Keep the big picture in mind as you work. Think about how homework will help you get good grades, get into college, or achieve your dreams. You can also think about what fun things you can do once your homework is finished.  Homework may seem boring, but it's an important tool for learning new skills. Try to remember that doing your homework will teach you important things for your future. Remind yourself that if you finish now, you'll have more free time later. You might say to yourself, "If I get this all done today, I won't have to do anything on Saturday." You may need to take some time to get your brain back into study mode, especially if you’re doing your homework after dinner. It’ll be easier to focus on boring homework if your brain is ready to work. Reading is a great way to warm up your brain. Read a newspaper article that catches your eye, a chapter from your favorite book or a section of a magazine. When possible, homework should be done on a set schedule as part of a daily routine. Boring homework won’t seem as boring if you know that it’s homework time instead of struggling to find time to get to your homework.  Find a routine that works best for you. You might prefer to tackle your homework as soon as you come home from school to get it out of the way, or you might want to take 20 minutes to relax first and then start on your homework. Whatever routine works for you, it’s important that you stick to it. Try to do your homework in the same place and at the same time each day so your routine becomes second nature. Determine what time of day you work best, such as the morning, afternoon, or evening. Schedule your homework sessions for these times. Take a few moments to plan out how you are going to do your homework. By creating a plan, the workload will seem more manageable because you’ll know exactly what is coming next.  Write your plan as a to do list. Once you finish a task, you can cross it off your list. Schedule your homework into sections. It’s less overwhelming if your homework is comprised of small tasks instead of one huge project. Write your plan in the order you want to finish it. Make sure homework that is urgent is on top of the list. It’s important to give your mind and your body some rest time while doing your homework. You don’t want to burn out or get frustrated. Schedule your breaks so that you keep yourself fresh and alert.  Try the Pomodoro Technique: Set a timer for 25 minutes and work without stopping until the timer goes off. Once it goes off, take a five minute break. Reset the timer for another 25 minutes and repeat. After three short breaks, take a longer (15 - 30 minutes) break.  Use your break time wisely. Get yourself a snack, refill a glass of water, stretch or walk around. Try to get up from your desk so that it feels like you’re really taking a break from the work. Homework can be hard work, especially if it’s boring and tough to get through. Treat yourself to little rewards as an incentive to push through and get it all done.  Set up a reward system so that you get a treat for reaching mini milestones. For example, you can leave a piece of candy at the bottom of every second page to eat once you get there. Remember, rewards don’t always have to be candy. Get creative and think of other small treats you would enjoy as a reward for a job well done.

Summary: Remind yourself how homework will help you. Warm up your brain. Stick to a routine. Create a plan for finishing your homework. Take breaks. Reward yourself.


Letting your kid write in shaving cream on a tray or pan will make the process more fun. You could also use whipped topping or pudding. Roll out lines to make letters with your kid. You can begin with their name to make it more interesting or go through the alphabet. To keep this less messy, try putting finger paint in a gallon zip-top bag and sealing it well. Be sure to squeeze out as much air as possible. Then your kid can trace letters on the outside of the bag. Write letters on the concrete with a hose or water gun. Your kid will be amazed at how fast the letters disappear. Just be ready to get wet. Give your kids letter blocks, magnet letters, or rocks with letters painted on them, as all of them encourage letter recognition in your child. These types of toys also help build dexterity and muscles. Ask your kids to identify letters when you're out places, helping them to see what letters make what sounds by saying the word out loud. When you see something that looks like a letter, point it out to your child. As an example, half a pretzel looks like an "E," while the top of a cup looks like an "O."

Summary: Get out the shaving cream. Spell out letters with Play-Doh. Use finger paints. Use a hose or water gun on a hot day outside. Encourage your child to play with letters. Incorporate letter-learning into your daily life. Compare everyday objects to letters.


When you take the train, you’re encouraged to look at the scenery and appreciate your surroundings. Even better, locals often opt for trains instead of buses or planes, so make your way over to the food cart and start making some friends! You never know, someone you meet on the train might totally change your plans! Ask locals where they’re going, if they have any advice for things to do in the region, and about their experience in the area. Driving gives you more freedom to go wherever you want without having to rely on specific train times or airport locations. Better yet, driving doesn’t require booking tickets in advance, nor are you penalized with raised prices if you try to purchase a ticket day-of. Note that some countries require an international driver’s license before you can rent a car. Highways are a great way to get where you need to go fast, but you can learn so much more about the lay of the land, the geography of the place you’re visiting, and about local life if you stick to small roads. Ask for advice and directions, and don’t be afraid to get lost! Sometimes the best discoveries are the unexpected ones.

Summary: Take the train. Drive if you can. Stay away from highways.


Draw this under the eyes.     , at the end of each arm. If you'd like, you can create fingers or add pads.  , under the legs, using circles.
Summary: Draw a circle or other shape, depending on what your animal is. Draw two small circles in the middle of the other circle/shape, for the eyes. Draw two smaller circles in the middle of the eyes. Draw a curved line on top of each eye for the eyebrows. Draw an L shape to make the nose. Draw a curved smile/sad mouth under the nose. Draw triangle or square shapes for the teeth, and a semi-circle for the tongue. Draw half an oval under the head for the body. Draw two rectangular shapes on either side for the arms. Draw paws, etc. Draw two legs on the bottom of the body. Draw paws, etc. Draw fingers or pads if you'd like. Colour your character if desired (optional).