Homework Hint to Break through The Procrastination Barrier

The law of inertia says: "a Body at Rest tends to Stay at Rest". This means that it is easier to do nothing than it is to start something. Duh! It takes effort to get started on a new project or a distasteful task. And, Procrastination often works--it has the science of inertia behind it. If you wait long enough maybe someone else will do it for you, eh?

However, sometimes especially with school age kids the "body" needs to get into motion and do something. What's a parent to do to get 'em started?

'The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.' -- Mark Twain

The key to breaking through the procrastination barrier is to DO SOMETHING(!) in little manageable steps. The very act of planning is step toward completion. So, planning is the first step--and when the plans are written down, your child can see and feel a sense of accomplishment that can spur him/her on to the next easy step.

Step 1. For most school projects, the first step is to write down the specifics of the project. You might consider writing the steps (as best you know them) on index cards or on slips of paper. Remember to include "write down the steps on slips of paper." Then when you're finished writing your steps, you've accomplished the first step. Yay!

Step 2. Put the steps in order of what to do next . Then move your slips around so it's easy to see 1st step, 2nd step, 3rd step…..).…and as soon as you've done that, you've accomplished the second step (Hip Hip Hooray!).

At this point, you've already experienced "action" toward accomplishing a goal and you've achieved a sense of completion of (at least) those two steps. It's easier to tackle the next small step--and the next--and the next without feeling overwhelmed.

The remaining steps for writing a report or composition could look like: "Choose a topic", "Write down what you know", "Write down what you need to find out", "Write down the opening paragraph", "Write down the closing paragraph", "List the points I want to make".

The remaining steps for a science project could read: "Choose a topic", "Write down what you know", "Write down what you need to find out", "What items do you need to get for the project?", "Get the items for the project"….etc.

The main point is to make each step so easy and specific that you can check off (or put in the "done" pile of steps-slips) as "successfully completed". The momentum is maintained when your child can see what he/she has completed and what the next step is.

Your role in this is to guide the planning process (not do it!!!). And as your child completes each step, you can congratulate your child for the steps in the project that have already been completed and demonstrate your confidence and support that he/she is ready for the next step in the process. Little nudges and "whoop-de-do" encouragement make all the difference.