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Original poster

Could your 4 year old do this task?

65 replies

TheVanguardSix · 27/01/2019 18:35

DC3 is in reception and is 4 years old. He can spell basic words like cat, bat, hat. He is confident with his phonics and his letters/numbers. He brings home the basic Biff, Chip, and Kipper books.

He’s been given a task to write an email, in the space of 5 lines. My 4 year old cannot write in sentences. Can yours? I’m just wondering if he’s really behind and if this homework reflects the abilities of the majority of pupils.

I’m wondering how woefully behind my DC is. I have big age gaps, so my memory of DCs 1 & 2 at this age, scholastically speaking, is fuzzy.

I’m not trying to ‘compare’ or start a race between parents. But I genuinely feel it’s a bit much for reception and would appreciate insight from others.

OP posts:
Stickmangate · 27/01/2019 18:40

We had homework after October half term to write a story. But it was story scribing so child tells you the story and you write it exactly as they say it mistakes and all. Could it be something like this? We did have a letter explaining it though

Slippersandacuppa · 27/01/2019 18:42

No, and I think it’s disgraceful that they would even ask the children to do that. This curriculum in an utter joke and is going to harm our children in all sorts of ways we won’t even notice. (My opinion, obviously) All you need to do is read a few child development books and look at alternative ways of learning (Finland, etc) to see how far behind we are. We wouldn’t be handing any homework in if we were set that.

BitchQueen90 · 27/01/2019 18:44

My 5 and a half year old DS (year one) wouldn't be able to do that independently.

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4 year olds Behaviour & development Families Primary education
Avebury · 27/01/2019 18:44

DS is Y2 and would probably only just be able to manage that independently. Last year he might have managed it with a lot of support and guidance but reception no way and he is Autumn born.

Pyotrkrolik · 27/01/2019 18:44

Wow that sounds a very big ask for all but a tiny percentage of 4 year olds. Your DS sounds like he’s doing really well but this was just an unrealistic task the teacher has set such an age group.

Littlebelina · 27/01/2019 18:46

Agree with Ayebury, that sounds more like my year 2s homework.

IamChipmunk · 27/01/2019 18:47

No mine couldn't. And he is pretty good with the basics of phonics and knows the letters.
We hav just been asked this week to practice short sentences with them at home and let them write them, for example things like 'a cat is on a mat'.
Ds's writing is terrible so goodness knows what we will get, although I think he can probably spell the example I gave.

An email sounds ridiculous?!

LittleDoritt · 27/01/2019 18:47

My DDs reception class are encouraged to write a sentence at the bottom of their drawings so we have lots of "I am a cat", or "I lick (like) owls" 😆 Which she can manage, but nothing more complex than that.

BethCunningham · 27/01/2019 18:48

DC1 was almost 5 by this point in reception and did write a phonetically plausable letter to santa but he is a long way ahead in reading and writing. DC2 and DC3 who are happily at the expected level for their age would have managed by this time in Y1, possibly the end of reception with some help.

Mxyzptlk · 27/01/2019 18:48

Actually write all the words? My 5.5 yr old DGD couldn't do that, but she could say what to put in it if you were going to do the writing.
It's an unreasonable ask for most kids.

Porridgeoat · 27/01/2019 18:48

Surely the predictive spelling would step in, making things easier

Racecardriver · 27/01/2019 18:49

My four year old can’t even read properly. By the sounds of it they don’t expect them to either. Private school though so maybe less pushy than your average school.

Original poster
TheVanguardSix · 27/01/2019 18:52

Oh my goodness thank you all so much for your input! I’m so grateful!

There were no alternative instructions or a note to parents suggesting that they write down what the child speaks (I’ll do this though anyway! That’s a great idea stickmangate). Just ‘write an email’ type of instructions directed at the child, it appears. Goodness, my 4 year old doesn’t even speak clearly. He’s a very young 4 and he’s on the spectrum so I do worry. Sad

OP posts:
todayiwin · 27/01/2019 18:53

No, and DC is in a class if 14 with a TA and Teacher

Hobbes8 · 27/01/2019 18:53

My 5 year old (in reception - one of the older ones) wouldn’t do that independently. Most of her homework is reading simple phonics and handwriting, but she does get the odd one where we pretty much do it for her whilst she occasionally “helps”, eg make a 3D animal out of junk modelling bits.

If she got something like that I’d have to sit with her and tell her which keys to press, or get her to dictate it to me. She’d love it though - she’s always trying to “help” me type.

She generally gets too much homework and I completely empathise with the occasional feelings of inadequacy and anxiety that she’s behind.

fruitpastille · 27/01/2019 18:53

Mine can just about do a simple sentence but it is usually about something very random. There is no way she could write several sentences for an email without a lot of help. Mine is very keen on writing. I suggest that you scribe it for him and really don't worry!

HopeGarden · 27/01/2019 18:57

My 5 yr old (in Reception) wouldn’t be able to do that without a good deal of support.

notahiker · 27/01/2019 18:58

Just tell the teacher that at 4 yrs your DC is too young for any access to the internet so will not be composing an email ! Grin

Original poster
TheVanguardSix · 27/01/2019 19:44

notahiker that’s an excellent excuse for not doing HW response. Grin

OP posts:
OrchidInTheSun · 27/01/2019 19:48

My son would never have been able to do that at that age. He could barely write in reception. He's now in grammar school in the top English set (and is autistic).

Honestly, don't worry Smile

ipswichwitch · 27/01/2019 19:51

God no. DS2 (5yo in reception) certainly couldn’t do that. Cant reliably write his name and is not able to spell anything or sound out words without a lot of guidance (prob asd though). An email is a ridiculous task, probably more suited to my DS in yr2.

Original poster
TheVanguardSix · 27/01/2019 19:51

Thank you ALL so much! Flowers I feel so much better after reading your replies. It’s been a while since I’ve experienced reception and also, my older two were at a different primary school. I just wonder what happened to practicing writing a few rows of the letter C or writing a few words like at, cat, hat?
Maybe I’m just behind the times!

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 27/01/2019 19:52

No, DD is almost 6 and in year 1, she is very bright. She could 'write' the email beautifully but the spelling would be absolutely abysmal and you wouldn't really be able to read it!

Onglue · 27/01/2019 19:52

My just turned 5 year old reception child doesn't even know what an email is, nevermind being able to write one!

Stormwhale · 27/01/2019 19:54

I would have thought that this was a homework activity to do with you, not independently. I would think it's more about learning about emails and technology than writing skills. It would be completely unrealistic to expect a reception aged child to do this alone. Dd is in reception and is only just starting to write anything other than her name.