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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Too much homework?

32 replies

venusmay · 05/12/2021 09:56

My dd is in Y3. She gets 2 pages of Maths and English homework every Thursday to be handed in on Monday. She's too tired to do it on Thursday and Friday and Saturdays are our 'rest' evenings so we end up doing all the work on Sunday evening. There's always a big meltdown over the sheer amount of work. We then have to learn the spellings for a test during the week. I find it very stressful!

AiBU in thinking that this is too much homework for a child of this age?

OP posts:
Original poster
venusmay · 05/12/2021 09:57

I should clarify its 2 pages of Maths and 2 pages of English plus spellings!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 05/12/2021 09:57

Can you not do a small amount each night rather than all at once?

Heruka · 05/12/2021 09:58

What age is Y3 (I’m in Scotland so different terms). I think in our country as a whole we tend towards too much homework and formal learning young so I agree with you in a sense, but I think you need to adjust your routine so it’s a bit every day, leaving it all til Sun is the problem and I’m sure the school wouldn’t expect this.

Seeline · 05/12/2021 09:58

Well of course it's too much if you are trying to do it all at the same time and at the last minute!

Spread it out over the time you've got.

Pinkflipflop85 · 05/12/2021 09:59

I'm not surprised she is having a meltdown if you are leaving all of it until Sunday.

AnkleDeep · 05/12/2021 10:00

It's only too much because of your poor time management.

You need to adjust what happens at the weekend and prioritise school work.

Original poster
venusmay · 05/12/2021 10:00

We only get the work on Thursday and she's in after school club until 6 then swimming. She's tired. Friday she has tennis after school and again very tired. I feel mean trying to get her to do the work on Saturday. I work full time and it's our only quality time together.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 05/12/2021 10:02

Could you ask the school if they could give the homework nearer the start of the week? Our school gave work out each night and none over the weekend.

shouldistop · 05/12/2021 10:03

Ds1 is 5, in p2. We get about 20 minutes of maths homework, a stage 1 reading book, spelling and blending (reading) each week on a Monday to be handed in Friday. We have swimming on a Monday and athletics on a Wednesday. We just do a small amount each day.

You've got 4 days to do it over including 2 weekend days. Why are you leaving it all until the Sunday?

MyCatEatsPrawnCrackers · 05/12/2021 10:04

YANBU. Kids work hard enough in school and homework just piles on the misery. Spelling tests are by and large a waste of time anyway.

Stompythedinosaur · 05/12/2021 10:04

Don't leave it until Sunday night! I bet you could get it done in half an hour on Saturday morning so it isn't hanging over you.

shouldistop · 05/12/2021 10:06

In p1 that should have said *

Teethhelp · 05/12/2021 10:09

Definately need to break it up.
Do spellings on Thursday/Friday and maths and english on Saturday and Sunday

TheReluctantPhoenix · 05/12/2021 10:12

There is an argument that homework at junior school adds little (there is decent research behind this).

Having said that, it does not sound like a ridiculous amount.

You need to see homework as something fun and challenging and not a punishment, so there is nothing ‘mean’ about helping with some on Saturday. Even Sunday can be broken into two sessions.

If you agree and tell her homework is ‘mean’, that mind set will probably stay with her.

And the spellings can be learned after Monday, unless the test is on the Monday.

gingerbiscuits · 05/12/2021 10:13

I'd say the problem is that they're not giving the kids enough time to do the homework. Thursday to Sunday is ridiculous. I work in a Primary School & our homework is Monday to Monday so if families know they have a busy weekend, they have all week to get it out of the way. Works well.

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 05/12/2021 10:14

I agree OP i think that is too much! Speak to the school and see if you can come to a compromise? I page of each? Given out earlier in the week. Her extra curricular activities and down time are very important too and most teachers would not want work they give out to be causing stress in the house.

ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings · 05/12/2021 10:18

I agree it sounds like a lot and annoying that it's given on Thursday rather than Monday but it is what it is. It's unlikely to change if this is how the school does things so your only option is to adjust your own schedule I'm afraid. Trying to do it all in one go is crazy, if she is too tired after school then maybe just do a small bit. Half of one sheet on Thursday, the other half on friday. One sheet of something on Saturday so you still have plenty of down time, the last 2 sheets on Sunday. That spreads it out a bit whilst hopefully not tiring her out too much. Ideally the school schedule would change but realistically it needs to be you who makes changes.

TeenMinusTests · 05/12/2021 10:28

I'd aim for Saturday morning for Maths & Sunday morning for English.
No way leave it until Sunday evening - talk about giving yourselves stress.

1AngelicFruitCake · 05/12/2021 10:31

Is there anytime Friday morning before you drop her off? I know it sounds crazy but I have to be out by 7:30 and my year 3 child is always up early and happy to do 10 minutes homework then rather than later. I also give her a talk and explain where would you like to do it. Through trial and error she’s found she prefers to get it over with early on and your child might be the same.

AppleKatie · 05/12/2021 10:32

How long does each page take?

My similar age dc gets 1 page of each but each page takes him less than 5 mins to complete… so I think it depends upon how hard it is really.

ComDummings · 05/12/2021 10:35

My primary DC get way too much homework as well.

SeasonFinale · 05/12/2021 10:49

She has plenty of time to do it. You are making it into an unnecessary chore by leaving it until last minute and doing it all at once.

3WildOnes · 05/12/2021 10:53

I would do it first thing on Saturday morning to get it out of the way. That’s what we do with weekend homework in our house. No screens until homework completed. They usually whizz through it.

TeenMinusTests · 05/12/2021 10:57

Or get her to do it in the ASC?

ShepherdMoons · 05/12/2021 11:17

Yes my dcs also get a lot of homework and they are similar ages. We don't do it all, we do as much as we can and then if it becomes stressful we leave the rest. I would be more strict in secondary but as they are in primary I think this time should be fun and enjoyable.