How do we handle messages during homework?

Look at the assignment before changing settings

Research context: Ofcom reported in 2025 that 72% of teens ages 13–17 who used social media or messaging platforms said they helped them feel closer to friends. Source: Ofcom: From apps to AI search — how the UK goes online in 2025.

Have the child explain whether they are collaborating, waiting for instructions, or working independently. Check the teacher’s expectations when unclear. A shared project may require communication, while a solo reading task may not. Do not close or block a tool before understanding what it contributes to the assignment. At the same time, the presence of a homework group does not mean every conversation in the app needs immediate attention.

Choose a clear checking arrangement

The family might agree to check the project conversation at a natural break while leaving unrelated messages until the task ends. Keep the plan specific enough that the child knows what to do. Review the actual app and device notification options through current guidance, and test important communication with harmless content if you change them. Avoid creating a complicated system of timers and exceptions that requires more attention than the homework itself.

Review the result with the child

Ask whether the arrangement helped them find needed information and complete the task. If an important reply was missed, adjust that pathway rather than turning every alert back on automatically. If unrelated messages repeatedly interrupt, discuss a narrower change. Keep the conversation about the work process instead of using one evening as proof that the child cannot manage communication. For ongoing assignment or learning difficulties, coordinate with the teacher rather than expecting notification settings to solve the whole problem.