to not give my reception child homework over the summer holidays

[messybessie]

I appear to be the minority.

I'm not completely lax, I have bought him a scrapbook and asked him to draw a picture everyday and he can write something if he wants to.

We've been to the library and joined their summer reading scheme.

But, most of my other friends seem to have devised daily maths work, phonics work, formal handwriting
practice, proper reading plans.

I'm being slightly made to feel like I'm the only one who is not a complete loon.

tell them you are following the official eyfs curriculum, ie play based, child initiated leaarning. lots of outdoorplay. now that should really annoy them.

Well they did sit down at the table in the kitchen for the formal bit. I think it is good that they get used to sittinf for a little while and concentrating on a task. They were "made" to do it as I did not give them the option of refusing, DD was always keen, DS would have avoided the maths if he could but needed to do it!

Not keen on all this "child initiated" malarchy myself.

YANBU :)

OP YANBU.

People implying that children must have a daily schedule to keep the learning momentum are a bit OTT IMO. There are ways to learn that are informal, which most parents do naturally anyway. Surely children learn continuously without need for structured homework during the holidays.

DD, DS and I play games in the car (who can count the most blue cars, what make of car is it, what do the road signs mean), pens and paper is always available so DD does writing and drawing when she wants with input from me if she asks, we are doing library summer reading scheme, country walks, day trips out. Newsflash: its all LEARNING!

There is no need to timetable 'homework' in the holidays in order to ensure your child is learning. IMO!

DD has signed up for the library summer reading scheme, DS didn't want to. But he has now found a set of books he's actually interested in and for the first time it's him asking me to listen to his reading, not me asking him to read to me. So, happy enough to do that, plus we often play games that have a maths element but nothing is forced.

Baking, a good fun activity and can have added maths value. While DD has gone to Guides camp for a week (I left her helping to put up tents), DS is helping daddy grow the veg, and loves eating tomatoes straight off the vine. All opportunities to keep the brain ticking over without forcing formality onto them.

I think we all agree that most of the learning is informal at this stage. However, I think it is important that young children continue to sit and do a little formal work on at least a few days a week, as the holiday can be a couple of months long and they get out of the habit of doing so and have to settle back into it in September. Older children are less likely to have this problem.

It is far better to do lots of practical, fun things-they are learning all the time. Sitting down with workbooks seems the easy adult cop out-there are much more imaginative ways to achieve the same objective.

I just hate worksheets and work books-deady dull! OK if DCs like them-some do-but they are the ones that would enjoy doing them anyway.If you are having to force them it is counter productive-play cards instead-teach them chess etc.

Don't remember anyone suggesting worksheets- although many children do enjoy them. Seems to me that most people are actively involving their children in learning opportunities all day long, which we all know is the best way to do it. I still believe that 10-20 mins focused on a task is a good idea and will not lead to any harm.

I assumed from OP that she was talking about writing stuff down as in worksheets or from books. I wouldn't want anyone to suggest that my holiday should be filled with some work everyday because it 'does no harm'-it doesn't do as much good as a holiday!

Counting tube stops, eye spy, writing a post card, reading sign posts, counting goals scored, working out why a 99 cone actualy costs £1.50? thats the extent of our learning. I couldn't imagine ds sitting down for 30min + to do structured work in the holidays. I suppose we learn through play but if I'm honest I'm just happy if he's having fun. You don't get 6 weeks summer holiday forever.

As an ex teacher I would agree entirely with OP. I feel so sorry for the pressure that DCs are under these days. In September those that have been forced to sit down with daily literacy and numeracy are not going to perform any better than those who have had an active summer using the same skills in other ways. Teaching a 5yr old to play chess or monopoly is a much more fun way to do maths, as is cooking etc. OP is already keeping a summer scrapbook and doing the library reading plan.

The best you can do for your DCs is benign neglect-give them time to be bored and inventive.

I know some parents worried about what ability table their kids will be put in at beginning of term so they are 'hothousing' their kids [but pretending it is kid led and fun]. We are talking going into year 2...
My ds tells me writing etc is for school only!
Apart from reading on his own and the odd birthday card and post card we will have to take our chances re 'ability table'!!!

YANBU. At reception age the really don't need any formal homework.

I can see the point of retaining some structure in the day though and don't see the harm of working in some subtle number or writing work. Keeps it fresh in their minds I suppose.

It's also a good time to get up to speed with anything they are lagging behind with (mostly for older children though). I was terrible at chemistry (much to my Dad's disgust as he was a chemistry lecturer) and I spent one summer in the lab with him most days getting more hands on experience. Helped my grades enormously!

I don't set holiday homework until year 11 and 12 in Oz.

I got lots of twatty for this. My school is in the top 10% in the state for my subject, and we don't select.

Unless a special need needs reinforcement, then just read, read, read.

And read yourself for yourself: the example is vital.

Sorry, should read on MN, not RL. :o

Ds barely picks up a pen for the 6 weeks apart from to draw but yesterday my dad taught him to play chess - does that count as homework?

I would agree-read, read, read-for pleasure-worth any amount of other stuff and seeing both parents reading for pleasure is the best thing that you can give them. Lots of visits to the library and free choice.

Chess has been proved to be very good for maths. Again -a daily game of chess is worth more than 6 worksheets.

I don't normally agree with Chris Woodhead, but he is asked the same question in the Sunday Times today and he says just read-get to the local library and join the summer reading challenge. Read with your DC and discuss the books.

I think reading is the best thing a child can learn. They really enjoy being able to pick their own books on anything they're interested in and read them themselves as often as they want. I think that is why it really puzzles me when parents avoid helping their children with the basic concepts such as learning the letters, phonics and helping them recognise certain words because it's considered 'work' rather than fun and something they will be taught in school. It doesn't have to be sitting down with workbooks and flashcards - there are lots of fun ways to learn those things but some people just seem to purposely avoid them. I don't really understand why.