Homework Causes Arguments in a Third of Families

LONDON, February 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Almost a third of parents have admitted helping their children with homework has led to arguments in the family, according to tuition provider Explore Learning.

Maths appears to be the subject that puzzles parents the most as almost 50% of parents find the subject hard to grasp compared to the 11% of parents that find English difficult.

Some parents are guilty of avoiding helping their children with their homework altogether. A shocking 15% of parents never or rarely help with homework at all.

Carey Ann Dodah, Head of Curriculum Development at Explore Learning, believes arguments start due to the frustration of parents and their lack of understanding of their children's homework. "Learning styles have changed over the years and for some parents the way homework is presented can be deemed confusing.  Parents frequently get the complaint "but that's not the way we do it at school" when they try to help their child with their work."

Homework is becoming a daunting task for most parents to face especially when their child looks to them for guidance. Yet arguing or avoiding helping your child altogether can be detrimental to their confidence and affect their ability to solve and complete their homework.

Explore Learning who provide English and maths tuition for children aged 5 to 14 years old at dedicated learning centres across the country, surveyed 1000 parents in the UK.

Other findings include:

• Around 47% of mums and 39% of dads have admitted that they have struggled helping their children with homework.
• 52% of mums and 32% of dads struggle in understanding maths.
• Over two thirds of parents say their children lack in confidence in English and maths.
• 10% of dads rarely help children with their homework.

Carey Ann Dodah added "Our tutors are frequently asked for advice from parents about how to help with their child's homework.  Parents often feel confused by new teaching styles and the curriculum levels that their children should be expected to achieve.  This sometimes makes it harder for parents to support their children in the key academic areas of maths and English.  Explore Learning believes that building children's confidence will improve their academic performance. Children who are shy or lacking in confidence are often the ones that do not show their real academic potential as their insecurities hold them back so they don't put their hand up and ask questions in class."

On average Explore members make a year's progress in just six months of regular attendance, following an assessment based on studies of 600 children over three years in the Beaconsfield centre.

For more Information on Explore Learning and how they can help your child, visit http://www.explorelearning.co.uk

Additional Notes

• The survey was conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of Explore Learning who surveyed 1,000 parents across the UK in December 2011 and January 2012.
• Explore Learning aim to have 60 centres open across the UK by early 2012.
• Explore Learning provides maths and English tuition for 5-14 year olds
• Children of all abilities attend Explore Learning, including children who are gifted or have special educational needs.
• 15,000 children attend Explore Learning centres every week.
• All courses are aligned to the National Curriculum and Curriculum for Excellence and Explore tutors select appropriate resources for each child to ensure they cover a combination of courses, enabling them to reach their potential in all areas.
• More information can be found at http://www.explorelearning.co.uk