Ending the Homework Hassle

by John Rosemond

Advises parents how to help children take responsibility for their own homework, and explains how to find remedial help, motivate an underachiever, and handle Attention Deficit Disorder

Genres: Parenting, Education, Nonfiction

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

John Rosemond has worked with families, children, and parents since 1971 in the field of family psychology. In 1971, John earned his masters in psychology from Western Illinois University and was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. In 1999, his alma mater conferred upon John the Distinguished Alumni Award, given only once per year. Upon acceptance, he gave the commencement address.

From 1971-1979, he worked as a psychologist in Illinois and North Carolina and directed several mental-health programs for children.

From 1980-1990. John was in full-time practice as a family psychologist with Piedmont Psychological Associates in Gastonia.

Presently, his time is devoted to speaking and writing. John is syndicated in approximately 225 newspapers nationwide. He has written eleven best-selling parenting books. He is also one of America’s busiest and most popular speakers and most certainly the busiest and most popular in his field. He’s known for his sound advice, humor and easy, relaxed, engaging style.

In the past few years, John has appeared on numerous national television programs including 20/20, Good Morning America, The View, The Today Show, CNN, and CBS Later Today, as well as numerous print interviews.

All of his professional accomplishments aside, John is quick to remind folks that his real qualifications are that he’s been married to the same woman for over forty years, is the father of two successful adults, and the grandfather of seven children…make that seven well-behaved grandchildren.

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosemond has some points which remain relevant nearly three decades later. The book is far more concerned with school success than just homework. The suggestions and ideas of developing intangible character qualities in your children is quite timely as the national discussion about setting children up for success in life include many of the character qualities which are developed when parents create the scaffolds and supportsfor their children to do homework independently. That said, some of the suggestions fall short of reaching families which include at least one child with significant disabilities. There are good discussions about when to have your child evaluated for special education and good questions to consider when discussing medication.

[Todd Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homework can be one of the most frustrating of all problem areas for children and parents.

In this guide, Rosemond warns against parental interference and demonstrates ways to help children learn to work on their own and to take responsibility for getting the work done themselves.

I will use some of the advice in the book when it comes to our kids and homework.

It had some good ideas on letting the kid do more of his homework on his own and take more responsibility. I think this will make things work better. Also, I liked his ideas when it comes to children needing to respect their parents.

[themothershipp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book club book for me and i highly recommend it! This book is about so much more than homework and is for parents of everything from toddlers to high schoolers. It definitely gives me a lot to think about on how I train and direct my kids to becoming hard working, independent adults. I wish I had read this years ago.

[Lou Dobbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have not read. Love the author

[Elsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book completely changed my approach to my helping with homework. So glad I found it with my first kid and not my last.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by a friend who knew of my struggles with my new-to-middle-school son. I had read other things by Rosemond and felt it was worth a try.
The style of writing is easy to read- he writes as if he is talking to you. I also like that he is not one of those "heart felt problem" kind of writers that talk about the stresses that today's kids have and how we should be more involved with them so this kind of thing is prevented,. He puts the "hassle" on the child's shoulders. As he said, we (parents) have already done xxx years of homework- our time is over.
Rosemond had several good ideas that I implemented. Some of them were common sense (having an area dedicated to homework) but some were novel to me (setting a stopping time for homework instead of a starting time). I also like that his ideas were easy to remember/ implement- no gadgets to buy or family meetings to have. I did not care for the teacher check-off he suggested- as a teacher myself, I would not appreciate a middle school student handing me a sheet to sign that he had written down his homework. Rosemond promotes the child being responsible to take the stress off of the parent- in this way, he is shifting it to the teacher.
In this edition (I don't know if there are newer ones- I bought this used), it briefly addresses the special circumstances related to a child who is ADD. He included that his suggestions may need altering in the case of an ADD child. I wish that he had given more space to those alterations (as this is part of the hassle with my son). But there might be another book out there by him or someone equally astute that I haven't found yet.

[Go2therock · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Rosemond is fantastic, isn't he? My kids are older now (the youngest is 17), but I picked this up for two reasons. One, I'm a homeschool Mom and that correctly implies that I am very involved in my child's education; and two, it ain't over 'til it's over. Anything that I can do to add some oomph to my youngest baby's follow-through factor is par for the course.

I'd like to mention a few things that bookended the book quite well. Early on, Mr. Rosemond offers a detailed list of seven values kids learn through the process of homework. Responsibility, Autonomy, Perseverance, Time-Management, Initiative, Self-Reliance, and Resourcefulness (with the added benefit of the development of a sense of self-worth.) Excellent! I copied them in their entirety and forwarded them to my husband and daughter so that we might all be reminded of the goals we have beyond the grades. Character development is my primary reason for homeschooling, so I found this to be a fantastic outline. Also, the book ends with some words that stretch beyond the world of schooling; once more it becomes more about life education via the family. It entails a calling forth to the crucial roles we play in our kids' lives. Everything between these two is gold as well, with a few discrepancies between his counsel and my own. I'm sending this to my sister with younger kids. Top notch!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my work as a counselor, this is one of those books I pick up and reread every couple of years. Homework struggles are very common and this gem walks you through a step-by-step guide on how to fix most of them. It's an easy read, great to recommend to parents and teachers. However, Rosemond can be . . . how should I put it . . . blunt and forthright. I'm the same, so I probably get a little too much enjoyment reading Rosemond's works, but not everyone will handle such good-humored scolding with grace.

[Upstatemamma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book describes exactly how I hope to be when my son goes to school in September. I truly hope I have it in me to stick to this plan. We have already made sure there is a desk in my son's room so he can do homework in there. I think I am ready and if I stick with it from the beginning it will be easy. If you are apprehensive about homework or if you are having ANY problem with your child and homework I say you NEED to read this book.

[Ashley Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this during my time as a case manager for 5th and 6th grade students. This book offered many helpful adjustments in the way I worked with my kids as well as my suggestions to their parents. I had many different kids, personalities, habits etc. and Rosemond's methods helped improve nearly all of them in some degree. As a parent now myself, I fully plan to break this back out and read again when my own babes are of the homework age.

[Becki]

Excellent book on solving the question of who is responsible for homework. It is fully the child's responsibility and should not be a nightly battle.\n\nThe first half of the book talks about the process for dealing with homework. The second half covers topics like motivation, retention, and ADD. \n\nDefinitely a great resource and I fully support his position on the topics.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever sat at the table for too many hours while you "help" them do their homework... this book is for you!! It is so smart, and so good.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be great for any teacher or parent who has children struggling in school.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and informative guide to doing exactly what the title saids, ending the war at homework time.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave me some helpful hints regarding school work. I just need to follow through. :)

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me sum it up so you don't have to read the book: It's the kid's homework. Let them do it and be responsible for it.

[Steffanie Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I had read this years ago.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's a great book. Good advice. I think it needs an updated edition.

[Cws]

649 Ros

[Debra Kulchar]

Good