How much do you help your 7yo with their homework?

[BretonStripe]

My ds1 has gone up to Juniors this year, so Yr3. At Infants he didn't get any homework apart from reading. He is a bright boy, free reading for a year, top marks in phonics check and Yr2 SATs.

He now has quite a bit of home work and I knew it would be a struggle to get him to do it, but not this much! His weekly homework - spellings and maths, I have been helping him with. 10 mins an evening or so. But he has termly topic homework that he has to do, where he chooses from a list. Options include writing a poem, making a poster or leaflet, making a model.

It doesn't matter how much I encourage him and be positive he just won't engage with me or even try to start. I've told him repeatedly this weekend he's got just under two weeks left and he just doesn't seem to care.

So do I just leave him to it and he gets into trouble for not doing it? Or keep cajoling him and hoping he pulls his finger out soon?

Bump

Let him get into trouble. Don't say anything at all. He will soon step up when he realises you are not going to remind him.

That is how much homework my Year 2 DS has and to be honest, no I don't think you can leave them to do it on their own or just not make them. I always sit and help my DS do it. I make it clear he'll lose screen time unless it's done.

Although, in another rant, I don't remember at 6 having anything to do at home and find setting small children homework a bit ridiculous but hey ho.

Op I have twins and we had this for about 2 months when they started year 3 last year. They slowly got used to it.
I was dreading the start of year 4 but they have picked it up again straight away and it’s much better now.
I think they get it in their own time, I would encourage him as much as possible but he’ll soon get the message at school if he doesn’t do it.
I found it very stressful especially with two behaving this way. It really has been much better this year. I think they just know the drill now.

Yes also meant to say, I did have to stand over them a bit and make sure they did it. And point out sloppy / messy work / explain mistakes. I think this is normal to have to do this at year 3?
This year they seem to get on with it themselves much more.
I don’t think the amount they get is excessive and they are at quite pushy prep school.

I tell him he has to do it and when and then I stand over him whilst he does it.

They get awards at the end of term depending on how many pieces of homework completed, so we just do the bare minimum to get a certificate.

What with spellings and reading every night it's quite a lot so whilst I make him do it, we don't do much and the content isn't great either.

Ours is 7yo, he gets a book to read on Tuesday to deliver the following Monday. They have to write down the title, author, illustrator, say whether they liked it. And a little summary of all the story or part of the story that they liked.

One of us will sit with him while he reads it, but leave him to it while he writes. Then we'll check it for legibility!

That's it. I love his school.

Our school expects parental input at that age, but states in bold that homework should not take longer than 30 minutes. Outside of reading (5 - 10 mins a night) and a small list of spelling words, that’s it - choose one item from a choice once a fortnight - so two weekends to get it done if weeknights are busy.

They also run a homework club after school as well.

Snap here. DS age 7 started year 3.
He's arguing about his homework so I left him to it. He said today he got told off for not reading so I've told him he knows how to fix that! He sat and read two chapters of Charlie and choc factory tonight lol
He's a pain to get to sit and write. He started a story Friday and wrote 11 lines and thinks that's good enough!

Thanks everyone, good to know I'm not alone! I will continue to encourage him and offer to help then. But if he doesn't do it then he'll soon learn the consequences I guess? He's my eldest so don't know what happens if they don't do any of it.

He happily reads to himself every night in bed, and I listen to him read 3 x per week and write in his reading record.

It's hard because I don't want him to start dreading the weekends knowing I'll be nagging him about homework. I'm sure it'll get easier as he adjusts.

@elQuintoConyo your school sounds fab. We are lucky that our Infants does zero homework for the entire 3 years. I know most schools around here (SW England) give maths and spelling homework from the 1st week in Reception !

Jaffa, my Dads school do the same.
I remind her about homework and will talk through how to approach maths, literacy, etc. She is quite bright, but easily bored, and easily distracted.
I've told her it's up to her to do the homework. If she doesn't, then she will be the one explaining to the teacher why she hasn't done it.
So far, success.

*DD's, not Dad's, obviously. bloody autocorrect

Breton DS is in a Spanish state primary. His cousin is in a 'concertada' school, basically half-state/half-private/all-religious* she has one side A4 of writing, one side A4 maths every night. And a very very expensive uniform that they change every 3 or so years (summer uniform, winter uniform, PE kit, bookbags...). I really don't see the appeal - they're only 7yo!

• they aren't all religious, i'd guesstimate about 90% are.

DS' school has one logoed tshirt, one logoed PE jacket. That's it, no other uniform. There is zero bullying in his school about who wears what and has what trainers etc - most kids are in head to toe H&M so we still have to label clearly!