with a penchant for live performance.
Writer
Despite advances in AI and automation, creatives are still in a position to earn with words. You could try pitching articles to your local paper, working with brands to produce web copy or advertising collateral, or you could even turn your hand to fiction and try penning a novel or screenplay. The best part of being a writer is that you can often fit the work around your schedule, making it the perfect vocation for those pockets of time when you’re not looking after the kids.
Child Tutor
Tutors are an essential asset when it comes to the education of our kids. They provide one on one focus outside of busy classrooms, they help with confidence and they can offer alternative learning styles for when a child is not engaging with a topic. Your experience as a parent could make you a prime candidate, but if you want to take on this important role, you’ll also need experience in a particular field of study and a high school diploma.
Planning
Whatever business you decide to pursue, it’s important that you plan carefully in advance. Typically, you can expect to pay as much as $11,000 in the initial stages of business development (though this number fluctuates depending on its type and expenses). You’re likely to pay up on licenses, insurance, inventory/supplies and you may also need to rent out space or pay subscriptions to services to help find clients. For your own financial wellbeing, it’s important that you write a watertight business plan. This should clearly describe your proposed company, detail a sales structure, project expenses and consider any required funding. You’ll be amazed, when laying these details out on paper, how much it can cost to kick things off.
Remember that if you need money to start your business, you may need to contact a lender to discuss a business loan. During this process, the lender will take a hard look at your finances, which make or break your chances at getting a loan. Before heading down this road, figure out your debt-to-income ratio and see if you can boost your credit score. This way, you won’t hit any obstacles when you sit down to secure that business loan.
Also, last but not least, don’t forget to create a great space to facilitate your work. That way, you can separate home and business and enjoy a better balance in your lifestyle. For instance, simply investing in ergonomic office chairs and a DIY peel and stick wallpaper allows you to add a little style and comfort to your home office, making it easier to stay focused.
Balancing parenting with business can be tricky, especially if you want to avoid the internet buying/selling process, but if you have a skill or experience in a certain field and you’re willing to head out and handle things in person, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t succeed in your endeavors.
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