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.

If you are reading with your DC you would automatically be doing those things.

But reading for pleasure is very different from formal learning. Obviously I read to DS and we also look at signs, packets etc when we're out. I just don't see the point of doing phonics at home in the holidays.

I think home is where you teach children to apply what they've learnt, not learn for learning's sake.

totally agree everlong

Ds's (5) reading has come on no end in the last wk or so...although he is going into yr2 in sept so a bit older...

Have read this thread with interest.

I think it is totally irresponsible not to do some sort of 'formal', tying-up of lose ends over the summer holidays with school-age children. In addition to all the fun-based learning you are all doing, naturally of course.

You should look upon it as supporting your child's teacher and preparing them for September.

For example, DS2 has finished Reception with a few 'niggles' over how to form some capital letters - he forgets how to write some of them - and likewise with some numerals. It is not a big deal for us to practise a little writing some mornings, just for 10/15 minutes, so that he will return in September quite confident in how to write all upper cases. I think there is a basic requirement of me to sort this out, frankly. He also is a great fidgeter and practising the art of sitting still, keeping his letters on the line and concentrating for a short period will, I am sure, do nothing but good.

We are talking a small amount, but something fairly regular here. And yes, in a 'formal' way, if you want to describe it so.

DS1, who will be going into Yr4 in Sept, has lots of academic issues to work on, and the summer hols are a prime opportunity for this. The time away from school is equal to a term. He spends much longer on his work, is keen to do it and knows that he needs to. But we are still talking about a bit of work in the morning, with afternoons off, and 3 days in the week with no 'formal' work, just reading practise.

We also have a week-long family holiday coming up, and have planned plenty of playdates, trips out, treats, swimming, riding, you name it ... My aim is to return to school in September two well-rested boys who have had loads of great experiences, and who are a bit more confident in some academic areas than they were in July.

I am stunned that people would take an 'anti' stance.

And I am a teacher.

Well mine have been in private school for the past two years and may possibly be returning to state due to no spaces when we relocate.
I would say the one massive difference between state and private is the almost constant re enforcement of learning by the school and it's expected it will be continued at home by the parents.
I would also say the children who passed the 11+ from their previous state school are the ones with pushy parents who did do the homework from reception so whilst YANBU you might be missing a trick, depends what you want to achieve for your child in the longer term.

I always treated holidays as a useful, restorative break from formal learning. There's no way that I'd have sat my dcs down to do school work but for all that, they never stopped learning but did so as a result of the activities we did and places we went to. Children don't suffer from a holiday away from the classroom anymore than adults forget how to do their jobs if they aren't forced to take them on holiday with them.

There is research that suggests a massive brain drain from both children and adults during long periods out of the formal learning or work place.
Teachers spend the first few weeks going over everything learnt before the summer break.

I can vouch for that.

YANBU.

My 5 yr old DD is doing the summer reading challenge, and will be dragged along to activities that her older brothers are doing (so will inadvertently learn lots about bug hunting, pond dipping, den building, the Iron Age, fencing and falconry!). We will play board games because they are fun, grow things in the garden and bake cakes. She will probably learn lots of maths and science while we do it, but it isn't the main aim of the activity. I will certainly not be sitting her down to learn phonics!

Maybe this is because of the EYFS grading you get at the end of summer term? It seemed to put parents at our school in competition with one another.

Hmm I think one size doesn't fit all and agree with Techno.

2 of my 3 are swotty. 1 isn't,is left handed and to be frank is quite lazy. Now during the school term there is no way I'd ever sit him down to school type stuff after school as having had a day of it I'm not sure of the benefit for him(and my sanity).The 6 weeks hols however is an ideal time to do the odd bit if needed.

Said son is doing well but his pencil grip was off for a while in rec and he reversed letters as is common with left handers. Using the oodles of spare time we had in the hols to tackle said issues was ideal as when he went back to school it was job done.

I'm an ex teacher to and think focusing on any issues during the hols can only be more productive than after school with a tired grumpy child.All power to you if you have kids that wouldn't benefit from the odd bit of extra attention but some of us have kids that do actually benefit.

I'm an ex teacher too(rec,KS 1).