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

[NoWayNoHow]

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????

YANBU

DS1 is in reception, and we are continuing with reading and we've got a discussion topic which we get every weekend.

It's not the answer all by itself. But it's part of a bigger picture and attitude towards education at home.

Now I'm absolutely, 100% NOT saying that not wanting to do homework with a 5yo is BU. Completely not. The better answer would be to provide adequate numbers of teachers, smaller classes and more contact hours at higher levels so education can be delivered at school and the kids can be left alone at home

BUT it is my experience teaching in both settings that the students who were expected to complete homework (and again, encouraged and motivated by those parents rather than yelled at and forced to sit and pore over it - much more damaging ime) tended to be the ones whose parents were more involved and engaged with their children's education, so learning just becomes a part of their life, and those children do better. It's not a very scientific opinion :) And it's a bit 'in an ideal world'. But giving children a good attitude towards learning and making homework just another part of that, rather than setting the ideathatnits optional or a chore does have a positive impact on their attitude to it when they a older and choosing to do it for themselves.

I'm biased. I love papier mâché :)

WTF making a papier mache fish is not a little project. You need paper, glue,brushes, paints and a lot of patience. This will require a lot of input from a parent as it is well beyond what a 5 year old can do.

If you have none of these that means a shopping trip and expense to get them.and in the current climate that may be an expense some parents cant afford.

I would have been annoyed if I had received this too. I work FT doesnt stop in holidays so no way I would have had the time to do this. what with the soaking. waiting to dry, painting and the mess
YADNBU

Yes, Belle, but it is time-consuming and messy and not everyone has the resources for these kind of activities.

Nothing wrong with 15 minutes spent reading, or something, at 5 but a whole project is way over the top.

Again, I just want to reiterate that my issue here is specifically regarding homework over a short one week holiday, not regarding homework in general.

What possible benefit to my DS's education can there be by setting a fish-making project during the holidays, especially when he's so young?

It's just one friggin' week, can the school not leave him alone to just have a nice break? After all, a break is what a holiday is supposed to be, is it not?

I write a weekly update for parents and give the (R) children a voluntary challenge linked to their learning, usually something simple like talking about left and right when in the car. I can't even remember what is was this hols, but it didn't involve equipment.

make it a krill op

I wouldn't do it, unless he wanted to.

Brilliant idea!

YANBU. That would really annoy me. We work FT, and there is slim chance that the childminder will accommodate a papier mache fish project, as they'd all have to do it. Therefore we'd have to squeeze it into an evening or weekend.

That isn't to say that we don't do lots of lovely craft projects and spend quality time together, I'd just be very pissed off with the school dictating what that time should be spent doing. I'm very happy to do homework with DS, reading, writing, whatever, but a papier mache fish is bonkers.

Maybe I will go half way and get him to draw a fish instead (although he'll still hate doing that) - less time consuming. It's just really tricky this week particularly as I'm recovering from an op, so DH is looking after me and DS, and also we're heading down to family in the next day or so, so we A&E running out of time.

I can't imagine many parents will be able to facilitate this if they're away for the holidays!

At age 5 I'd send it back in with a note attached, Thanks for sending work for the Holiday. Unfortunately we were busy and didn't need this activity to keep little Jo active. We swam, went to the park, visited family, (add all kinds of busy things you do) I like to use our "break" from school to be family oriented and a time to relax when we can.
What annoys me is they don't want families taking term time holidays so we will book them for times like half term, yet they are going to send homework? My kids are off school to have a break. Luckily Dd's teacher only sends homework packages if you sign up for them, so if you know you'll be busy you don't sign up.

I wouldn't push him to do it if you don't agree.
If you disagree with homework per se, as I did you can opt out and not sign home/school agreement. OR
Perhaps send a note back saying you were ill and couldn't supervise the homework. Its not like its important work or even something he could do himself.
I agree that holidays and weekends should be a break for dc.

My 11 yr old has no holiday homework - quite right too!

a lego fish would be amazing, in fact I may even set this myself!

Do the homework, a massive enormous 10 foot shark sized monster and tell the teacher you expect to see it hanging in the class room forever. Lol

Home work for a 5 year old, I've got this to look forward too.
Do they not expect people to go away during half term?