Jean from NC writes: My husband and I watch my grandson after school until his parents pick him up after work. He brings homework that my son expects him to finish at our house, but he just wants to run around with the dog and a ball.

To begin, why homework at six? And how regimented is his school day? “Running around” may be the best thing for him, physically and emotionally. I like the Waldorf School approach (Wikipedia), where learning is through play until about 7, where “reading and writing” are introducted, when they believe the child’s brain is ready to deal with “formal” learning. Letters, words, and numbers will have meaning as a result of the child’s active play, imagining, exploring, and social interactions in the early years, with the focus on development of integrated experiences (physical, social, emotional) and positive feelings toward the world and learning.

Maybe there is a compromise, so that when your grandson gets home in the evening, he doesn’t have homework “hanging over his head.” Depending upon how much time you have with him: snack, play, and then x minutes to sit together while he does the homework (If you work out the schedule with the child, he may be able to accept it more readily). Is that helpful?