Is it too much for my 6 year old DD ? Homework.

IMO anything beyond reading is too much for a 6YO after a long day of school.

I’d keep it for the weekend and do like a week diary maybe- we encouraged DD by getting her an instax camera and letting her choose a notebook so she’d take a photo or 2 stick it in then write a couple of accompanying sentences. IDK what her issues are with maths but that’s usually easier to incorporate into everyday stuff fun stuff like cutting a cake for fractions or weighing and measuring ingredients.

6 is really young - I’m not sure starting school so early in the UK is a good thing. If she’s getting upset it’ll be an uphill battle that won’t get you far.

I would try and help her through play instead - look up 5 Minute Mum on Insta or get some of her books. She’s brilliant and has loads of quick and easy games that get kids learning without realising.

Keep up the reading every day. DC to read the school book even just 3 or 4 pages if they are not big and you read a bedtime story to teach wider language and inference in stories. Discuss the story - what happens next? What do you think? Let's wait and see tomorrow night - type conversations. My DD is dyslexic so won't read for her vocabulary and understanding of words is much better than her peer group.

Maybe find an app to teach times tables - making it fun really helps. Do school have Times Tables Rock Stars? This literally takes a couple of minutes and you can then test when out for a drive/walk/shopping and making it fun.

I was one for only following the homework school set and not finding our own otherwise you might be trying to do something they've not learned yet.

How do you define falling behind?

I think if it's turning into a battle then it is too much for your child.

Why not introduce maths and writing in more fun ways? Things like cooking and board games are great for maths concepts and you ask her to keep a diary or write a letter to Granny rathe than doing worksheets (my child would still have objected though).

At 6 years old she is also very much not "falling behind"

Year 1 (or 2?) Is just absolutely exhausting for children. It is really a heavy day of formal learning and following instruction.

I would encourage play and relaxation and maybe fit in a bit of reading at bedtime

I dont believe 6 year olds can really be behind by the way. That's just our rigid system.

A few thoughts. If she’s upset she’s not learning anyway so no point in forcing it
try extra work in the morning rather than the evening
10-15 m is a very long time for a tired struggling six year old
worksheets are for school , if you want to do extra get her to write your shopping list or a card to granny

We had more success with doing stuff at the breakfast table rather than after school.

Though your best bet might be to do this in the summer holidays, holiday diary etc. You can achieve a lot in 6 weeks with a star chart and rewards.