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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

6 and 7 year olds being kep in at lunch time for forgetting homework

575 replies

DaanSaaf · 08/05/2018 20:55

Year 2 ds just told me they have to stay in at lunch time and do extra work if they haven't brought their homework in.

Aibu to think that's a bit harsh at their age?

OP posts:

Sunnymeg · 10/05/2018 02:14

DS's primary school were doing this when he was there 10 years ago, so it is hardly a new thing. To be honest he soon learnt to do his homework and make sure it was handed in. It is better for children to learn this at the start of their education, than breeze through primary and have to get to grips with the huge amount of homework in Y7. DS had three lots if homework on his very first day of secondary, it was proper homework as well, not decorate your exercise book homework. He knew the importance of homework and how homework deadlines worked. Many of the other pupils from other schools did not, as they learnt to their cost when the after school detentions were handed out.

OkPedro · 10/05/2018 02:30

Who actually benefits from homework?!
My ds is 6 he gets the same hm sheet every week
Tricky words, sentences to read out loud and some maths
Perfect for his age and capability

My dd 9 has maths,Irish,English, more maths, tables and spellings
I wonder what she actually does in school!
I'm wondering if I can opt them out of hm next year 🤔

Littlechocola · 10/05/2018 02:41

What kind of homework are they receiving?

ThisIsTheFirstStep · 10/05/2018 02:51

What a great way to make them enjoy learning and being at school!!!!!

Absolute nonsense.

I only give homework to kids in secondary, besides reading and the very occasional fun activity.

CalF123 · 10/05/2018 03:01

There's two separate issues being conflated on this thread- whether 7 year olds should get homework and whether they should do homework that's being set.

Whether they should get homework is a separate issue-if DC get homework, it should be done with no ifs or buts. Colluding with them failing to do so is teaching them that their education doesn't matter and that they don't need to respect their teachers.

It wouldn't matter whether my DC were 3, 6 or 13- if they failed to do homework set by their teacher, I would be supporting the school in any punishments set. I'd also be implementing punishments at home including significant extra work, removal of all privileges and writing a letter of apology to the teacher.

Pengggwn · 10/05/2018 06:16

I'm torn. 6 or 7 is young, but 7 (to me) seems on the old side to say it is solely the responsibility of the parent. You have said it is a 'struggle to get them to sit down and do their homework' - that doesn't sound like it is entirely you...

BoxsetsAndPopcorn · 10/05/2018 07:22

They do this at ours too, it teaches children responsibility and prepares the way for high school.

I doubt it's very much so choosing to not do it at the weekend as you don't want to due toe "family time" isn't going to help them in the high school years.

Maldives2006 · 10/05/2018 08:05

Maybe teachers should be qualified enough in child development to know that 6/7 year olds should be learning to love to learn at this age and any homework should be helping that not hindering it.

My daughter lives in a country where the official school starting age is 7. My daughter started at 6 but only because if school agree the child is ready they can start at 6 (this is the last year). Kindergarden teach fine motor skills, the beginning of writing, basic maths skills and social skills needed for school. On the very first day of school the teacher catagorically stated the first 2.5 years of school are for the child to develop a love of learning, homework should take only 10 minutes and home should be relaxed not a second school. My daughter has thrived as have all the children.

Parents should have control in their own home with regards homework and be trusted to act in the best interests of their children. On the opposite side of the spectrum I have had a year of hell with my oldest year 5 diagnosed ADHD Inattentive and strong suspicion of dyslexia (different school than my youngest because they don’t speak the language of the country we live in). School have not believed their difficulties, accused me of exaggerating homework problems, took playtime away if homework is not deemed good enough, told child i’m not allowed to scribe (speed of handwriting and poor fine motor skill also obviously uncomfortable) and child told homework disappointing when it has been the best the child could do. At the same time offering him no support or apart from toe to toe no other intervention.

As a consequence our home life has been terrible, I’m stressed, my child looks stressed and permanently worried and I have spent the year getting increasingly frustrated.

