What To Do When Your Child's Homework Requires Internet Access

Many parents often wonder how to manage their child’s computer use and homework time.

- Laura Tierney

With student assignments increasingly requiring the internet, parents are left wondering how to ensure their children aren’t texting friends or playing games, instead of solving math problems or writing research papers.

This is no surprise. A 2015 study conducted by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, the Family Online Safety Institute and myCollegeOptions.org found that 98.5 percent of American high school students (across all racial/ethnic backgrounds) use the internet daily for assignments. And according to a study from Teen Research Unlimited conducted for the Verizon Foundation, students are using more than just a computer, perhaps out of necessity.

• 42 percent of sixth-graders reported using a smartphone to complete their homework.

• 39 percent of seventh-graders reported using one.

• 57 percent of eighth-graders reported using one.

Set up your child for success at home with helpful homework routines and guidelines. Be aware of what she can do on her computer that you may think she can only do on her phone. And, depending on your child’s age, consider having a conversation with her teacher.