Why is homework in primary seen as "bad"

[Iamwaiting]

Inspired by a few other threads. I'm not a teacher or in education so I'm genuinely interested in perspectives, plus those with older children who have been through/ going through primary.

Why is homework viewed so negatively?

Context... I have a DD in reception. She finishes school at 3. We come home (5 min walk) and do her homework (set by me.) 15/20 mins of reading, 5 mins of writing (tricky words / practicing writing words with "igh" sounds for instance / following wibbly lines for pen holding) and 5 mins of simple maths.

Finished by just after 3.30 leaving 4 hours to play / go to clubs / see her friends before bed. Same thing at the weekend but we do it in the morning.

But so many threads on here seem to imply homework is awful in primary, certainly reception. But I genuinely don't understand why. Surely it's just getting her used to a concept that will become increasingly important as she gets older?

For context she can ride a bike, swim well, climb a tree etc etc. Not boasting but just to show she is still enjoying lots of activities despite the "evil" homework!

Because it’s homework for the parent as no infant school age child is going to be doing it independently. Which is a pain the arse if you work and the kids are in wraparound, if there are younger siblings needing attention or older ones with their own homework or even worse both! It’s not fair on kids who don’t have parents who’ll help them either through lack of willingness or lack of ability e.g. if parents aren’t native English speakers. Teachers are already pretty stretched without the setting and marking of homework. And lastly if my DD is anything to go by, the spelling tests are just short term memory and achieve nothing because she’ll get 10/10 no problem but then be struggling to spell words set 2 weeks ago. Don’t mine doing a bit of reading but anything else I can’t stand.

'We read every night before bed and when I remember, we do her tricky words over breakfast. In my opinion that's more than enough at that age. They're still getting used to school and learn so much more through normal play than structured learning.'

Yes, we do spellings over breakfast, so much more effective when they're rested
I don't agree with those saying they can't get used to homework later etc. A year or two really doesn't prevent that in my opinion.

I don't think homework at any age is necessarily a bad thing. It foes help to reinforce the learning that they have already had.

For us my eldest was out of the house from 7.30 until 6pm. This is a longer day than most adults have 5 days/wk. We never did a single worksheet during the week.

But We did/do loads of reading and other activities. It can be reading cooking instructions, recipes, doing weights and measurements for math, cutting and dividing fruits, veg etc, working out timings, reading the clock, phonics practice over dinner and what words have those sounds etc, shape treasure hunt/eye spy, discussing what they learnt or current events and lots of other things. Homework doesn't need to be sit down and pencil to paper. It can be squeezed in if the parent(s) choose to.

Kid was still bathed, read to and did reading with lights out at 7.30/8pm.

Doing this became a habit over time but it was bloody exhausting keeping it light breezy and stealthy.

Mine are exhausted after school. One is dyslexic and has spent all day trying so hard that she completely refuses to do anything that slightly resembles school work. She won't do any reading at home.
One is on the waiting list for an autism diagnosis and whilst more academic and happy to read and do maths it has to be on his terms!
So I'm thrilled that I don't have to add not completing homework to my list of things to feel guilty about. Also both of us work so I don't have time to sit down and force them to do homework, otherwise they won't be fed!

I don’t think there is much evidence that homework (except reading) is beneficial at primary school. There is more benefit in general learning at home, like working out the change when shopping, learning to make their own packed lunch, completing Brownies/cubs badges, reading for pleasure etc.

DD2 is being assessed for dyslexia one of the questions was ‘do they come home from school exhausted?’. Possibly why she doesn’t like doing even her reading!

A huge amount can be busy work - and a lot of the research done that finds no benefit to homework in primary years often has not evaluated the work given.

Often that model building or "fun" activities and not reading/maths practise. Also some supposedly good homework like weekly spelling tests don't work for kids who have problems - who struggle with the list and never used the "learnt" words in writing.

So kids like mine who needed extra targeted help at home ( as school was hit an miss) - like how to spell programs that split words up and taught strategies - or maths practise lost much needed time to busy work often not looked at at all by teachers.

