Snack First

by Cindy
(Middletown, DE)

I find that my children are STARVING by the time they get home from school, so they have an afternoon snack before homework. I try to do something healthy (if I can) pistachios, apples and peanut butter, cheese and crackers etc.

I give them a half hour for snack, otherwise my youngest would sit there all day nibling and getting nothing done. We also use the dinning room table for our homework area(does anyone eat off these things anymore). That helps to limit the clutter and if there are notes from teachers it makes it easier to find. They also know they are not allowed to play w/ friends or watch tv until they are done.

I start the homework w/ them, making sure they know what the directions say and then I give them time to work on it alone. When they are done they call me over and I check it to make sure it is completed and correct. Not always pretty, some days harder than others but I have found that routine helps.