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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want DS (age 6) to do homework

55 replies

SirSugar · 26/04/2012 19:37

its painfull, there are three pieces a week, task, spelling and reading. He can read, writes very neatly, spelling getting there. But, he whines and moans and whines and moans every week- its a real battle and I've tried everything to make it interesting.

DD (14) was never a problem, even at a young age telling me to hurry up and get home as she had homework. DD is highly motivated and tonight is sitting doing hers with DS trying to encourage him. DD is very academic

What is the point? He would rather be doing a host of other things, very creative, chatty, involved in family, lots of friends. I'm not worried about his ability to get on in life.

OP posts:

floweryblue · 26/04/2012 19:57

What about when DS is 14 and really, really, really doesn't want to do homework? How will you feel then?

flyingspaghettimonster · 26/04/2012 19:59

Yanbu in my book... But then I am the terrible parent who never enforces homework... We do it if we aren't doimg anything better, but we often go places after school (zoo, swimming, park, family etc) so don't have time. I think at 6 they are too young for daily homework and since ds is very lucky academically he doesn't need to put the extra time in yet. They are only little such a short time...

flyingspaghettimonster · 26/04/2012 20:00

Obviously at 14 it is different.

FruitPastillesForever · 26/04/2012 20:00

Yabu, homework is about learning how to learn. You have to be able to learn in order to develop your skills as life progresses. Homework is the foundation for all the effort people need to put into being successful in their chosen areas later in life.

lurkingaround · 26/04/2012 20:01

I don't see the point in homework. He's 6, fgs, of course he's had enough - the schoolday is long enough. He wants to play and I think he's right.
How would you like to bring work home after a full day of work, every day?

How you tackle it is another question.

exexe · 26/04/2012 20:04

Yanbu. Ds1(year 2) has spelling and 2 books to read every week which he does do but he also gets homework on the weekends and holidays.
In the Easter holidays he had 2 pages of maths questions to do, a comprehension paper, learning 6 and 7 times tables and doing an project about the beach.
We didn't do the project about the beach and I was really annoyed that he had so much to do.
We often go out on the weekends and holidays and he's young enough to feel really tired so sometimes we don't do it.

GateGipsy · 26/04/2012 20:05

we never had homework when we were kids. I don't see why there's a need for it now. I know there are schools that simply don't do homework. So clearly it isn't universal. Like others on here I just feel that homework is something you get at secondary school.

minimisschief · 26/04/2012 20:06

tbh children get up early are rushed out the house to get to school. they sit there for 6 hours doing work. get home are expected to do more.

add journeys, eating and other miscellaneous tasks and early bedtimes when exactly do they get a chance to be a child.

MarysBeard · 26/04/2012 20:06

I'd speak to his teacher and see what they suggest.

lurkingaround · 26/04/2012 20:07

Afaik, in Finland, which is now highly rated for their education system, they have shortened the school day, and there is no homework. They let children be children. And as a result they pulled themselves out of a horrible recession. They feel that thru play children learn to be creative, learn to work with others and develop their other intelligences e.g. emotional, social etc.

Academics aren't the bee all and end all.

Jinsei · 26/04/2012 20:09

YANBU. My dd is six and gets on with her homework without much fuss, but I resent the intrusion on our time as a family. I especially resent homework during the holidays.

I never had homework at primary school, and adjusted easily enough to doing it at secondary school.

HandMadeTail · 26/04/2012 20:10

I think it's good for children to get a small amount of homework, as it gets em learning to work alone. In other words, don't try to help too much, but if he is having problems with it, write a note to his teacher about how long he sat at it.

If his teacher thinks he is capable of doing more, she/he will soon let him know, no doubt with appropriate sanctions if your DS is not working hard enough.

lurkingaround · 26/04/2012 20:10

And in Finland, children start school at 7 yrs of age. Within a year they can read and write.

I think homework at age 6 is unreasonable. So. YANBU.

HandMadeTail · 26/04/2012 20:10

*them

HumphreyCobbler · 26/04/2012 20:11

I am an experienced teacher of 6 year olds and imvho homework (except reading) is a waste of time.

There are studies that prove this, but I have no idea how to link to them.

PMSL at the thought that homework habits need to be set by year 1

Floggingmolly · 26/04/2012 20:12

It's not daily at that age though, is it? It's weekly.
It really isn't a Herculean task to learn some spellings and do some reading practice once a week. It's meant to consolidate what they're learning in class, and if nothing else it gets them into a routine for later years when it really is imperative.
They're only little for a short time is a load of bollocks really. 15 minutes a week max? What's the problem?

GColdtimer · 26/04/2012 20:13

YANBU. He is 6. We just have reading at our school and I am really glad because ivthink 6 hours at school is enough. We do lots after school, just not more of the stuff she has been doing al day

And 14 us a little bit different to 6.

reallypissedoffhouseseller · 26/04/2012 20:14

YANBU. I hate homework for infants. I don't see a problem with getting primary school juniors to do a little bit of homework, but 6 is just too young - the school day is long enough to leave them worn out at that age.

MissFaversham · 26/04/2012 20:14

YANBU it's bloody ridiculous. My DS got a few in primary and apart from the spellings I threw them in the bin and told the teachers.

In secondary my DS fortunately goes to a school where this is few and far between as they have an ethos of less homework is better (unless necessary) and guess what, he's on schedule to get A's and A stars in GCSE's.

Safire · 26/04/2012 20:15

YANBU. I'm having the same battles, homework ends up being extra punishment and pressure for ME as my 6 year old has learning issues and clearly cba about it, and why should he at this age? It's the bane of my existence currently! I never got homework till I was 8 and it didn't hinder my progress in life in any way that I can see

LillianGish · 26/04/2012 20:15

FruitPastillesForever I agree. He is only 6 - how long can it take? I'd set a time limit of ten minutes for spelling and reading (not sure what task is???).

WorraLiberty · 26/04/2012 20:15

What Flogging said

It's a good way to get them into a routine

We all have to spend a little time doing things we don't want to but that's life.

Original poster

SirSugar · 26/04/2012 20:18

I don't agree that homework is the foundation for all the effort people need to put into being successful later Fruitpastilles, I personally did the bare minimum at school, hated it, much prefering to make clothes for my classmates and charge them when I got in from school. Didn't do me any harm I have had my own shops since I was 21.

has anyone challenged the homework? I know that you don't have to send your child to school if you wish to home school in UK ( not a possibility for me, widowed and sole breadwinner ). I feel the need with DS to challenge that he doesn't do school set homework at this stage, I will do stuff with him that he enjoys, maybe a project and they can see that instead

OP posts:

BlueFergie · 26/04/2012 20:21

Wow I am surprised they get homework. DD is 5 and gets a little. Usually reading and maybe drawing or some writing practice. But we are in Ireland and she finishes school at half one. In the UK its three isn't it?
It's a long day and then to do hw to. Hw do they have time for anything else? I do it with DD and it rarely takes longer than ten minutes. It gives me a good opportunity to see what they are doing in school and how she is getting on with it.

Original poster

SirSugar · 26/04/2012 20:22

I just bought a 500 piece jigsaw that he wants to do with me, haven't had any time yet with school, homework, dinner. Much rather do that instead.

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