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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Homework for a 3 year old?

31 replies

CrohnicallyAspie · 03/10/2016 21:15

DD goes to a day care nursery. She turns 4 soon, so this is her last year before she starts school. When I picked her up today they gave me a phonics sheet and asked me to do it at home with her. It's not difficult, it's circling letters and colouring a picture. But seriously, set homework for a 3 year old? AIBU to think it's completely unnecessary and not do it? I don't think she'll suffer academically!

OP posts:
RiverTam · 03/10/2016 21:16

No no no no no.

Just - no.

Turn it over and give it to her as colouring paper.

DD's nursery did do some phonics with them but they didn't get homework!

ThatStewie · 03/10/2016 21:19

The evidence doesn't even support homework for primary school. Never mind a 3 year old! I'd say no. If you're feeling bolshy, maybe askwhat the evidence is for them giving homework.

Original poster
CrohnicallyAspie · 03/10/2016 21:19

Yeah, I don't mind them doing a bit of phonics with her at nursery, but today we did the weekly shop (DD helped get things off the shelf etc), a bit of gardening then tea, bath, story, bed. Surely that sort of thing has more value than an exercise in letter recognition!

OP posts:
FleurThomas · 03/10/2016 21:19

My neice got homework at 3. This ensured she did a bit everyday to get her into an easy routine she could sustain (30mins a day), otherwise the schools around here send a huge 'summer pack' to get kids to cram a minimum level at 4. (They get put into 'remedial' classes otherwise).

Original poster
CrohnicallyAspie · 03/10/2016 21:20

When they gave it to me, I was a bit surprised by it and just sort of ummed and went 'yeah'. So do I go and tell them I'm not doing it because I think it's silly? Or just not hand it in and hope they don't ask me directly...

OP posts:
Justwanttoweeinpeace · 03/10/2016 21:21

This is nonsense. At this age homework shouldn't be any more complicated than bringing something in for show and tell. Angry

BackforGood · 03/10/2016 21:21

YANBU. Totally ridiculous and inappropriate. I would have just told them not to be ridiculous and to go back and take another look at the EYFS

Spurtle · 03/10/2016 21:21

Fleur, that's awful! Are you being serious? Where do you live?

Original poster
CrohnicallyAspie · 03/10/2016 21:21

I doubt she would be in a 'remedial' class anyway... I was an early reader (probably due to my AS) and DD looks to be following in my footsteps!

OP posts:
FleurThomas · 03/10/2016 21:29

Midlands. Lots of well off Indian/Asian kids in the schools here & they score crazily off the charts from 4, so everybody has to get to a minimum level or be placed into 'lower level' classes until they catch up.

FleurThomas · 03/10/2016 21:31

I'm Asian too btw and felt like a failure because some of these kids are actually reading proper books at 4, but I'd just about managed to get my neice to use phonics.

Aeroflotgirl · 03/10/2016 21:34

Absolutely ludricous, all little ones shoukd worry about us what's for dinner. Do a but but don't push her if she doesent want to. All this is raking the fun out of learning.

Tinuviel · 03/10/2016 21:44

I politely informed the nursery DD went to that she wouldn't be doing homework - they looked horrified but there's not a lot they can do about it!

Kids really don't need to be doing homework at 3 to get them used to it. I don't agree with homework at primary school apart from reading/learning tables. Homework should be for secondary - when they can actually just get on with it themselves!

MrsMulder · 03/10/2016 21:52

I would let her just draw on the paper and give it back. Ridiculous to give a 3 year old homework, they should be playing

paxillin · 03/10/2016 21:57

What? Unless she is super keen I'd let her do what she wants with it, including ripping it up, doodling all over it or wrapping her shoe in it.

FreshHorizons · 03/10/2016 22:01

I agree with paxillin. I can't see why a 3yr old would want to do that or what they would get out of it.

edwinbear · 03/10/2016 22:01

DD started school last year in a 3+ nursery class of the school she is now in reception at. She had homework every weekend, a phonics sheet, or a 'maths challenge' such as counting how many teddies she had or the number of spoons vs knives vs forks we had. She enjoyed it and there were no issues at all if it wasn't done for whatever reason. She also started bringing reading books home in the last term which she also enjoyed.

minipie · 03/10/2016 22:18

Are you sure it's compulsory?

DD's nursery sends home these kinds of tasks (mostly phonics or number based sheets, sometimes "play I spy with your child" "collect conkers and count them" or similar). However they are to be done if you want to, not compulsory at all.

We never do them, no time!

Bedsheets4knickers · 03/10/2016 22:56

It's def not compulsory .. she might surprise you and enjoy it , she might like it one week not want to do it another .. I did the 1st 50 words with my son before he started school . No pressure but slowly parrot fashioned . Must say his 1st year in reception his reading was amazing ..
again it's entirely a personal choice . If you don't fancy it then don't do it . My youngest has currently no interest so we don't don't it .

cuntinghomicidalcardigan · 04/10/2016 07:30

My dd has enjoyed doing phonics workbooks since about 2.5, we make it fun and have a giggle making up sill words with the sounds etc. I have never enforced a homework time but most days she gets her books out. She's been in reception 4 weeks and can read famous five and write short sentences by herself.

If it is compulsory then I don't agree with that. However, might they just be giving you ideas of activities to do with her? She might really enjoy it Smile

That1950sMum · 04/10/2016 07:31

Bonkers. Say no!

HellsBellsnBucketsofBlood · 04/10/2016 08:42

Oh dear god no. Your DD does not need to be doing homework at 3 (or 4 or 5 or 6 for that matter). Unless the homework is designed to get the less able parents doing what you probably do anyway (bake cupcakes, go blackberry picking, collect and paint conkers).

Original poster
CrohnicallyAspie · 04/10/2016 13:38

I didn't do the homework and didn't mention it either. It looked like none of the other parents even took the sheet home...

She has handwriting books at home (she loves the wipe clean ones!), and I encourage her to write in things like birthday cards anyway, but she showed no interest in doing the homework other than telling me what all the sounds were on the way home (she also read the adults' instructions to 'find the letter a'!)

OP posts:
Tanith · 04/10/2016 14:08

Interesting article from Sue Palmer here

Unfortunately, she and others have been saying this for years and the Authorities still aren't listening Sad

Eyedrophell · 04/10/2016 14:39

One of the things Ofsted mark nurseries on is how well they help encourage learning at home. It sounds like a poorly thought out attempt to tick that box. We offer activity suggestions, recipies etc, I always feel a bit Hmm about it as it can be seen as patronising but it's generally well received.

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