Even when I was at home with them - I dreaded half term - 3 new projects - on school topics they'd be learning next term - so with limited time and resources have to make posters and find child friendly resources. Also found with some maths stuff that it was more advanced than lessons so in effect we were teaching concepts. Also did have negative feedback if projects didn't look good - ie kids did too much which could be very upsetting to them.

We moved and changed schools and all the busy work just went - and we had time was much easier to do support work needed and have time together and do odd bit or reading set as homework.

We had time when they were young most parents round us were rushing around work and childcare options.

My kids came home exhausted so often was trying to do things in rushed morning and exhausted evenings.

Why is homework viewed so negatively?

Every single child I've ever seen and helped with homework in infant school that isn't reading has mostly had to do crappy worksheets. This is over a 20 year period.

If it isn't a crappy worksheet, which an adult/older child has to sit with the infant aged child to get them to do, then it is make a model that needs that older person's input.

Learning times tables is beneficial.

Though the child needs to understand what they are learning....

Because it's not necessary and it can put very young children of learning. Learning in reception should be through play. There is no need to sit 4 and 5 year olds down and make them do homework. It can be counter productive
Also it can out pressure on families who want to enjoy the limited time together rather than spend time trying to make their children do something they don't want to do.
The best way for parents to help their primary aged children is to read to them regularly, and play games with them

After 5 hours of learning, when my 4 yr old gets gone from reception (not five until end of aug) the last thing he wants to do is an extra 30mins of learning. My job doesn’t help, I’m a childminder and there are three toddlers around so it’s not exactly quiet and calm. By the time they have gone home at 6pm, it’s food, bath and bed. We read every day and some days when his interest is there he will practice writing and we often sound out phonics as we are walking to and from school.
I do think at that age, there is good arguments for them not being in full time education at all. A lot of the European countries don’t start formal education until 7 yrs old.

Some children are super eager to learn and to read and write, but others aren’t, and I do think the homework in reception and yr 1, especially the ‘projects’ are mostly there to test how creative the parents are.
I don’t believe homework is necessary for primary aged children. My feeling has been validated recently as we moved house and consequently changed schools. Both schools were graded outstanding and achieved the same SAT results, but they operated in very different ways. The first school was very academic (kids would miss PE if maths work wasn’t finished, in reception) they had three pieces of homework a week, and were often punished by missing play time, my son was miserable. The second school, the school they are in now, is quite informal, the kids call teachers by their first name, they have PE every day, music & art 2-3 times a week, no homework, optional termly projects, and he is thriving. He doesn’t always fancy doing work after school but he can read independently, he has very clear neat handwriting and he is very confident.

So, I think the afterschool classes can feel more like work than reading to some kids.

It's homework for the parents isn't it really? I've got 3 kids, afternoons are tight as it is. My DS doesn't get homework yet beyond reading thank goodness. Far more important to spend afternoons/evenings cooking, at clubs, chatting with siblings, free play, getting some exercise in. Try and push kids too hard, they'll burn out and start to resent school/learning.

DC go to breakfast club and after school
Club three days a week, so out of the home by 7:30am and not home until 5:45pm so there is a time issue.

I also feel that homework for younger primary is actually homework for the parents as they need lots of help with it and then uploading it to their homework log etc all has to be done by parents.

I also feel that they need downtime after school to reset for the next day. All my DC are good at spending time on their own and playing with their toys/books etc and I think letting them find their own activities is good for them.

I happily support their reading and encourage reading and reading to them, I don't feel that homework is a necessity. Two of my DC haven't ever done homework at primary and nothing has been said so far.

Thanks all for taking the time to reply, there's some really interesting perspectives.

On a different note I'm now dreading the "building a Viking boat" style challenges that are clearly coming my way in the future. Sounds hellish frankly!

So if you got in at 7pm every night you wouldn't do it either!

