I Can’t Keep Up with Homework Anymore: What Can I Do?

When Helping Turns Into Hurting: Recognizing the Breaking Point

You started out strong. You were there after school with a snack and a smile, ready to sort through worksheets, sign reading logs, and check math problems. But somewhere along the way, between long workdays, dinner prep, and emotional meltdowns over division problems, you felt something shift. The motivation faltered. The energy ran dry. And now, just the word "homework" fills you with dread.

If this sounds familiar, please hear this: you are not failing your child. Many parents — loving, deeply committed parents — experience this moment. School workloads can be demanding, especially when your child is already carrying extra weight: learning difficulties, trouble concentrating, low confidence, or anxiety about school performance. Layer that on top of your own life pressures, and the homework table becomes yet another battlefield of guilt and frustration.

The Invisible Load of Supervision

Homework for kids between 6 and 12 isn’t just about knowing the material. It’s about organization, emotional regulation, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and sticking with it even when it’s hard. And guess whose job it usually is to coach all of that? Yours.

But coaching — especially when you're already depleted — is exhausting. Many parents quietly wonder, “Isn’t this the teacher’s job? Why is so much responsibility falling on me at 7:30 pm?” It’s a valid question, and a reflection of how modern schooling often offloads instructional work into family time, without offering the structure or support we truly need.

We talked about this in our article on feeling drained by the nightly school grind. Sometimes, acknowledging the weight you’re carrying is the first step to change.

When You and Your Child Are Stuck in a Homework Rut

Picture this: your 9-year-old sits at the dining room table, pencil in hand, eyes darting everywhere except the page. The assignment is straightforward, but it’s taking forever. You try encouragement, then reminders, then warnings. Eventually, it ends in tears — maybe theirs, maybe yours.

This scenario doesn’t mean your child is lazy or defiant. More likely, it reveals a misalignment between how they learn and how they're being asked to demonstrate that learning. For kids with attention difficulties, executive function challenges, or emotional sensitivity, traditional homework formats can quickly become hurdles rather than stepping stones.

This is where new tools can help—not to replace you, but to back you up. For instance, if your child zones out after reading two paragraphs, consider turning their lesson into an auditory story they can listen to on the go. The Skuli app does this beautifully, converting any typed lesson into a custom audio adventure featuring your child as the main character. What was once another reading task suddenly becomes a mission they’re excited to complete.

Let Go of the Perfect Homework Narrative

The "ideal" homework session — where your child does their work diligently while you prepare a healthy dinner — often lives in Instagram posts more than real life. It’s okay to let go of that image. What matters more is connection, consistency, and creative flexibility.

Try experimenting. If evenings are overloaded, could mornings work better? Could a grandparent, tutor, or older sibling step in once or twice a week? Can assignments be done in 15-minute chunks with breaks in between? These little shifts can create big emotional relief. We explored this more in this piece on making homework more peaceful.

It’s Not About Doing More, It’s About Doing Differently

When you’re running on low energy, the natural instinct is to either power through or give up. But there’s a gentler third way: reframe the problem. Instead of “how can I keep up,” ask: “how can I teach my child to take more ownership?”

Start small. Give them a choice about where to study. Break tasks into steps and hand over the checklist. Use a kitchen timer to limit how long they focus before a break. And if they’re struggling with a concept, guide them to tools that encourage active learning — like turning a photo of the lesson into a mini quiz they can tackle independently, which some apps like Skuli now offer. The shift isn’t immediate, but over time, it builds their confidence... and gives you some breathing room.

You’re Allowed to Ask for Help

If you feel cornered, it's okay to ask the school for support. A short email to a teacher — “Homework is becoming very stressful at home and we’re struggling to keep up. Do you have any advice or flexibility on this?” — can open up dialogue and solutions. You’re not being difficult. You’re advocating for your child’s wellbeing, and yours.

We also recommend reading this article on combating mental fatigue and how technology can lighten the burnout, especially if the emotional exhaustion feels chronic.

You’re Not Alone

It’s hard to admit when we’re no longer “keeping up.” It feels like defeat. But that admission? It’s actually the beginning of a better way forward. One where you don’t have to do everything perfectly. Where support doesn’t feel like a failure. Where your child knows you love them — not for how well their spelling quiz goes, but for how deeply you show up, even on the hard days.

You are doing your best. Let that be enough. And then, slowly, let help in.