Homework time — for many families — can turn into a daily battlefield. Whether your child is 5 or 10 years old, refusing to do homework is a common challenge and doesn’t necessarily mean they’re lazy or incapable. Often, it’s a combination of developmental, emotional, and organizational factors that makes this moment stressful.
From a developmental point of view, children in primary school are still learning how to regulate their emotions, focus their attention, and manage tasks that require sustained effort.
Several factors can play a role:
Creating the right environment and approach can transform homework time into a calmer, more productive moment.
For children between 5 and 10, play is still one of the most effective learning tools. Integrating games can help them approach homework with curiosity rather than dread. Here are some ideas:
IQ Puzzler Pro (dès 6 ans): The child faces increasingly complex challenges by placing colorful pieces on a grid. Some puzzles are flat 2D shapes, others require building 3D pyramids. Each challenge demands patience, focus, and strategic planning.
Why this helps with homework:
Solving 2D and 3D puzzles in IQ Puzzler Pro mimics the same persistence and step-by-step reasoning children need when tackling difficult assignments. Just like with math problems or writing tasks, they must break down a challenge into smaller steps, test solutions, and keep trying until they succeed.
Learning related skills:
The incremental challenges in IQ Puzzler Pro mirror the gradual progression of schoolwork, teaching children that perseverance and strategy lead to success.
Dobble (dès 6 ans): A fast-paced matching game where you race to find the one symbol that appears on both your card and the central card. Spot the match as quickly as possible to win!
Why this helps with homework: The rapid visual scanning and pattern matching in Dobble builds the same skills your child uses when:
Learning related skills:
Les Grands Explorateurs – La Banquise 96 Pièces (dès 5 ans): A 96-piece puzzle featuring watercolor illustrations of the fabulous animals of the ice floes. This puzzle also comes with a poster with a picture book on the back and a magnifying glass to observe the scene more closely!
Why this helps with homework:
Completing a 96-piece puzzle develops the patience and sustained attention children need for longer homework assignments. The added step of observing details with a magnifying glass is similar to analyzing a text, spotting mistakes in math, or focusing on small details when writing.
Learning related skills:
The puzzle’s combination of perseverance and attention to detail makes it a powerful (and fun!) way to practice the same skills needed for structured school tasks.
Totem Zen (dès 6 ans): In this game, children must use sticks to pick up the different pieces that make up the totem depicted on the card. They must then use these pieces and assemble them with their hands to reproduce it exactly as it appears on the game card.
Why this helps with homework:
In Totem Zen, children must plan carefully, control their impulses, and reproduce a model with precision. This is very similar to homework situations where they must follow instructions step by step, stay calm under pressure, and complete a task without rushing.
Learning related skills:
The calm concentration required in Totem Zen mirrors the focus children need to complete homework carefully and accurately — turning patience into a real academic strength.
If your child’s refusal is extreme, constant, or linked to signs of anxiety, low self-esteem, or changes in academic performance, it’s worth discussing with their teacher and possibly consulting a child psychologist. Sometimes, underlying learning differences (like dyslexia, ADHD, or executive functioning challenges) need to be addressed with targeted strategies.
Remember: homework is not just about academics. It’s also about building habits, perseverance, and self-confidence — skills that will serve your child well beyond school. Your patience, empathy, and consistency are key ingredients in making this process smoother for everyone.
