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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that ds's school shouldn't give projects over school holidays

180 replies

Glassofwineneeded · 21/12/2015 16:18

My ds 9 has a project to do over the Christmas holidays. 10 + pages are expected.
My thoughts are that school holidays should be for relaxing and not for doing massive projects in year 4!
As this is the Christmas holidays we have lots planned including 3 days spent with family and then my ds is going to his dad's. As well as other days out etc it makes it hard to find time to fit project work in and make a decent job of it.
He is currently working on it now when what I want to do is curl up on the sofa with him and watch a festive film!
So AIBU ?

OP posts:

SuburbanRhonda · 21/12/2015 22:36

Not an essay, lamb. Read the OP.

BackforGood · 22/12/2015 00:14

If any child is interested / wanting to do a 10 page + "project" during their holiday time Suburban - then they are free to do that, any holiday, on any topic they want. They don't have to have it set as homework.

The issue here is that the school has told the dc that is what they are expecting them to do. It will cause a LOT of angst and a LOT of stress for a LOT of the families. I know there are dc who can do a project without a lot of fuss, I am willing to believe there may even be a few children who choose to spend their time this way, but the vast majority don't.

SuburbanRhonda · 22/12/2015 00:19

I was asking that question of rainbowunicorn, whose post I quoted from. She said she doesn't allow her DC to do homework in the holidays at all, which sounded rather egocentric. I wondered what would happen if her DC overruled her.

AndNowItsSeven · 22/12/2015 00:21

You do realise all primary homework is optional don't you? He doesn't have to do it. Just write a note explaining that you ds needed to relax and spend time with family and don't give it another thought.

Fuckitfay · 22/12/2015 00:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kali110 · 22/12/2015 02:23

It's 10 pages. He has 2 weeks, possibly a bit more off, but it is too much?
He's not a little child.
He could do a page a day?
It's good practice for as he gets older.
I had homework at that age and that was over 20 years ago!
One year it was keep a diary, and one was to write a few pages about sonething fun i'd done during my time off.
We def did not do it when we went back to school.
No way would my mother have allowed me not to do it.

cariadlet · 22/12/2015 08:23

I teach Year 1. The holiday homework that I set in the homework books was to enjoy Christmas.

YouTheCat · 22/12/2015 08:47

Of course, it's so easy to do a page a day. Just fit it all around visiting relatives/child going to other parent's/opening presents.

I can just imagine even the most enthusiastic child being happy about being told to get a page done before they open their presents.

If it was any other holiday I'd say it'd be easier to find the time but a lot of people are very busy at Christmas and kids might actually like to be able to spend time with their families and play with their new things.

starry0ne · 22/12/2015 09:04

caridlet perfect homework....

My Ds has got up and is building himself a model of a lego house.. We get up school mornings even on a Saturday.. no TV or playing before homework is done or he has managed to get ready for school... I can see so much more benefit in this than a page of topic...Cocentration, using his imagination, fine motor skills... There is more than one way to raise a child and more than one way for a child to learn

imwithspud · 22/12/2015 09:05

YANBU. There's no need for homework in primary school, a bit of reading or spelling practice, fine. But a whole project during the Christmas holidays, when children are tired from the previous term and are likely to be busy doing various family activities is ridiculous, there's no need for it really.

Sparklingbrook · 22/12/2015 09:09

My two would never do a page a day at that age. They would after much moaning do it all right at the last minute the day before they went back to school.

SheGotAllDaMoves · 22/12/2015 09:18

At primary stage, my DC used to get holiday HW.

It was never a big problem, as a. they got a month off at Christmas, b. it wasn't too much (usually some things to do little and often) and c. I could see the use of it and therefore was happy to support it.

It may well be that this HW won't be useful and it's too much of the same thing to be interesting.

ssd · 22/12/2015 09:22

my 2 would never do this, we'd end up doing it for them helping them

I wouldnt get my kids to do it and I'd be phoning the school when they go back to tell them

triceratops1066 · 22/12/2015 11:15

I think holiday homework in primary school is OK because it can give children something non christmassy to calm them down.

What is not ok is the 10 pages part. It should be something that can be done in 10 mins if a family is extremely busy over the holidays or could be 20 pages for someone who has a very quiet holiday with lots of time to fill

BoboChic · 22/12/2015 11:50

Holiday homework at Christmas is unnecessary if the holidays are a fortnight long. If longer than that, it's important for DC to keep their minds focused for some of the time and so homework can be appropriate.

DinoSnores · 22/12/2015 13:38

Surely that's the job of parents to direct children if they need something 'non-Christmassy' or to 'their minds focused'. (My own non-napping children are in the next room for 'rest' time and have been told they have the choices of reading, Lego, colouring/drawing or choosing their own activity, but we are going to be quiet while the littlest one (and their pregnant mother) naps.

bigTillyMint · 22/12/2015 13:46

I am an ancient teacher and I think Christmas holiday homework for primary aged children is not necessary. BUT they should read/be read to each day.

If it was an optional keep a diary/do a report on a special day/event, then maybe.

It generally means a nightmare for the parents one way or another.

counthedays · 22/12/2015 13:48

My year 5 has a book to read, a comprehension based on the book, 3 other pieces of literacy work and 75 spellings from last term to revise. My year 1 has a handwriting book and 3 maths sheets and 30 spellings. I get why the year 5's have it as they are gearing up for 11+ in a year but year 1? Not so much.

SirChenjin · 22/12/2015 13:57

YANBU

Holidays are for resting and having fun. During term time he works. Fortunately we have sensible teachers that don't set homework during this time.

BoboChic · 22/12/2015 14:25

Christmas throws up a mass of educational opportunities.

Nanny0gg · 22/12/2015 14:28

If any is done, I hope it gets marked...

(Just sayin')

Alicewasinwonderland · 22/12/2015 14:33

YABVU

It's up to the parents not to present homework as a punishment.

SirChenjin · 22/12/2015 14:36

Yeah, 'cos 9 year olds haven't formed their own views of 10 pages of homework over the Christmas holidays.

Nataleejah · 22/12/2015 14:38

I guess its possible to squeeze in some homework IF you're spending holidays at home. But a lot of people are traveling., spending holidays abroad. Should we take an extra luggage of school supplies. Ludicrious

Alicewasinwonderland · 22/12/2015 14:45

I have to get some work done over the holidays, we always have. It's not massive and I don't even mind, but we spend 1 hour or 2 checking emails and dealing with work stuff pretty much every day. It's the perfect time for homework, whilst the little ones are having a nap.

I am not speaking about Christmas Day itself, but I really don't see what the big deal is. I prefer the kids doing homework than watching tv frankly.

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