We've all had that moment... your child approaches you with a math paper or reading assignment and as hard as you try, you just can't seem to help them. It's a devastating feeling, but it is not be a hopeless situation. Instead, here are a few tips for when homework is just too confusing. 

1. Look in your child's book. 

If your child brought their books home, start reading. More times than not, their textbooks have examples of how to do certain problems step-by-step. 

2. Talk to your child's teacher. 

If this becomes a significant problem, you can always ask your child's teacher for help. Asking for a formula sheet, other resources, or a homework help site can help ease your frustration without constantly bothering the teacher. 

3. Encourage your child to do their homework as soon as they get home. 

If your child starts on homework as soon as they get home from school, the concepts that their homework is covering will still be fresh in their minds. Even if they have questions, they might remember enough to give you information that makes solving the issue less difficult. 

4. Research the concept yourself. 

This won't always work as students often have to complete problems and assignments certain ways and the research may not support that. But, you might come across some helpful information that at least gives you a better idea of what you're supposed to do. 

As children grow older, inevitably, their homework gets harder and we don't always remember what we knew when we were their age, not to mention, that everything is changing in the world of education today.  These are just some tips on how to solve the problem with as few tears as possible.