Are you a parent concerned about passing values on to your kids? Do you worry that you cant find the time, or dont know how? You dont need thirty-minute multi-media presentations! You can do it with homework. In those precious moments you spend supervising your childs homework, here are thirteen values you can subtly pass on:

1) Responsibility:
Its their homework, not yours, and its them being assessed, not you. Youll help, but theyll do it, sans bribes and sans tantrums!

2) Integrity:
School rules regarding homework are to be kept; even though teacher isnt there e.g. Thou shalt not Xerox thy friends homework, but shalt do thine own. In other words, no cheating. They might get away with it at first, but the teacher is smart enough to catch on soon enough. Besides, they learn from doing their own work, and it helps the teacher find out where they need help.

3) Diligence:
Shoddy work wont do. Theyve got to pay proper attention and be thorough (its parents' job to ensure this). Whatevers worth doing is worth doing well.

4) Punctuality:
Homework must be done, and handed in on time. Punctuality is a sign of self-respect, and respect for others. It shows how much you care.

5) Discipline:
In other words, self-control. Work comes before pleasure, so homework comes before TV/ Barbie/Play Station etc. The aim is to avoid forgetting it, rushing it later or doing shoddy work at the last minute.

6) Order:
Neat handwriting, proper arrangement of facts, careful handling of materials, stapling papers together, numbering pages etc. Work is easier when done orderly and the results are better appreciated. Order, or the lack of it, tells the kind of person you are. Orderly work earns you respect.

7) Justice:
You read right! You reap what you sow - good grades come from hard work, and following homework rules. Poor grades come from doing the opposite. Dont do it at all and youll be penalized. And no, I wont make excuses for you to the teacher!

8) Excellence:
Your kids might not be A-students, but its important that they work to the best of their ability. All my kids are left-handed so they all started off writing a few letters backwards. While I know that our pet isnt a bog, and we dont sleep in a ded, I did appreciate their efforts, and desire to complete assignments promptly and orderly. At four years of age that was acceptable. The focus here is on doing their best.

9) Self-improvement:
The more they practice, the better they get. You know they did the same thing yesterday (and the day before!), but today theyre doing it better! Even mum, dad and the teacher learn to do things better everyday. Its important to always get better than you were yesterday. Never stop growing; you can never know it all.

10) Work ethic:
This deals with their beliefs about work (so dont let them hear you moan about Monday morning!). Work is a good thing, whether its homework or any other kind. Work gets things done, and you feel good with the results. If you dont work, nothing gets done. When people dont do their work it creates problems for them, and others. So, homework is good for you. And parents, weve got to make this fun!

11) Choices:
Theres always so much to do, and so little time. So weve got to choose whats important now, and leave the rest till later. The choices we make affect our lives, and we have to live with their consequences e.g. if you choose to watch TV/ go to a party/ play with a friend rather than doing homework, you will be penalized at school, get poor grades (if this is a habit) and not learn much. Kids must learn to think of the consequences of their actions.

12) Handling criticism:
We learn from our mistakes. Dont take it personally when the teacher marks your work wrong or asks you to repeat it. Its all for your good.

13) Team spirit:
Ask for help when you need it. Study with friends. No one is an island, no one knows everything. Asking for help isnt a sign of weakness but strength it shows you can assess your situation, and know what to do in a crisis.

These are just thirteen values you can teach at homework time (of course, not all at once!). And now that youve got the hang of it, I believe you can find some more! The key is to make the whole experience fun private you-and-me time. No judging, just nudging.

No doubt you will pass on those values and create many pleasant memories in the process.

Happy homework time!