Maldives2006 · 10/05/2018 08:07

Why do you keep them in if they haven’t done their homework? What’s your justification?

Believeitornot · 10/05/2018 08:13

No it’s a good lesson for them to learn that the school considers homework to be an essential part of learning

Nonsense.

If my dcs were kept in I would speak to the teacher. Then the head teacher.

Homework should most certainly not be compulsory nor is it necessary at that age.

Believeitornot · 10/05/2018 08:14

I’d also be implementing punishments at home including significant extra work, removal of all privileges and writing a letter of apology to the teacher

Your poor children. Over a bit of homework for someone in year 1/2?

What happens if they really do something naughty?

ICantCopeAnymore · 10/05/2018 08:21

Maybe teachers should be qualified enough in child development to know that 6/7 year olds should be learning to love to learn at this age and any homework should be helping that not hindering it

Erm, maybe we are.

Did you ever stop to think that it isn't the teachers that have to set the homework but school policy? I disagree with any homework at all for my class and had to fight extremely hard to only set reading and the odd consolidation maths sheet.

I was very lucky - I haven't been successful in other schools I've taught in.

CalF123 · 10/05/2018 08:33

@Believeitornot

I've never had to implement any of those punishments as my DC have never not done homework. Probably because they know what the consequences would be.

Believeitornot · 10/05/2018 08:36

Consequences which are a little over the top for a 6/7 year old, IMO. That’s the sort of thing I’d do if they’d really pushed it.

But for not doing homework - I let mine decide at that age. I help them learn at home in different ways.

But then again our school is more sensible about it.

CalF123 · 10/05/2018 08:51

School and homework are not options for the DC to "decide" at any age in my house. Both have always been expected to work hard both at school and at home, and they know that punishments will be applied if they choose not to.

Believeitornot · 10/05/2018 08:54

If my child doesn’t want to do their homework I’d encourage not punish.

And usually mine doesn’t because they’ve found it hard. So I would have a word with the teacher or find another way to explain.

But draconian punishment serves no purpose.

Homework and school attendance are two different things in my view.

CalF123 · 10/05/2018 08:57

Nope, homework and independent study are as much an essential part of education as classroom lessons. If DC decided they couldn't be bothered going to a maths lesson, they'd be punished. I don't see how homework should be any different- if my DC don't do homework, they get punished, if they don't revise hard enough for a test, they get punished, just as they would for not attending class.

IfNot · 10/05/2018 09:00

It's ridiculous. Kids that age should be running about outside as much as possible. So many don't have gardens and can't play out in the street. Excercise and playing is of much more benefit to them than some pointless homework.

Believeitornot · 10/05/2018 09:01

Independent study at 6?

Riiiight.

Actually at that age it’s about getting the concepts which requires adult help.

Different ball game at secondary school.

I speak as someone who was very studious, top of the school etc. Whose children are both top of their classes for attainment.

ICantCopeAnymore · 10/05/2018 09:04

Nope, homework and independent study are as much an essential part of education as classroom lessons

I'd be interested to see your research on this. At primary age, my research shows quite the opposite.

Believeitornot · 10/05/2018 09:06

I agree @ICantCopeAnymore

Treating primary school children as wayward homework avoiding teenagers is ludicrous

CalF123 · 10/05/2018 09:07

I agree that the importance in educational terms isn't so important at primary stage. It's more about building the mental attributes of self-discipline, organisation and work ethic, which will help later when independent study does become more important educationally.

Linzeyhun · 10/05/2018 09:28

I teach year 2. I keep children in at playtime and lunchtime for not doing homework.

I then have a word with parents and hand them the homework they didn't do, to do that night.

Want to have your playtime and lunchtime,do your homework.

ICantCopeAnymore · 10/05/2018 09:32

Linzeyhun - sounds like you need to rethink your career. How awful of you.

You wouldn't last 5 minutes in Wales

Linzeyhun · 10/05/2018 09:39

@IcantcopeAnymore

Why exactly is it so awful?

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