Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be a little annoyed at half term homework for a 5 year old?

68 replies

NoWayNoHow · 20/02/2013 11:09

I probably am, but I'm irritable and ill, so here goes.

DS (in reception) has come home with a half term project to be completed by Monday - craft activity, messy, time consuming, and something he pretty much hates doing.

He's 5yo FFS - is it REALLY too much to ask to just let him have a week off? It is a flaming holiday, after all - I really just don't see the need to give them extra stuff to do at this age. It's a frickin' paper mâché fish, for pity's sake. Why????

OP posts:
Original poster
NoWayNoHow · 20/02/2013 12:01

Sorry, I should just make it clear that if stuff comes home, like reading etc, it gets done. I understand that teachers have to set homework (although I don't agree with it as this age, but that's a whole other thread!)

However, it's the holiday homework that I object particularly to. Mainly because "holiday homework" is a complete contradiction in terms!!

OP posts:
Original poster
NoWayNoHow · 20/02/2013 12:09

Does anyone think I should say anything? I do feel quite strongly about it, but don't want to be one of those parents only a term and a half into poor DS's school career!,

OP posts:
Fakebook · 20/02/2013 12:18

I wouldn't see it as homework. It's just a fun craft activity you can do together. Dd didn't get homework this half term but she got writing exercises in the past. I don't see the problem with homework for 5 year olds. I'm happy to sit down and go through work with her, but can understand how frustrating it would be for parents working full time.

pumpkinsweetie · 20/02/2013 12:26

Yanbu, i would write a note explaining the reasons why he won't be doing the homework.

pumpkinsweetie · 20/02/2013 12:28

...one really good reason is that he is only 5, and you don't feel homework is needed at this early stage, due to him learning lots in the holidaysSmile

Hulababy · 20/02/2013 12:29

I just wouldn't do it, and I work in schools. 10y dd just has some reading to do. If she had anything more it wouldn't be done as we're away this week for the whole duration.

DeWe · 20/02/2013 12:44

None of mine have every had any work during the holidays, and the oldest is in year 7.

VisualiseAHorse · 20/02/2013 12:46

I cannot believe the amount of homework young children have today. I'm sure we didn't get homework when I was 6 (20 years ago).

bowerbird · 20/02/2013 12:47

OP definitely say something! My suggestion would be to write a letter (calm, reasonable, evidence-based) to the HT, as it's likely the homework directive comes from the top. I've done the same at my school, and it set the ball rolling for a consultation, and a lot of interesting discussions amongst parents. You will not be alone in this, I assure you.

Viviennemary · 20/02/2013 12:49

I'd be furious. It's about time parents stood up and objected to this nonsense. A bit of reading fair enough. But paper mache sculptures. thebody has got it right.

fluffyraggies · 20/02/2013 12:56

At 5 i would be keeping up with a little reading through the week, and that's it tbh.

If a project is set i think it should be clearly optional. 'If you want, while you are at home this week why not make a .... or do a .... or dress teddy as a .....!'

There are always a handful of parents who come in at the end of term and want to know what work has been set for their child for the holiday. Sadly there are also allot of parents who wont ever even pick up a reading book with their child, school holiday or not.

Original poster
NoWayNoHow · 20/02/2013 13:10

Fluffy, that's kind of how I feel - I totally get the reading books that come home as there is a purpose I.e he's learning to read.

But its all to obligatory and rubbish and irritating to bugger around with all this other unnecessary crap, especially when it's going to be hell on earth to try to get DS to put at time to it at all.

OP posts:
TuftyFinch · 20/02/2013 14:55

Teacher's really can't win can they? You would seriously complain about this? Seriously? Why can't you just sit down together and do it? I doesn't have to be big. Maybe instead of being sonnegative and grumpy about it you could see it as an opportunity to do something nice together. Who know. You might even enjoy it.

TuftyFinch · 20/02/2013 14:57

teachers

YouTheCat · 20/02/2013 15:05

Why do some teachers think that all parents have an endless supply of time/craft materials to do these things?

What if a parent has a few other children as well and they all have this kind of homework? What if the parent works all week and the child is at the childminder's?

It is utter madness to expect people to spend half of their holidays doing unwanted craft projects.

A few spellings/bit of reading or even a worksheet or 2 is fair enough, but that is way over the top.

BlackholesAndRevelations · 20/02/2013 15:22

Do you have a homework policy? My school does and if parents don't sign it, we don't expect homework. Mind you it's the bane of teachers' lives, believe me. If we didn't have to set it, we wouldn't. We don't set any over holidays, mind you.

zukiecat · 20/02/2013 15:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/02/2013 15:48

Potato, paint, blob. CorruptWalnut I expect a check in the post.

BelleEtLaBaby · 20/02/2013 15:49

I'm a teacher, albeit of sixth form, but I used to work as a TA in early years. I personally don't agree with homework at all, I think it makes the whole process more stressful for everyone. I would have a lot more time to do my actual job if I didn't have to spend so much chasing missing homework!

However, professionally, it is expected of me. I do my best to make homework interesting, or fun, or at least quite manageable in a small amount of time.

As to why 5yo's get homework: it's about establishing the idea of homework and that it should be done, before they get to the point where it's expected and a serious part of the course they are studying. Establishing good study and homework habits early on, as part of school life, will set your Dc in good stead for their gcse years. You can do yourself a big favour and make those years less of a battle by just setting the expectation now that homework is not optional and should be done, while the homework is something fun like a papier mâché fish.

By giving the impression that it is optional now, you will have a harder time convincing them to do it when it becomes more important. This has knock on effects by the time they get to sixth form - and as contact hours for FE and HE get cut, homework and independent study become increasingly relied upon for completion of coursework. Students who have good study habits in my classes and who can motivate themselves to do the homework are the ones who do better, and will do better at university, IME.

bowerbird · 20/02/2013 15:49

Tufty this is in no way a teacher-bashing thread. In my experience the teachers hate this kind of thing.

As to the question, "you would seriously complain about this?" The answer is yes, I would seriously complain about this. I feel strongly that homework in primary school is unnecessary at best, and counter-productive or harmful at worst. While there may be a place for consolidating basic skills (times tables, spelling and of course reading), these "project" based homework assignments are a waste of everyone's time and an intrusion into family life.

And no, I wouldn't want to "just do it". Why should I? My DD is bored to tears by craft projects and I prefer to do other activities with her, activities that are not dictated by the school and have as I see it, no educational or recreational value.

BelleEtLaBaby · 20/02/2013 15:52

There are also an alarming number of parents who do not engage with or input into their dc's education at all. Setting projects to do at home which are not simply reading or spellings can engage those parents and this home support makes a huge, huge difference in achievement. It's not all bad or pointless.

mamalovesmojitos · 20/02/2013 15:52

YANBU. Ridiculous!

bowerbird · 20/02/2013 15:53

Belle, I respect your professional experience, but I would disagree with the idea that you need to establish homework habits early on. There's no evidence for that.

How much homework did you have in primary school? I had zero and yet coped perfectly well with a couple of hours of homework once I was at secondary school

Bue · 20/02/2013 15:59

I can see what Belle is saying but I also really doubt that there is any correlation between homework at such a young age and attainment in higher education. I didn't have a single piece of homework until I was in secondary school and I managed to get two degrees and a Masters. In fact when I finally did have homework I was excited to do it, because it seemed responsible and grownup, and I took it very seriously.

YouTheCat · 20/02/2013 16:01

I got no homework when I was at primary, bar 20 spellings a week and a reading book.

But I still managed to have a decent work ethic when it came to doing homework once I went to high school.