Home should be a place to rest and relax . I feel the same about out of hours work tbh. There needs to be a balance

I can understand people not liking pointless busy work like make a poster of X, or craft projects that require parental help (and usually end up just the parent doing it anyway) but I have seen the benefit of useful homework in my DD's learning. She's had near daily homework (Mon-Thurs usually, rarely Fridays as her teacher doesn't want the children doing homework over the weekend) since she started 1st grade. Its never pointless busy work or craft projects, instead its tasks related to what they've been learning that day e.g. maths homework will be some extra sums, mother language/foreign language homework some extra reading/writing activity, science is usually reading the next couple of pages in the textbook to be prepared for the next lesson. Things like that. And then when exams are coming up they are told to study for the exam and for maths exams they get a handout of worksheets for practicing the unit of maths they're on.

I've found its given her good study habits, she's become used to doing a bit of work every day after school, and studying for exams so that now, at 13, she is very diligent about her studies. Its so much harder to instil those good habits when they're older, better to get them used to it when young, but only if the homework is useful homework that reinforces and supplements their learning.

But whenever homework for primary is mentioned on here (or with my friends) it's seen as a really bad thing and too much, even if for instance a parent is a SAHM.

Well, teachers can’t just set homework for those who can do it….

Just to prove the point, we love a “make a Viking longboat” challenge! (But no set homework at my kids school)

@Natsku that basically summarises my feelings exactly (you were just far more eloquent than I!)

I don’t think homework in primary is a bad thing. My dc is usually quite engaged and interested which helps a lot. Their world opens up a lot at primary school age and for my dc I want to be part of that.

That said, I have been surprised by the amount of homework that is set so early on. Reading and phonics x 3 a week, plus a written piece and and other ad hoc project work each term. I think schools know that a lot of families won’t keep up with that amount and it’s there as a guide/ option.

I am a bit of both.
I think our kids go to school too young in this country's and i think the school should be able to get enough info in them during their school day. However we do still do a few bits of maths and spellings and workbooks throughout the week, its not regimented, just as and when.

We dont do anything on the nights he has activities and he doesn't need to be in breakfast or afterschool club so he does have time on a couple of nights to do a bit extra. But he enjoys it. If it was a battle every time we tried to do it, no way would I, they are too young on primary for all that, unless of course they are falling behind, then its definately our job to help them out. I would hate to think of him sitting in class not knowing how to do the work.

That can be fine if you are home from school in good time, are able to spend 1:1 time with your DC, DC isn't already exhausted/burned out after a day at school, and they still have some time for activities or relaxataion before bed. When you have 3 in primary, don't all get home until after 6pm, then need to start cooking tea, then eating (usually around 6.30-7pm) - trying to settle 3 kids down for homework at 7.30pm much, much harder. Younger ones are likely to be shattered and older primary may have clubs to go to. DCs sports clubs in primary started at 7 or 7.30, so they came home, ate, went to club, got back around 9pm, then bed. Where do you fit the homework in then?

I think I read somewhere that research has shown that, aside from daily reading, homework in primary doesn’t change the achievement of pupils. It’s entirely for the benefit of the parents.

my primary aged DC read, and a bit of times tables practice as and when. Aside from that we don’t do homework.

That can be fine if you are home from school in good time, are able to spend 1:1 time with your DC, DC isn't already exhausted/burned out after a day at school, and they still have some time for activities or relaxataion before bed. When you have 3 in primary, don't all get home until after 6pm, then need to start cooking tea, then eating (usually around 6.30-7pm) - trying to settle 3 kids down for homework at 7.30pm much, much harder. Younger ones are likely to be shattered and older primary may have clubs to go to. DCs sports clubs in primary started at 7 or 7.30, so they came home, ate, went to club, got back around 9pm, then bed. Where do you fit the homework in then?

With that, i don't think you do fit homework in, sounds very rushed and It would not be helpful after such a long day for the kids. Primary kids not getting in until 9pm dont need homework as well. They need time to chill and just be.

I think its good practice for older primary age kids (year 5 and 6) to do a bit of homework just to get them ready for high-school where they will need to homework.

The kind of homework I'm talking about is the kind that the children that can do themselves because they've been doing it in their lesson that day and its extra practice, or its just reading, not stuff that they need their parents to help them with so every child does their own homework while dinner is cooking (or does it after dinner if they need downtime first).