to insist on doing 1/2 hr homework during summer hols...?

[RichTeas]

Is it really unreasonable to expect an 8 y.o. to do about 30 mins worth of study (daily) during the summer weeks away from school? The problem of course is not the 30 mins, it's the fact that the "study" which might include reading a chapter from a reader and/or a few pages from a workbook can take 1-2 hours to get done, as DS does his utmost to avoid it. I would be the first to say spending hours fighting over homework is not the ideal way to start the day, but it should only take half an hour (when he co-operates it can take 20 mins). So it's a battle of wills, but should I give in and save our summer?

I leave mine to it
My 8 year old has read loads already
And my five year has been reading & writing cards etc
I haven't told them to do anything
Can't you just do the library reading challenge ?

YABU. It is the school holidays. Do you take work away with you when you go away on holiday?

If it is school work that has been set, ie a project, then that would be different, but why force your child to do studying when he isnt at school, just because YOU think he should.

Right, hes 8? And you want him to do study and homework during the summer holidays? And the reason for this madness is?

I make my 8 year old write one short story per week. This week its on the theme of monsters in the bedroom (I thought he might use his overactive imagination in a positive way and maybe even learn to rationalise that there really is nothing there when he's in bed at night!)

He doesn't like writing the stories but I don't want him going back to school having forgotten what he learned last time (which is what teachers always seem to say happens).

YABU.

I think YABabitU. If you want them to keep their brain ticking over during the holidays, I'd be more inclined to do something fun (so they don't even realise they're learning) rather than force the issue.

@gumby - I would be happy to let him read loads if we would do it. He dislikes reading and won't do it unless supervised. Not uncommon amongst boys from what I hear.

We don't take work away, but you're right I DO think he should do a little. If it's 30 mins it's hardly taking up much time out of a 14 hours day which is otherwise relaxed of fun. @squeaky - I honestly can't believe you think that an 8 year old should be the one who decides what's best for himself.

Yanbu. You should do some work with children in the summer or they can go backwards when they start their next year. How much depends on the child.

What's he interested in? Can you encourage reading by getting him into magazines of things he likes or something like that? My little sister refused to read at home until my parents encouraged Role Playing Games so she HAD to read a lot.

Thanks @Dozy, that's what I think to. As @Scarlet said, it's just to keep the brain ticking over, not some major cram sessions. The problem is that he turns the very light (and short) study time into a fairly fraught session.

Change the reading material? Do you belong to a library? They do comics etc, take home and let him chose? I think YABU. It's summer. Ours go back to school next week. I had the idea of making DS do a little every day too. But it fell to the wayside very quickly and he has had a fantastic summer.

Actually, my 5yo does 'homework' during the holidays. He enjoys it and I dont see the problem - if he doesnt do it he forgets everything very quickly.
He reads one small book at bedtime, and then we read to him afterwards. He also does one 'Carol Maths' lesson every day (themathsfactor.com) This takes him about 15 minutes and he is rewarded with a small amount of pocket money or a treat.
We choose for our child to do this because he is OUR child and WE as his PARENTS think it is in his best interests. He is off for six weeks - thats an awful long time for a 5 year old - I don't see why he shouldnt continue to learn. Yes he will have days off, but I think we need to be consistent with this.

Yabu. Encourage him to read for fun but don't insist that he does "homework"

Him! Not home

Give in, because YABU - learning is supposed to be fun! So forcing him to do it during the summer holidays, of all times, isn't really going to improve his perception of it much.

If you really want him to do a bit of work now and then, talk to him about why you think it's a good idea and see if he agrees. Then come up with a plan for how much you both think could work. Try tempting him with rewards, i.e. if you can read this story to me I'll take you to the pool, or let's see how quickly you can solve these and then we can bake a cake, or whatever. A lot of it is in the marketing - the more boring and unfair it seems to them, the longer it will take them to do it.

Yabu. Let him have his holidays, he will soon have the rest of his life to work.

What does he dislike reading, though? If it's books he hates, will he read instructions for games, Airfix kits, recipes, comics? Would he follow clues for a treasure hunt (coded ones are good fun)?

He does read little snippets from books or games etc, but at 8yrs I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a child to read a book or at least a chapter or two every few days. No idea why he's not into it, we often go to the library and choose books he likes together.

If he chooses books he likes at the library, then maybe just leave him to get on with it, when he feels like it. If you insist he reads a chapter every day, then you are making it into a chore, when it should be fun.

YABU
Learning should be fun.
If he isn't enjoying it, it's is very unlikely he is learning much.
You are probably doing a good job of spoling his holidays and the bond between you though.
Extra work now will not improve his exam results.

Yabu poor child. Holidays are for relaxing And normal interaction with your child should e enough during the hols.

He has got the next 50 years of his life to learn but only a few years of being a child.

Depends....if he is willing then yes why not. However, if he is reluctant then give it up, it's his summer HOLIDAY, he has another 8 or 9 years minimum of schooling, let him relax and recharge for the next school year.

Of course it depends on the child. Some children retain information quite easily, but then I think the children that do are the ones who wrote and read for fun so they are always sort of practicing.

DS does a ridiculous amount of work during the summer but he is SN and he has only just started recognising letters at 6 and I don't want him to go backwards!

30 minutes a day is not a lot at all. Certainly not 6 hours plus homework like if they are at school. He still has plenty time to have a full day. I suggest you work it into the daily routine. I.e after breakfast or dinner and before he goes out again.

Give him the work, say get it done then you have the day free, moan and you'll be wasting it. He'll soon realise that it's his own time he's wasting. But don't stress about it, leave it up to him to get it done or sit in doing nothing until it is.