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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Homework projects over half term?!

101 replies

ggmom87 · 24/10/2022 21:41

We are currently on holiday for the whole of half term. Just now saw that my DD (yr 3) was set a HW project. She’s supposed to create a poster about the Stone Age with various bits and bobs. A project of this level will require quite a bit of help from me including buying poster board and other supplies. We are abroad until Sunday night. We have no time to do this. AIBU if we skip this project and send a note on Showbie saying “it’s half term break so we took a break!” It honestly irks me that it’s assumed we have time during half term for projects. She’s 7. She can take a week off.

OP posts:
GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 25/10/2022 08:19

Puppers · 24/10/2022 21:45

Oh it fucks me right off. They are never projects that can be completed without adult input and like you say, if you're going away then you probably don't have the time. Family time and down time is valuable and schools need to recognise that. When you take annual leave as an adult you don't (or shouldn't!) get given a project to complete while you're gone. It's time to rest and switch off, have other experiences.

I'd do as you've said and just write a note or send a message to say "no project this time as we went away on holiday".

Yep, my kids have never had a school holiday without homework. They were even set a project to do in the summer holidays before starting in Reception.

DD is Y6 now and thankfully can be left alone to get on with it, but DS, Y4, has to create a 3D model of a digestive system...Confused

Onceinnever · 25/10/2022 08:22

I teach secondary and our rule is to only set holiday homework for exam groups. I think it's crackers to set homework for young children during their week off!

RausageSoul · 25/10/2022 08:24

Sheet of a4 and felt pens. Literally no need for a trip to hobby craft for art boards and mixed media.

Teacher night appreciate some realistic handins rather than some the nonsense DS2 classmates parents used to hand in looking like architects models with moving parts

Helenloveslee4eva · 25/10/2022 08:24

Stop stressing.

if she doesn’t want to do it that’s fine. If she does that fine too and a perfect holiday activity.

however for me itd be a pack of felt tips and a page of a4 . In ye olden days a book from the library and get in with it - on holiday we might pop to the bookshop and buy one or if gel on line research.

aaaand - ta dah an activity to do to have a few moments of quiet on holiday.

But then I’m a slattern and expected my kids to do their own work from quite young. I’m sure it’s a mum did it competition now !

Plantstrees · 25/10/2022 08:30

Half term homework is not ideal but I would want to do everything I could to support my child's education. As others have said, a sheet of paper and a few crayons is not difficult. It is entirely optional at that age, but I think opting out of homework may set a bad example to your child for the future.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 25/10/2022 08:42

A teacher friend told me once they just can't win: set homework over the holidays, some parents complain; set no homework then other parents complain. One parent went to her and said 'advance reminder we need homework over half term, as you forgot to set some last holiday'

I don't see anything wrong with teachers asking them to continue reading and maybe write a story about something they've done over the holiday..But homework shouldn't be set at a level that impacts a family holiday if they are away or prevents down time if at home. Or it's made clear that it's optional.

TheHauntedPencilCase · 25/10/2022 08:52

Holiday homework like this is optional in our school and just given out for fun or for those kids who will just be sat jn front of a screen all holiday and want to do something. It's not a big deal!

lentilly · 25/10/2022 08:54

Do you not want her to learn about the stone age?

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 25/10/2022 09:19

lentilly · 25/10/2022 08:54

Do you not want her to learn about the stone age?

That's a good point - we're heading back that way so she might gain some useful tips! 😂

LikeTearsInRain · 25/10/2022 09:20

Slippery slope OP. Set the precedent now and DC will think they don’t need to revise or do their essays during the holidays when they get to GCSEs and A levels. You have been warned.

AliMonkey · 25/10/2022 09:26

Sounds like your DD knew about it before half term so could have done it before you went away? If I’ve misunderstood then in your position I’d email school and ask to be able to submit it by end of week after half term. Or simply get her to do it the evening before school starts. Certainly no need for supplies assuming you have paper and pens at home.

TinyTear · 25/10/2022 09:44

y3 child here as well - we had to do a poster or presentation about a pre-historic animal...
my child made a drawing, i scanned it and put it in google sheets and will email it to the teacher. she also chose some facts about the animal... done...

took all of 45 minutes while her sibling was at Swimming...

and we don't have to send it back until the friday after they get back... not that taxing

2pinkginsplease · 25/10/2022 09:47

I think holiday home work is ridiculous. It’s a holiday, a break from the norm to have time away from school no routines, family fun and make memories.

mine wouldn’t be doing it either.

AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 25/10/2022 10:37

I'm a teacher and wouldn't mind this.

I would say though... don't be one of those parents who feel like homework has to a) be done by them and b) be a masterpiece. It really doesn't and we can always tell when a child's work has been edited/ project-managed by a well-meaning parent.

Print out any pictures she might want to not draw, but everything else should come from her and it doesn't matter if it's not perfect. She will be proud of it if she's invested time. A3 max and spend 1, maybe 2 if very keen, hours on it.

