Establish a clean, spacious, well-lit place for your child to work. Separating the homework location from areas where other activities take place will help to increase concentration. Keep school supplies such as pens, paper, art materials and a calculator within arm's reach so the child does not have to stop working to find them.
Design a homework schedule, and help the child stick to the routine. Kids will work more reliably and with greater focus if they are in the habit of sitting down to the task at the same time every day. While forcing a tired or irritable child to work for the sake of the schedule is often counterproductive, gentle reminders can help in training good homework habits. No kid will be perfect every day, but moderate effort on the parent's part will ensure greater regularity and dedication from the child.
Communicate with the child's teacher about homework assignments and performance. Your child may certainly tell you about his own work, but he also may accidentally omit various assignments, especially long-term projects. A casual chat with the instructor can inform a savvy parent about any due dates in the future, as well as identifying a child's strengths and weaknesses.
Offer guidance and support without being overbearing. Rather than hovering over the child's shoulder to catch errors, simply be available when the child is working and express willingness to answer questions. If you wish to check for mistakes after the child is finished, avoid a critical tone and be positive. Perfection is less important than true effort and understanding.
Assess a broad range of possible causes if a child has problems remembering homework. What first appears to be petulance may in fact stem from a deeper issue such as a learning disability, emotional distress or a lack of understanding. Children often cannot explain the roots of their difficulties, so discussion with a teacher, counselor or administrator may shed extra light on the situation. Nevertheless, keep the channels of communication open so that the child understands he has a safe place to talk about any problems.