How to Help Your Child with Maths Homework Without Doing It for Them

Watching your child struggle with maths homework can be frustrating for both of you. You want to help, but you also know they need to learn independently. Finding the right balance between support and over-helping is crucial for developing your child’s confidence and problem-solving skills.

The Problem with Doing It for Them

When we simply give children the answers or do their homework for them, we rob them of the learning opportunity. They might complete the assignment, but they haven’t developed the understanding or skills they need. Worse, they learn to depend on others rather than building confidence in their own abilities.

Research shows that students who develop independent problem-solving skills perform better academically and have greater confidence in their mathematical abilities. Your role isn’t to be the answer-provider – it’s to be the guide who helps them find their own path to understanding.

Before You Start: Create the Right Environment

Set Up for Success:

Choose a quiet, well-lit workspace free from distractions
Ensure all necessary materials (pencils, paper, calculator) are within reach
Remove phones, tablets, and other distractions
Have a regular homework time each day to establish routine

Check Your Own Mindset:

Stay patient and positive, even when frustrated
Remember: struggle is part of learning
Avoid phrases like “This is easy” or “You should know this”
Don’t rush – let your child work at their own pace

The Question-Based Approach

Instead of providing answers, ask questions that guide thinking:

Instead of: “The answer is 12” Try: “What operation do you think we need to use here?”

Instead of: “You need to add these numbers” Try: “What does the question ask you to find?”

Instead of: “That’s wrong, try again” Try: “Can you explain how you got that answer? Let’s check it together”

Five Effective Support Strategies

1. Help Them Understand the Question

Many maths mistakes happen because children misunderstand what’s being asked. Help them:

Read the question twice
Underline or highlight key information
Identify what they need to find
Rephrase the question in their own words

Example: For “Sarah has 12 apples and gives 5 to her friend. How many does she have left?” ask:

“What does Sarah start with?”
“What happens next?”
“So, are we putting apples together or taking them away?“

2. Break Problems into Smaller Steps

Overwhelming problems become manageable when broken down:

For: “Calculate the area of a room that is 4.5 metres by 3.2 metres” Break it down:

“What formula do we use for area?”
“What are our two measurements?”
“What operation does area use?”
“Now let’s calculate”

3. Use Real Objects and Visual Aids

Abstract concepts become concrete with physical examples:

Use coins for money problems
Draw diagrams for word problems
Use household items for counting and grouping
Create visual representations of fractions (pizza slices, chocolate bars)

Example: For fraction addition, use actual objects: “If I have 1/4 of this chocolate bar and you give me another 1/4, how much do I have?“

4. Relate to Real-Life Situations

Help them see why maths matters:

Shopping: “If these apples are $3 per kilogram and we want 2kg, how much?”
Cooking: “The recipe needs 2 cups but we’re making half. How much do we need?”
Gaming: “If you need 500 points and have 237, how many more do you need?”

Real-world connections make abstract maths meaningful and memorable.

5. Celebrate the Process, Not Just the Answer

Focus on effort and problem-solving approach:

“I love how you drew a picture to help you think about this”
“Great strategy trying that different way”
“You didn’t give up even when it was tricky – well done”

This builds a growth mindset where struggle is seen as part of learning, not failure.

What to Do When You’re Both Stuck

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, neither of you can figure it out. That’s okay! Here’s what to do:

Leave it and come back: Sometimes a break brings fresh perspective
Look for similar examples: Check the textbook or online for similar problems
Contact the teacher: Use email or the school diary to ask for clarification
Mark it as attempted: Write a note: “We tried our best but need help understanding this”
Use it as a learning opportunity: “Let’s both learn this together when we find out how”

Teachers appreciate when students (and parents) identify what they don’t understand. It helps them know what to re-teach.

Age-Specific Tips

Years F-2 (Ages 5-7):

Keep sessions short (10-15 minutes)
Use lots of concrete objects and counting games
Make it playful and fun
Celebrate small successes enthusiastically

Years 3-4 (Ages 8-9):

Extend time to 20-30 minutes
Introduce note-taking and showing working
Encourage them to try first, then check together
Start building independence gradually

Years 5-6 (Ages 10-11):

Expect 30-45 minutes of focused work
Let them attempt everything independently first
Your role becomes more of a “checker” and clarifier
Teach them to use resources (textbook examples, online tutorials)

Years 7-10 (Ages 12-15):

Homework time may be 45-60+ minutes
They should be mostly independent
Your role: provide environment, check understanding, help when truly stuck
Encourage them to use teacher help sessions and peer study

Common Mistakes Parents Make (And How to Avoid Them)

Mistake 1: Taking Over When They Struggle

Instead: Let them struggle productively for a few minutes before stepping in
Why: Struggle is where learning happens

Mistake 2: Showing Your Own Maths Anxiety

Instead: Stay positive even if you found maths difficult as a student
Why: Anxiety is contagious; children pick up on your emotions

Mistake 3: Using Old Methods

Instead: Learn current teaching methods (ask the teacher or watch online tutorials)
Why: Maths is taught differently now; confusion helps no one

Mistake 4: Doing Too Much

Instead: Guide don’t solve; ask questions, don’t give answers
Why: They need to build their own understanding

Mistake 5: Expecting Perfection

Instead: Focus on effort, strategies, and improvement
Why: Mistakes are valuable learning opportunities

When to Seek Additional Support

Consider extra help if your child:

Consistently struggles with homework (taking 2+ hours for 30 minutes of work)
Shows high anxiety or emotional distress about maths
Falls behind their peers despite your support
Has been identified by teachers as needing support

Options include:

School-based support programs
Private tutoring
Online learning platforms
Peer study groups

The Bottom Line

Your role in homework support is to: ✓ Create a supportive environment ✓ Ask guiding questions ✓ Encourage independent thinking ✓ Celebrate effort and strategies ✓ Stay patient and positive

You don’t need to: ✗ Know all the answers ✗ Do the work for them ✗ Make it perfect ✗ Remove all struggle

Remember: The goal isn’t a perfect homework sheet. The goal is a child who grows in understanding, confidence, and independence. Sometimes that means handing in work with mistakes – mistakes that become tomorrow’s learning opportunities.

When you help your child think through problems rather than just giving answers, you’re building skills that will serve them far beyond tonight’s homework. You’re teaching them how to learn, how to persevere, and how to believe in their own abilities. That’s the real homework support that matters.