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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that homework is meant to be done by the children?

18 replies

littlebylittle · 21/02/2011 08:36

Aargh! Currently witnessing scene where three children on ds's while parents make complicated model for thR oldest obe's holiday homework!! Have been asked to help!! Mind you I'm on mumsnet!

OP posts:
upahill · 21/02/2011 08:37

Well i think the general idea is that they do it but DH sits with ours and talks them through it and makes sure they understand what they are doing.

Original poster
littlebylittle · 21/02/2011 08:38

They're in separate rooms!!!

OP posts:
Goblinchild · 21/02/2011 08:41

Yes it is, but parents often take the easier route. Either because they don't want the arguments, or because they do't want little Jezabel's effort to seem lesser when compared to her peers.
Some teachers factor this in to homework when the devil takes them. Grin

Maryz · 21/02/2011 08:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyOfTheManor · 21/02/2011 08:45

I think the parents should be on hand to explain things if needed, or even run through it with them before they start but they shouldn't do it. Defeats the point, does it not?

JaxTellersOldLady · 21/02/2011 08:46

I have asked my 2 if they have holiday homework. They said NO! I am not pushing it.

My DS does his homework by himself but my DD lacks confidence and even when she knows what and how to do it she wants me or DH nearby just incase she needs help. I talk her through it, print off things to help and then let her go off on her own. She is Y3 and I think she gets lots of homework this year. It seems never bloody ending.

Goblinchild · 21/02/2011 08:49

I hate setting homework, I reckon tables, reading and a bit of research on a topic is enough.
Perhaps it could be a mumsnet campaign. End homework in primary!

kreecherlivesupstairs · 21/02/2011 08:51

I would gladly join that campaign Goblin. My DD has an average of 45 minutes a night to complete. She is not yet 10 YO.

SharonGless · 21/02/2011 08:57

How about the current trend for reception/nursery children to be given a soft toy for a week and have to "write" a diary which include photographs.

This is just another chore for parents and doesnt teach the 2-5 year olds anything. Once they can write then obviously the children can do it but the most mine do is to draw a picture to include in the diary.GRR

Original poster
littlebylittle · 21/02/2011 09:07

I was hugely grateful as a teacher when a parent wrote an articulate letter against the ever increasing amounts of homework we were being asked to set. It led to a proper consultation of parents and found that it was only a vocal minority who wanted large amounts of homework. Do write in, start a campaign! Stops bizarre situations like the one I'm witnessing now.

OP posts:
ShinyMoonInAPurpleSky · 21/02/2011 09:24

I helped a 6 year old do her homework yesterday. The teacher had given her a map of the world and the instructions were to colour the desert areas yellow, the rainforests in green and the polar regions in blue.

All very well except that when I asked her she said all they have done in class is some rainforest animals. So I showed her where they were. The funniest thing was that there were no polar regions on the map. So I added them. Hope the teacher appreciated I did her work for her too.

zukiecat · 21/02/2011 13:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chil1234 · 21/02/2011 14:12

I spent yesterday helping DS with his half-term project. He'd done all the research but his halting one-finger typing style was taking FOR EVER. So he dictated whilst I typed and it was done and dusted by lunchtime. Happy holidays. Pass the Wii... :)

Kbear · 21/02/2011 14:22

I once said to DS when he was in year 3, after a particularly hard term of endless homework, if there is any homework at Christmas I will be cross, Christmas is family time. He told his teacher my very words !! and next time I was in the playground she called me over and said "DS told me your views on Christmas homework and I thought about it and you're right, they won't be getting any this holidays".

Result.

winnybella · 21/02/2011 14:25

Out of curiosity-how much homework are kids in the UK have to do every day. In France it doesn't seem that it's a lot, tbh- DS (9) usually has a poem to memorize once or twice a week and then maybe 2 or 3 short maths or grammar exercises to do every day. It takes him about 10-15 minutes.

winnybella · 21/02/2011 14:27

Sorry for the grammatically incorrect first sentence!

'How much homework do the kids in the UK get every day' would be better.

mumof2girls2boys · 21/02/2011 14:27

I am with you on this one my DS6 has to go to the river and answer 20 questions, take photos and write all other facts he can find out about the river over half term. This will of course involve EVERY parent doing the homework as you cannot send a 6 YO to the river on their own. Also has annoyed me as there has been no consideration to the fact that my DH is away so I now have to take 4 DCs to the river (which is swollen and flooding) all by myself making sure none of them drown. (if you met my 4 DCs you would know this to be a hard feat as they will all be very curious of the water!!)

Homework, if any needed at all, should be something easy that they can complete on their own without my input!

FreudianSlippery · 21/02/2011 14:27

YANBU. I think it's important for a parent to be there for encouragement and answering questions, but not to actually DO the HW.

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