Helping Your Kids with Homework: Why Working on Your Own English and Maths Helps Them Too
Posted: 9 January 2026 at 2:07 pm | Author: CAW Business School
If you’ve ever sat with your child while they do their homework and thought, “It’s changed so much since I was at school!”, you’re definitely not alone. Many parents want to help their children succeed, but struggle when the questions look unfamiliar or when they’re not feeling confident in their own English or maths skills.
The good news? You don’t have to feel that way forever. Building your own confidence with English and maths can make a big difference — not just for you, but for your children too.
Setting a positive example
Children notice everything we do. When they see you learning, practising, or trying to understand something new, they learn that it’s okay to make mistakes and that learning doesn’t stop when you leave school.
By improving your own English and maths, you show your kids that education is important, that confidence can be built, and that everyone can achieve their goals at any age. It’s one of the most powerful lessons you can teach them.
Understanding homework with confidence
Homework these days can look very different to what we remember. The methods, the wording, and even the way questions are structured can all feel new.
Brushing up your own skills helps you understand what your child is learning, so you can guide them through problems instead of both of you getting frustrated. Whether it’s helping with spelling and grammar or explaining fractions and percentages, feeling confident with the basics can make homework time less stressful and more positive.
Building better communication
Strong English skills also help you feel more comfortable communicating with your child’s teachers, whether that’s reading school emails, writing notes, or talking about progress at parents’ evenings. When you feel confident expressing yourself, it’s easier to be involved and supportive in your child’s learning journey.
Learning together
Many parents say that studying alongside their children actually brought them closer together. Learning becomes something you share by comparing what you’ve both learned, celebrating small wins, and encouraging each other. Plus, there’s nothing quite like your child seeing you succeed and realising that if Mum or Dad can do it, so can they.
Take the next step
If you’d love to feel more confident helping with homework, or you just want to refresh your English and maths for your own sake, our Functional Skills English and Maths Level 2 courses are designed with adults in mind. You’ll learn practical, everyday skills that you can use straight away, with friendly support to help you reach your goals. Find out more about our Functional Skills English and Maths courses here.