Homework really can be a burden. It feels like your annoying school life is intruding into your private life at home. To a child, it adds to the burden at school, and feels like a source of worry and unwanted stress. So don’t be harsh when forcing homework on them. They hate it enough already. So would you if you were in their place. No one really likes homework.

The thing with getting kids to do homework, like any other thing you may want them to do, is to make them believe it is not a chore they must compulsorily finish. Treat it like something they would want to do, because they are excited to revise all the new things they learned at school. Sit with them while they do their homework, and work with them, helping them get through the work, as opposed to leaving them to their own devices.

Moreover, ensure that the child is actually benefiting from the homework he or she gets. There is no use in the child forcefully finishing tasks that have no benefit whatsoever. Talk to their teachers, and work out a system, and homework schedule that works beneficially for the student.

When it comes to actually getting the homework done, there’s always a wide range of incentives and rewards systems that you can try. Give them something to look forward to for every task they finish. Maybe a small story time session, a trip to the park, a minimum amount of video game time maybe. At the end of their homework, give them ice cream, or bake a cake with them. Make them look forward to this reward, and work hard to get their work done as effectively as possible.

Set a specific timetable out for them, and let them adhere to it. A specific time in the evenings or weekends could be spent on work - you can sit down with your own work, and they with theirs. This way, they’d feel important and official - like individual adults who have responsibilities and tasks to complete just like their parents. Always remember, your kids look up to you in more ways than you can imagine. 

Pick a particular spot in the house, and make it look serious and cozy enough for them to sit with their homework. Make this spot attractive, exciting and fun to be in. Decorate it, furnish it, do something creative to get them to like it, and like spending time there, especially for their homework.

Most importantly, allow them to take breaks in between their homework, and make sure they aren’t overworking themselves. Make sure they aren’t also stressed out with their homework, in which case, you should always be ready with a calm mind and composure to gently help them out. It is no good if they are stressing out over it - no matter the academic benefits, really. There’s no way your child would be motivated to do something that causes them stress - you wouldn’t either! So make sure you come to an understanding with regard to your child’s homework, work with their school and come up with something that would be beneficial and convenient.