to think this is too much homework for a three year old

[Waggamamma]

I've never posted in aibu before so getting ready to be told I might be unreasonable.

My ds just turned three and was moved into the preschool room at his private nursery which he attends two afternoons a week while I work.

Since moving up I feel they are setting too much 'homework.' In the last three weeks we've been asked to:

• Bring in an 'animal' (soft toy) for show and tell and learn 5 facts about that animal.
• Make a model that represents space and talk about it
• Carve a pumpkin for the halloween competition (and do a costume for the party). At three years old seriously?
• Learn two pages a4 of songs for the nativity in early dec.

Aibu in thinking this is a bit much for a preschooler who attends nursery ten hours per week? Or am I being a lazy parent? we do our own crafts/baking at home plus swimming lessons and trips out to see friends etc. It's hard to find the time for the nursery stuff too. We're struggling to fit it all in.

I was really happy with the toddler room the change to preschool seems the expect a lot overnight - learning the alphabet etc. He's moving to the preschool attached to our catchment school in January anyway so we can make use of the funded hours.

[uselessinformation]

Don't worry, just don't do it! Ds went to private nursery because I work full time and there wasn't wrap around care then. They were incredulous when I told them that he wasn't to be made to sit and learn to write. This is what a lot of other parents expected because they were paying and I suppose others just went along with it.

[Ridersofthestorm]

YANBU tell them to sod off, who gives homework to a three year old.

They expect your three year old to carve a flamin pumpkin? I've carved a pumpkin and I kid you not I was sweating my tits off after doing it.

Are you paying them? If so shouldn't they be doing these activities with your dd instead of getting her to do it with you at home?

[IwishIwasfuckermoreorganised]

Why is a private nursery giving homework?

YANBU.

[OwlinaTree]

I'm sorry I really lolled at 'make a model that represents space and talk about it'

At 3 years old!?

[sturdyoak]

Let her take a toy in. Let her think of 5 things she can say about it.

Supply her with your recycling and glue and crayons, let her make an alien or whatever by herself.

Let her draw on! stick glitter on and gouge bits out of a pumpkin with her own cutlery.

Then the pre school teachers will realistically see how much a 3 year old can do independently.

[morethanpotatoprints]

I think this is pretty normal from my experience anyway.
It's not really supposed to be considered as homework, more as something you do together.
My dd used to learn the songs mostly by herself or I helped whilst doing our daily activities.
Costumes and junk modelling isn't difficult.
I think its just a case of embracing it tbh and thanking your lucky stars/ praying she doesn't take an interest in dancing lessons.

[sturdyoak]

Sorry him.^

[Coveredinweetabix]

This does seem ridiculous but is it because he's there for such a short amount of time? Last year, DD was only doing two full days and we were encouraged to help her learn the words to the songs as she was getting frustrated that she didn't know them but was only singing them twice a week when many others were singing them 4 or 5 times a week (and some knew them from their previous year in pre-school). We were also apologised to on the last day as DD's Xmas craft bag was pretty empty when others (often a 4yo rather than another 3yo and a child who was there for 4+ days a week) were bulging and whilst she'd done a card for DC2' she hadn't done one for DP or I. I didn't mind as she'd done plenty of Xmas craft stuff at home but I got the impression nursery were a bit concerned that we may have thought they hadn't done enough with her.
The space thing is ridiculous!

[Twilightsparklesmama]

My DD has just moved from the Pre school in a private nursery to a school connected one. At the private nursery I felt there was way to many do at home tasks. She only went 9 hours a week but would have something to do at home every week. I do lots of craft baking reading at home but in a fun leisurely way the nursery tasks annoyed me. At the school connected Pre school she has had one task for the half term which was to learn a song and draw a picture much better!

To answer no YANBU

[Bettercallsaul1]

The words "three-year-old" and "homework" don't belong on the same sentence!

[Bettercallsaul1]

in

[Morloth]

Any homework for a 3 year old is too much.

[Rhubarbgarden]

Bugger that, just don't do it. Dd's nursery send a chart at the start of each term listing all the 'supporting' activities I am supposed to be doing with her and show and tell items we are supposed to bring in. I've never done any of it. The only 'homework' thing I do is to look at her reading book with her each week.

[Nanny0gg]

Don't do it. It would be pushing it for a Year 1.

And if the purpose of it is to make sure the parents do something with their children you can tell them it's none of their business how you interact at home!

[Caitlin17]

Homework for a 3 year old is ridiculous.

[ercoldesk]

Just say no.

[5madthings]

Fucking hell that is nuts!

Taking something in for show and tell is fine, a costume is fine and I happily supply stiff so they can do junk modelling etc, but dotn you send the to preschool precisely so they can do the model making AT preschool rather than home?!!

[FunkyBoldRibena]

I'd take a pumpkin in and ask them to just quickly show me how to do it. Because I'm 46 and quite frankly, it's an ask and I grow the bloody things. I doubt they have ever done it if they are asking 3 yr olds to do it. I'd stand and watch as well, flippin idiots.

And I'd want to see their risk assessments.

[comewinewithmoi]

3 and homework [ confused]

[Tanith]

I know the village preschool staff very well (been picking up and dropping off children for 12 years).

They say they are coming under increasing pressure from parents to set homework and teach more structured lessons. So far they've resisted.

[pigletmania]

If they are under pressure from parents, it should be optional then, so those who don't want todo it, don't have to

[BackforGood]

The words "three-year-old" and "homework" don't belong on the same sentence!

This ^

I think I would also be suggesting the go back and read the EYFS again, and study a few developmental profiles. the very idea of a 3 yr old being able to make a model and then talk about it, is just ridiculous. Have they not grasped the concepts of the children leading the activities ?

[AlwaysChasingRainbows]

That does sound rather a lot for a just turned 3yo .
My Dn attends a prep nursery for 15 hours a week & she gets 'homework' which is a jotter with her name wrote in that she is encouraged to trace over, she is also just turned 3 .
My Ds 4.11 gets homework at his prep school which I think is brilliant as I get to work with him to help with his letters / numbers etc & he enjoys it , now he is in reception he has two homework books that he has different things to do in & I find it really helps him & seeing the stickers/stars he gets for doing it from his teacher makes him feel grown up .

Their is no harm in it , only takes half n hour .

[Suttonmum1]

Very surprised they are celebrating Halloween. Will upset some families. Our school steers clear of making a fuss about it.

Ignore it all. It is homework for you not your child.

[Bettercallsaul1]

This really is nuts. Children face demands and tests far too early as it is - to try to introduce homework for three-year-olds is a step too far and should be very firmly resisted.