Now that the school year has started, children are bringing assignments home. . While parents may be active in the homework process, being too active can be a problem.

        “Parents should have as little involvement in homework as possible,” says child psychologist James Huebner of the Children's Medical Center in Dayton. “Children need to learn their assignments on their own. Parents can provide a good area for homework to be completed, and then let them be on their own.”

        Experts at the center suggest the following tips for helping with homework.

        • Don't make homework a formal event.

        • Don't assume the role of teacher.

        • Expose children to learning around the house.

        • With homework, practice does not make perfect.

        • Children need a break during homework for a snack or time to watch TV.

        If children refuse to do homework, there may be a more serious learning problem. Parents should make homework a fun event and give children a reward — stickers or a treat — for doing well on homework,

        Balancing homework and extracurricular activities can be another challenge for children as well.

        Dr. Sarah Fillingame, director of behavioral sciences at the Medical Center, suggests scheduling a set time for homework each night.

        “Children know they cannot miss practice or other scheduled events, a set time for homework is the same thing and children will not be able to miss that either.”

        Things to remember when scheduling extracurricular activities:

        • Scheduling too many activities can be overwhelming. Homework should always come first.

        • Help children rank the order of which activities are most important and how many is too many.

        • Explain to children that participating in the activity is contingent on whether grades remain high.

        Extracurricular activities are a good way for children to be involved with peers and to learn something new. They are not a baby-sitter for children, says Dr. Fillingame. Going to the event with your child shows him or her your interest and encourages family time.

        Getting homework help on the Internet can be tricky. Some teachers frown on online help, some welcome it and even hand out lists of helpful Web sites. The best thing to do is check with each teacher to make sure homework surfing is acceptable at your school.

        If it is, one of the places to start is Yahooligans!. This kid-friendly site gives helpful information for K-12 students. It's a portal for help with understanding just about any subject.

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