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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is a ridiculous homework for a 4 yr old?

79 replies

deaconblue · 08/11/2010 07:14

"take a photograph of something from the natural world. It could be a tree, a plant or animal. Write a report about it."
No joke. I thought ds had been given the wrong homework slip but his friends had the same.
We have taken some photos and he has written on the computer "yelo flowa" and "pee shoots" which I think is pretty good for someone who's only been at school for a few weeks but how ridiculous!

OP posts:
Rosebud05 · 08/11/2010 20:41

And no, YANBU to think this is ridiculous for a 4 year old. It's got a bit more imagination than a worksheet, but everyone taking a couple of leaves or twigs in to make a class collage would be much less sigh-inducing IMHO.

ChippingIn · 08/11/2010 20:56

YANBU - going outside to find 'something from nature (but not poo) and write a tag for it' would have been better!

ChippingIn · 08/11/2010 20:57

Well actually, nothing more than a bit of 'reading' would be better if you ask me!

cumfy · 08/11/2010 21:15

Mine took a lovely pic of a starling while he was up chimney.

Report wasn't up to scratch, handwriting was all over the place; don't think it had much to do with the beating he was receiving at the time. Hmm

PinkIceQueen · 08/11/2010 21:22

Maybe it's the teacher's way of finding out what resources you have at home? Lol. A magazine picture would have sufficed though, or a drawn picture would have been even better. Sometimes it's just a way to get parents interacting with their children ime.

Rhinestone · 08/11/2010 21:30

@ Cumfy - did I read that right? Your DS was being beaten whilst he was doing his homework?

Could you elaborate please.

cumfy · 08/11/2010 23:19

:o Does the Vatican have a chimney ?

Sorry R, I'm just in a particularly sarcastic mood tonight.

Basically at 5yo I was propelled into academic stardom, simply by dint of knowing what an alphabet was. (most pupils didn't)

Drafting wildlife documentaries came a few terms down the track.
Maybe I'm just jealous of their 4yo precosity.Wink

gaelicsheep · 08/11/2010 23:50

My god, my 4 year old hasn't even been taught to write his name! (At his pre-school that is)

TrinityTheTwattyRhino · 08/11/2010 23:55

my five year old would LOVE that

surely you all realise that homework at this age is about more than the finished project...much more

sheesh
mine dont get enough homework, they desperately want more

we do that kind of thing for 'mummy work'

PinkIceQueen · 09/11/2010 19:50

Hmm is there a reason you are not teaching your 4 year old to write their name gaelicsheep? Teaching is a partnership between school and home, too much reliance on one or the other is not good imho.

Feenie · 09/11/2010 20:00

Maybe he isn't ready? I am a teacher and didn't teach my ds how to write his name at nursery - he wasn't interested.

purepurple · 09/11/2010 20:04

4 year olds should not be doing homework, unless we want to turn them off education for life.
We shouldn't be forcing them to read and write at such a young age either.

Horton · 09/11/2010 21:00

My four year old really enjoys her homework. She gets a book to read once a week and an activity pack (maths-based, usually a game) once a week. It's not turning her off education at all. She loves it. And she can write a few words and recognise a few words and enjoys doing so. Should I be ignoring her constant 'what does that say? How do you spell X?' questions, purepurple?

Some 4 year olds may not be ready for homework but surely in that case it's perfectly fine for them to either do what they can or for their parents to agree that at the moment it isn't appropriate with their teachers?

gaelicsheep · 09/11/2010 21:01

Pink - I have spoken to his nursery teacher because I was concerned he wasn't showing an interest in doing it, yet seemed very aware and concerned that he couldn't (ditto with reading). So I would get "I can't write yet Mummy" or "I'm not clever at reading". My concern was that if he didn't start doing these things soon he might lose confidence to the point that it was harmful to his future learning. He's a bright boy and already very self critical.

Anyhow I asked what they were doing in nursery and what I should do at home, not wanting to push him but encourage him. The answer was Nothing. They will not teach him to write in nursery unless he initiates it, and I shouldn't try at home either. So the furthest he has got is scribbling lines. They don't do any writing or teaching letters, let alone reading, until Primary 1.

