This should be a well-lighted area of your house that is free from distractions and has comfortable seating and enough tabletop space to lay out papers and books. Possible locations include the kitchen, living room and the child's bedroom.
Always set a specific time for homework, and make sure both you and your children stick to it. Ideally this would be as soon as they get home, while the information is fresh in their minds, though any time of the day will suffice.
There's nothing worse than getting ready to help with your child's homework only to find out you don't have the right supplies. Pick up some pencils, pens, crayons, markers and paper to make sure you're always prepared.
When it is time to do homework, both you and your children should focus solely on that. Avoid talking on the phone or watching television while helping them, and show them that you are genuinely interested in their work.
If your child has a lot of homework on one particular night, you may want to consider taking a break or two, or even switching to another homework assignment. Sometimes coming back to the original assignment after a quick breather is all it takes to complete it.
After completing each homework assignment, make sure your child fully understands the material. Ask him questions about the assignment and always answer his. If your child is shy, you might need to ask him whether he has any questions.
Using television shows, movies or books, expand on homework assignments with some supplemental education of your own. This may even prepare your child for future assignments.
If your child is struggling with the material, don't let her get too overwhelmed. Reassure her that she will understand it eventually. On the other hand, if your child excels at homework, make sure to say what a good job she has done and reward her for doing so. Increasing self-esteem is a great way to increase a child's productivity in school.