Studies of typical homework loads vary: In one, a Stanford researcher found that more than two hours of homework a night may be counterproductive. The research, conducted among students from 10 high-performing high schools in upper-middle-class California communities, found that too much homework resulted in stress, physical health problems and a general lack of balance.
Additionally, the 2014 Brown Center Report on American Education, found that with the exception of nine-year-olds, the amount of homework schools assign has remained relatively unchanged since 1984, meaning even those in charge of the curricula don't see a need for adding more to that workload.
But student experiences don’t always match these results. On our own Student Life in America survey, over 50% of students reported feeling stressed, 25% reported that homework was their biggest source of stress, and on average teens are spending one-third of their study time feeling stressed, anxious, or stuck.
The disparity can be explained in one of the conclusions regarding the Brown Report:
Of the three age groups, 17-year-olds have the most bifurcated distribution of the homework burden. They have the largest percentage of kids with no homework (especially when the homework shirkers are added in) and the largest percentage with more than two hours.
So what does that mean for parents who still endure the homework wars at home?
Read More: Teaching Your Kids How To Deal with School Stress
It means that sometimes kids who are on a rigorous college-prep track, probably are receiving more homework, but the statistics are melding it with the kids who are receiving no homework. And on our survey, 64% of students reported that their parents couldn’t help them with their work. This is where the real homework wars lie—not just the amount, but the ability to successfully complete assignments and feel success.
Parents want to figure out how to help their children manage their homework stress and learn the material.
Every parenting advice article you will ever read emphasizes the importance of a routine. There’s a reason for that: it works. A routine helps put order into an often disorderly world. It removes the thinking and arguing and “when should I start?” because that decision has already been made. While routines must be flexible to accommodate soccer practice on Tuesday and volunteer work on Thursday, knowing in general when and where you, or your child, will do homework literally removes half the battle.
2. Have a battle plan.
Overwhelmed students look at a mountain of homework and think “insurmountable.” But parents can look at it with an outsider’s perspective and help them plan. Put in an extra hour Monday when you don’t have soccer. Prepare for the AP Chem test on Friday a little at a time each evening so Thursday doesn’t loom as a scary study night (consistency and repetition will also help lock the information in your brain). Start reading the book for your English report so that it’s underway. Go ahead and write a few sentences, so you don’t have a blank page staring at you. Knowing what the week will look like helps you keep calm and carry on.
3. Don’t be afraid to call in reserves.
You can’t outsource the “battle” but you can outsource the help! We find that kids just do better having someone other than their parents help them—and sometimes even parents with the best of intentions aren’t equipped to wrestle with complicated physics problem. At The Princeton Review, we specialize in making homework time less stressful. Our tutors are available 24/7 to work one-to-one in an online classroom with a chat feature, interactive whiteboard, and the file sharing tool, where students can share their most challenging assignments.
4. Celebrate victories—and know when to surrender.
Students and parents can review completed assignments together at the end of the night -- acknowledging even small wins helps build a sense of accomplishment. If you’ve been through a particularly tough battle, you’ll also want to reach reach a cease-fire before hitting your bunk. A war ends when one person disengages. At some point, after parents have provided a listening ear, planning, and support, they have to let natural consequences take their course. And taking a step back--and removing any pressure a parent may be inadvertently creating--can be just what’s needed.
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“A few techniques that might help teens manage stress are relaxation through deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness, channeling energy into sports or creative pursuits such as music, art, theater, and forming meaningful relationships or friendships,” says Khurana.
When you have a lot of academic workload to handle, your sleep time can be affected. If it persists for many days, it can have an impact on your mental health. A report by NIH says poor sleep causes mental health disorders. A student might have challenges making decisions or controlling emotions.
In recent years, there has seemed to be a debate over whether teens are truly overworked or are being dramatic. Coming from a student who has been living through high school the last 3 years, I can say without a doubt that teens are overworked and it has taken a toll on us.
This is particularly significant for adolescents and young people because anxiety restricts their school abilities, affects their social relationships and family life, and often leads to severe problems such as eating disorders, depression, or even suicide.
If your child struggles with a particular subject, ask for them to meet with the teacher or a learning specialist. For kids who feel anxious, talking to the guidance counselor may help. Your child can ask to sit closer to the teacher if they lose focus easily.
Excessive levels of academic stress can lead to an increased prevalence of disorders related to psychological and physical problems such as depression, anxiety, nervousness, and stress, which can in turn affect their academic outcomes.
Academic demands increase with every year of high school. Even if kids made great progress in middle school, they know the work will get more challenging. At the same time, they have to self-advocate more and speak up for what they need.
While school can cause stress across all years, high school is considered by some to be a uniquely stressful period. This is because it is a time of great developmental and social change which, on top of the regular demands of school, can be quite difficult to navigate.
Nov. 1, 2022, at 5:33 p.m. Some stress in high school is normal, even healthy, but parents should be aware of red flags from too much stress. Between the demands of school, the pressures of social media and the inherent challenges of growing up, teens are under a tremendous amount of stress.
The main cause for stressed out students is the heavy coursework they are taking on. Teens who want to get a jump on college may also sign up for extra classes, only adding to the burden. Too often, the teen takes on subjects that exceed their academic ability, causing added stress. Not enough sleep.
Academic demands increase with every year of high school. Even if kids made great progress in middle school, they know the work will get more challenging. At the same time, they have to self-advocate more and speak up for what they need.
45% of students in high school admit to being stressed almost every day in school. 61% of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 feel stress over producing satisfactory grades.
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