AIBU not to do school work over the holidays?

Franklyfrost · 2020-08-26T12:43:05+00:00

Dd’s friend (7) mentioned that her and her brother (10) do a couple of hours school work every day over the holidays. Is this normal? YABU- your poor children’s brains will be all dusty by the start of term: school work in the holidays is normal YANBU- only freaky overachievers get their kids to work in holiday time: get back to doing nothing

formerbabe · 26/08/2020 13:44

We don't. I don't think it's a bad idea though. I just can't face nagging them which is what I'd have to do

girlicorne · 26/08/2020 13:48

Not a chance! My two worked hard during lockdown we have had the summer off same as usual. I think some people find it gives structure and activity to the day though, summer holidays can be long and it’s expensive to go out every day. Luckily my two are old enough to entertain themselves the days we stay home but if they couldn’t I might threaten some school work 😀

SantaClaritaDiet · 26/08/2020 13:51

without going into your extremes, YABU

Everybody I know makes kid do some kind of summer school work. Like everything else, there's a healthy balance between doing absolutely nothing and forcing your kids to study 4 hours a day all through the summer

FlySheMust · 26/08/2020 13:52

We did when the boys were young but it was voluntary. They used to choose workbooks from WH Smiths and enjoyed doing them.

They were a blessing on wet days.

SummerHouse · 26/08/2020 13:53

Horses for courses. We don't. But I admire and respect those who have. Surely it's personal choice and deciding what's best for your own family.

SqidgeBum · 26/08/2020 13:55

I am a secondary teacher. I would actively tell my students or parents to not work over summer holidays, or any other holiday for that matter (except for year 11 and 13). They should be spending the time sleeping, relaxing, getting out and about as a family, seeing friends and family (especially now). Not everything is about book learning. Life learning and memories are also important.

AryaStarkWolf · 26/08/2020 13:55

Nope I never did with mine and my parents didn't with us

AryaStarkWolf · 26/08/2020 13:56

@SantaClaritaDiet

without going into your extremes, YABU

Everybody I know makes kid do some kind of summer school work. Like everything else, there's a healthy balance between doing absolutely nothing and forcing your kids to study 4 hours a day all through the summer

Literally no one I know does

SpottyPhone · 26/08/2020 13:56

I've done a bit of handwriting practice and a bit of maths but not pressured her. If she wants to do it she can if not then I'm not bothered.

Lidlfix · 26/08/2020 13:57

DDs played schools using old jotters workbooks that they had brought home with them when school finished. Educational opportunities - loads. We baked, walked in the woods, shopped, read in the garden, went holiday to places with different currencies and languages. Formal teaching- zero. I am a teacher and it would have been rubbish for all concerned.

Learning and school work are not the same.

CMOTDibbler · 26/08/2020 13:57

This summer, ds has done 2 hours school work a day. All the things he'd normally go and do are closed, and DH and I are both working, so we felt he needed some structure. He's been OK doing it, and its not exactly onerous.

Nogoodusername · 26/08/2020 13:58

I really can’t be bothered to nag about school work in the summer holidays - nagging them to do homework once a week in term time is enough for me!

SantaClaritaDiet · 26/08/2020 13:58

Literally no one I know does

that you know of...
At least around here people are quite casual and upfront about it. Much nicer than the sneaky competitive over-achieving parents you meet sometimes!

SantaClaritaDiet · 26/08/2020 14:00

@SqidgeBum

I am a secondary teacher. I would actively tell my students or parents to not work over summer holidays, or any other holiday for that matter (except for year 11 and 13). They should be spending the time sleeping, relaxing, getting out and about as a family, seeing friends and family (especially now). Not everything is about book learning. Life learning and memories are also important.

Really?

Most of the teachers I know strongly encourage students (who CAN) to participate in foreign experience and use their holidays to increase their learning and experience!

There's only so much sleeping and relaxing a teen can do over 2 months without being bored out of their head!

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 26/08/2020 14:03

No, holidays are for relaxing and forgetting about school work for a while. I think it's a bit cruel to make kids do work through the holidays. I know if my mum and dad had tried to make me, I would have hated them.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 26/08/2020 14:04

There's only so much sleeping and relaxing a teen can do over 2 months without being bored out of their head!

There's really not.

SqidgeBum · 26/08/2020 14:04

@SantaClaritaDiet Oh foreign experience I would very VERY much recommend. I am talking about sitting at a desk studying 2 hours a day. I am sure many would disagree with me. It's just my opinion.

RedCatBlueCat · 26/08/2020 14:06

Yep. About 10 mins a day.
If I didnt, neither child would pick up a pencil for the holidays (we tried it one year, they honestly dont draw/colour/paint/write/craft unless required), and then the spelling and writing come September is horrific.

SantaClaritaDiet · 26/08/2020 14:06

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

There's only so much sleeping and relaxing a teen can do over 2 months without being bored out of their head!

There's really not.

I would worry about a child with so little interest that they are content doing nothing or sticking in front of a screen for more than a month, but each to their own 🤷

Original poster

Franklyfrost · 26/08/2020 14:08

No one ever mentions it! I’m going to have to spend the next two weeks hounding the kids.

My parents gave zero attention to school my work so up until now I was feeling pretty smug for getting my kids to do their homework.

The kids spent the holidays playing in the garden and helping with the housework. We do bike rides, walks, plays dates and that’s it. I guess they’ve got better at cooking and cleaning... which is maybe not as bad as it sounds?!

OP posts:

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 26/08/2020 14:09

Who says they have to be sitting in front of a screen to relax?

SantaClaritaDiet · 26/08/2020 14:09

I also think it's a very unhealthy attitude to portray school work as a chore that needs to be hidden unless actively made to do it.

Much better to see it as a natural thing to include in your daily life.
I wouldn't sit down anyone for hours every day, but as we are not rich enough to go on holiday for a full 2 months, there's more than enough time to include a bit of work during school break.

We work during our holidays, it's normal.

Saltycinnamon · 26/08/2020 14:09

We’ve done some workbooks a couple of times per week if we’ve got a morning at home with nothing else to do. 30 mins max. Gives me time to tidy the kitchen :)

AryaStarkWolf · 26/08/2020 14:10

@SantaClaritaDiet

Literally no one I know does

that you know of...
At least around here people are quite casual and upfront about it. Much nicer than the sneaky competitive over-achieving parents you meet sometimes!

No one I'm friendly with does, because we talk about what our kids are and are not doing over the summer

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 26/08/2020 14:12

@SantaClaritaDiet

I also think it's a very unhealthy attitude to portray school work as a chore that needs to be hidden unless actively made to do it.

Much better to see it as a natural thing to include in your daily life.
I wouldn't sit down anyone for hours every day, but as we are not rich enough to go on holiday for a full 2 months, there's more than enough time to include a bit of work during school break.

We work during our holidays, it's normal.

Not many people have enough money to go on holiday for 2 months. You don't need to be away from home to relax. I don't do any work while I'm on holiday. If I did, I wouldn't be calling it a holiday.