Homework like this will develop learning skills as well as help them learn facts - concentration, instilling pride in one's work, being independent, structuring and sifting information, having impact, problem solving and spatial awareness (so many children write backwards from the top of their arrow when labelling on the left of a picture). Only if they do it though! Otherwise it's a pointless exercise.

BHRK · 25/10/2022 10:38

My kid loves holiday homework and would find doing a poster fun

reigatecastle · 25/10/2022 10:41

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 24/10/2022 22:23

What a lovely attitude to pass on to your children. Feel so sorry for teachers, hopefully they strike and you can enjoy all the family time you want!

Show quote history

Holidays are not for school work.

We aren't allowed to take our children away in term-time.

You can't have it both ways.

And silly projects in primary school are a waste of time anyway when a parent ends up doing it. The only homework that is needed is reading practice and learning tables.

Plumbear2 · 25/10/2022 10:55

LikeTearsInRain · 25/10/2022 09:20

Slippery slope OP. Set the precedent now and DC will think they don’t need to revise or do their essays during the holidays when they get to GCSEs and A levels. You have been warned.

I have to say this is rubbish. Mine didn't do homework in year 3 if it was set during holidays, that's their break time. Fast forward now to my year 10 child who has revised, completed English research and done instrument practise so far this half term. Its not a slippery slope at all, he is just alot older now and understands this work need to be done to get good GCSEs. Mindset at 14 is world away from his mindset at 7 or 8. OP I agree completely your child needs the break

Original poster
ggmom87 · 25/10/2022 11:03

EasyLifer · 25/10/2022 07:31

My DD has long since left school but I used to get really annoyed by holiday homework.
If holidays in term time are not allowed/authorised then surely doing school work shouldn't be expected in the holidays!

This is PERCISELY my issue. We’re not allowed to take holidays during term time, so it’s not right to assign homework during the holidays.

OP posts:
Original poster
ggmom87 · 25/10/2022 11:09

AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 25/10/2022 10:37

I'm a teacher and wouldn't mind this.

I would say though... don't be one of those parents who feel like homework has to a) be done by them and b) be a masterpiece. It really doesn't and we can always tell when a child's work has been edited/ project-managed by a well-meaning parent.

Print out any pictures she might want to not draw, but everything else should come from her and it doesn't matter if it's not perfect. She will be proud of it if she's invested time. A3 max and spend 1, maybe 2 if very keen, hours on it.

Homework like this will develop learning skills as well as help them learn facts - concentration, instilling pride in one's work, being independent, structuring and sifting information, having impact, problem solving and spatial awareness (so many children write backwards from the top of their arrow when labelling on the left of a picture). Only if they do it though! Otherwise it's a pointless exercise.

Happy to have her do all this. During term time.

OP posts:
Sarah180818 · 25/10/2022 11:13

My DC are at an outstanding primary school and they are never set homework over half term which I am really grateful for. I. Also a teacher and we all need a break and some time together as a family. When they get homework during term time it is always set on a Friday due the following Friday. I am sure if you emailed the school and explained that you are away but your daughter is quite anxious about not completing it you can come up with a compromise like doing it in the first week one evening. I also agree with the others. An A 4 sheet of paper with some facts on and some pics will suffice .

Original poster
ggmom87 · 25/10/2022 11:19

TinyTear · 25/10/2022 09:44

y3 child here as well - we had to do a poster or presentation about a pre-historic animal...
my child made a drawing, i scanned it and put it in google sheets and will email it to the teacher. she also chose some facts about the animal... done...

took all of 45 minutes while her sibling was at Swimming...

and we don't have to send it back until the friday after they get back... not that taxing

Sounds like you’re not on holiday, and that you have a whole extra 5 days to turn it in. So yeah, of course that’s not taxing.

OP posts:
TinyTear · 25/10/2022 11:34

we don't do holidays for the whole time, we need transition time - one day before and one after for packing and relaxing... 45 minutes done then

Brefugee · 25/10/2022 11:42

i used to always say "nope" not doing it.
I had many many many discussions with the teachers and the head and the pta and other parents about it. Some agreed with me and in the end we were a hard core of about 5 families who didn't do this kind of thing over holidays.

But then i had to have several difficult conversations with the primary school class teacher (his first teaching job) about how if he wanted them to have something to bring to school (funky foam, dress up, food item) then he was to tell us the Friday before or my child wouldn't bring it. And true to form he mostly forgot and i had to have other difficult conversations with him and his boss about what the reality of being a working parent is. By about the middle of the 4th grade (final year) he finally got it because his new girlfriend had children...

Ariela · 25/10/2022 11:46

Is there any stone age historic stuff going on where you are on holiday?
If so visit and buy a poster. Job done.

CakeCrumbs44 · 25/10/2022 11:51

You don't need to buy a poster board or make a massive effort. A bit of A4 paper, A3 if you're feeling ambitious. Watch a few YouTube videos or horrible histories about the stone and, print out some photos and glue them on, write some facts around it. An hour, max.