Does your child get up every five minutes, stare out of the window or spend an hour on a ten-minute exercise? Staying focused on homework is a skill that can be learned. With clear structure, short work sessions and a little method, you can help your child work more efficiently and more calmly.
Why your child struggles to concentrate on homework
After a day at school, a child’s attention is already running low. Homework often comes at the worst moment: they are hungry, tired, and want to play or unwind.
Other factors often add up:
- surroundings full of distractions (TV on, phone within reach, brothers and sisters playing);
- an instruction they have misunderstood, which blocks them from the start;
- a subject they find hard and keep putting off;
- a lack of sleep or physical activity;
- worry or stress about school.
Spotting what distracts your child most is the first step. Watch them for a few days: when do they lose focus, and on what kind of exercise?
What the rules say about homework in primary school
In French-speaking primary schools (Wallonia-Brussels Federation), homework is governed by a decree of 27 March 2001:
- in the 1st and 2nd years of primary, no written homework, only short activities such as reading;
- in the 3rd and 4th years, 20 minutes a day at most;
- in the 5th and 6th years, 30 minutes a day at most.
Homework must also be doable without an adult’s help, as an extension of what was covered in class. If your primary school child spends much longer on it every evening, that is a useful signal: talk to their class teacher. In secondary school, no time limit is set and the workload grows noticeably.
Set up a calm, tidy workspace
A child concentrates better when they know where they work and have everything at hand. A perfect desk is unnecessary: the kitchen table works very well once it is cleared.
- Turn off the TV and put the phone in another room during work time.
- Provide good lighting and a chair that suits their size.
- Keep the materials they need within reach (pencils, eraser, ruler, school diary) to avoid constant trips back and forth.
- Leave on the table only what is needed for the current task.
Establish a homework routine
Regularity helps a lot. When homework happens at the same time and in the same place every day, your child gets down to work faster, without negotiating each time.
A few pointers for a routine that works:
- give them a break and a snack after school before starting;
- start by looking at the school diary together to see what needs doing;
- avoid homework late in the evening, when tiredness takes over;
- keep the same organisation on as many days as possible.
Break up the work and plan breaks
To help a child concentrate, several short sessions work better than one long block. Attention span varies with age and from child to child: a pupil in the 3rd year of primary will hold out for less time than a teenager.
In practice:
- split homework into small steps, each with a clear goal (“the five sums”, then “the reading”);
- start with a manageable task to get going, then move on to the most demanding one;
- allow a short break between two blocks: drink a glass of water, move around, stretch;
- avoid screens during breaks, as they make getting back to work harder.
A visible timer can help your child picture how much time is left. Adjust the length of the blocks by watching them: their own pace is what counts.
Learn to calm down before starting
A restless or anxious child finds it hard to hold their attention. A minute of calm before homework can help them make the transition from school and play to work.
For example, you can suggest a few slow breaths, or a short moment sitting in silence. These exercises will not solve everything, but they help some children settle down and manage stress better.
Make homework more active
A child pays more attention when they are doing something rather than passively rereading. For lessons to study, vary the ways of working:
- have them recite or explain the lesson out loud, as if they were the teacher;
- ask them questions, or invite them to prepare a short quiz themselves;
- use diagrams, colours or flashcards to summarise;
- use hands-on objects (counters, everyday items) for sums in primary school.
Your role as a parent: present, without doing it for them
Your presence is reassuring, especially for younger children. Stay available to help them get started and understand an instruction, then let them work on their own as much as possible.
Praise effort and concentration, not just the result. And if homework becomes a daily source of tension, take a step back: a calm atmosphere matters as much as finished exercises.
Sleep, physical activity and regular meals also affect attention. A child who sleeps enough finds it easier to concentrate the next day.
When to ask for help
Temporary concentration difficulties are normal. If they last, if they affect every area (school, play, family life) or if your child seems to be struggling, talk to their class teacher, the school’s PMS centre (psycho-medical-social guidance centre) or your doctor. They can refer you for an assessment if needed.
When the difficulty comes mainly from organisation or from one subject, outside support can ease family evenings. With the homework help service from My Sherpa, a coach supports your child at home anywhere in Belgium, or online. The coach helps them get organised and work more independently. An educational advisor listens to your needs and chooses the right coach for your child.
For a teenager who finds it hard to get organised, working on their study method can also help them plan and study better. And if the lack of concentration hides a wider dislike of school, our article my child doesn’t like school offers some ideas.
Every child is different: try several of these tips and keep the ones that work for yours.