We are in Scotland which truly has a crazy education system, even crazier now with the "Curriculum for Excellence". When I read what happens south of the border I am pretty concerned.

gaelicsheep · 09/11/2010 21:18

I think the problem with waiting for kids to initiate things - child led play/learning I think they call it? - is that a lot of kids, including my DS, are pretty reticent about trying something new. So they stick with what they know and miss out. In my DS's case, he chooses to role play on the house corner. Lovely, but not every day! I hate faddish education - they're there to learn so jolly well teach them!

gaelicsheep · 09/11/2010 21:19

in the house corner.

TrinityTheTwattyRhino · 09/11/2010 21:31

my children are not being put off education for life
they LOVE learning the words
the realise that learning the letters and sounds means they can read

they want to read everything they see so they want to keep learning all the sounds

honestly dd2 is obsessed, she wants to know things, why wouldn't anyone?

dd1 was the same

she knew what 's' was when she was 3 and found lots of 's's on trucks, cars, signposts

they want to lean

feed them the information, they suck it up. why would they not

these people who say 4 year olds dont want homework could be stifyling(sp) them

they dont think , UGH someone is making me do something, grr I don't want to do it.

they think, yay learning things, can do more, go with it.

I really am shocked by the hatred of homework, are you sure your kids feel the same OR have you made them feel the same from some deep down 'kids shouldn't have homework thing'

shit my 3 year year old would be sooo bored if she wasn't answered when she asked 'how do you spell my name?', Can you tell my the letters for holiday?'

why are they 'not allowed' to learn?

Feenie · 09/11/2010 21:31

I wouldn't call learning through play a fad - it's proven to be the best method to teach children on this age. Most European countries don't start formal learning until children are 6 or 7 - and the attainment of the children doesn't suffer for it. The playing is carefully planned by teachers who know exactly what they are doing.

TrinityTheTwattyRhino · 09/11/2010 21:32

gaelicsheep... 'I can't write yet' well why can't he?

if he is interested and bright, why have you not allowed him to?

Feenie · 09/11/2010 21:33

She said he wasn't interested, Trinity.

NoahAndTheWhale · 09/11/2010 21:36

DD would love that homework. Although I would inwardly grr at the photo part as our printer refuses to believe it can print, but would probably go and print out a picture at tesco and moan about it Blush.

But she would like doing it. Hornwork is not necessarily some horrible thing. But I would agree that it should be optional or at least possible to tailor it to your own child (as it sounds like this one was)

purepurple · 09/11/2010 21:39

But they are learning triniy, it's just not formal learning that concentrates on numeracy and litertacy. Like Feenie says, you only have to look at countries like Sweden, to see that the emphasis we have in this country on improving numeracy and literacy by forcing children to write before thay are ready, rreally doesn't work.
Yes, I agree, children have a desire to learn. we just have to make sure we are teaching them the things they need to learn, at the right time.

NoahAndTheWhale · 09/11/2010 21:41

Although I don't like thinking it, it does seem that overall girls prefer to do writing/drawing things sooner than boys.

This is obviously a large generalisation but based on my sample size of two (and having read various threads on mumsnet) it does seem broadly to happen.

gaelicsheep · 09/11/2010 21:44

Trinity - it's not a case of not allowing him to. Did you not read my post?! I have tried to encourage him, but that is the answer I get. "I can't do it".

Actually, he did recently make a good attempt at following the dotted lines to write his name in his grandpa's birthday card, so perhaps something is changing.

The thing is, I think if he was encouraged at school he would do it. He is very negative with anything I suggest we do at home - a phase I guess. But I also think he has perfectionist tendencies (like his mother) and is not inclined to try something he doesn't think he'll be able to do.

Chloe55 · 09/11/2010 21:45

My ds has a book which he 'reads' from. The first few books didn't actually have words, he just had to tell the story through pictures. Now his books have one or two repeated words throughout. He can write his name, mum and dad but that's about it. If he was expected to write a report I would think it was some kind of joke! He too is four.