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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bloody Easter Homework

112 replies

Easterchick25 · 04/04/2025 20:41

Year 5 holiday homework is…make a moving toy. AIBU to think FFS?!

OP posts:
NeverTookTheTime · 05/04/2025 19:48

TeenLifeMum · 05/04/2025 13:57

Presumably the revision as they’re GCSE year and so revising daily through the holidays is surely expected. Your dc will have a massive summer holiday after exams they can rest in.

Show quote history

My child has done a huge amount of revision already, extra to what school have advised, as she wanted to free up her time in the Easter holiday. She will do some revision over the holiday, but no, she won’t be revising every day. As her results in 3 sets of mocks have been excellent, and factoring in that she is ND, a complete break from going into school is deserved and necessary.

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 05/04/2025 19:50

purplejeanie · 05/04/2025 19:25

My year 6 twins have been given 7 SATs papers each to complete over the holidays. And like OP said, school certainly doesn’t treat homework as optional and they have to stay in at lunchtime if they don’t do it. I told one of my twins not to do it and she said she would get into so much trouble, that’s not an option.

That's utterly bonkers.

TeenLifeMum · 05/04/2025 19:59

NeverTookTheTime · 05/04/2025 19:48

My child has done a huge amount of revision already, extra to what school have advised, as she wanted to free up her time in the Easter holiday. She will do some revision over the holiday, but no, she won’t be revising every day. As her results in 3 sets of mocks have been excellent, and factoring in that she is ND, a complete break from going into school is deserved and necessary.

Show quote history

Very different from my experience. Great your dd is doing so well but I think 2 weeks holiday from daily revision is unusual this close to GCSEs except for very able students. The majority have to hold off on relaxation. The odd down day? Yes but not 2 weeks off just before exams.

Turnups · 05/04/2025 20:01

Cotton reel tank!

vandelle · 05/04/2025 20:09

Oh FFS as if parents haven't enough to do, now they have to produce some wooden toy that has moving parts - during the school hols. I thank the lord every day I don't have schoolkids. Sorry folks.

But, if it were me, honestly I'd go to the nearest pound shop and find something wooden with wheels and stick a dolly or a car or something in it and pass it off as kid's own.

I'd defy the teacher to have words about it. I do value teachers don't get me wrong, but some of them are taking the absolute piss.

NeverTookTheTime · 05/04/2025 20:18

TeenLifeMum · 05/04/2025 19:59

Very different from my experience. Great your dd is doing so well but I think 2 weeks holiday from daily revision is unusual this close to GCSEs except for very able students. The majority have to hold off on relaxation. The odd down day? Yes but not 2 weeks off just before exams.

Show quote history

She plans to revise a few days in the holidays and school have set work to aid revision too, so it’s not 2 weeks off revision completely. She is very able and studious though.

Anyway, I don’t wish to hijack OPs thread due to one lighthearted comment.

@Easterchick25 I was just speaking to a teacher friend about this and she recommends these 2 videos, the first to explain how to make a toy like this from cardboard, a pencil and glue, and the second as a simpler option.

Video 1

x

Video 2 - I’d get my child to make this in your position

Just put the hole off centre to make this one and she thinks you could knock this one up very quickly.

https://youtube.com/shorts/PalJeIp9N0Q?si=FzYFPySkHN2izffX

WarriorN · 05/04/2025 20:19

Kandalama · 05/04/2025 19:09

What’s cams

I have googled and only got stuff on suicides or cycling

see my link; it’s challenging and doesn’t always work well I find

Buckarooo · 05/04/2025 20:21

vandelle · 05/04/2025 20:09

Oh FFS as if parents haven't enough to do, now they have to produce some wooden toy that has moving parts - during the school hols. I thank the lord every day I don't have schoolkids. Sorry folks.

But, if it were me, honestly I'd go to the nearest pound shop and find something wooden with wheels and stick a dolly or a car or something in it and pass it off as kid's own.

I'd defy the teacher to have words about it. I do value teachers don't get me wrong, but some of them are taking the absolute piss.

They don't have to produce anything. It's not YOUR homework.

The child does it.

Buckarooo · 05/04/2025 20:23

Easterchick25 · 05/04/2025 17:58

  1. its not optional - kids stay in at breaks until homework completed if it’s late.
  2. they have been told to use cams, it has to be something that their “target audience” would really like to play with - here are some examples (video link)
  3. I’m not “stopping” kid doing it and have already pissed away time going to different retail parks to Hobbycraft and Wickes.
  4. I wouldn’t care so much if we could use cotton reels, old boxes, straws, split pins etc, but that doesn’t seem to be what teacher is expecting and according to WhatsApp group, some kids are worried (mine isn’t) Parents are pissed off - there’s not normally much moaning about homework, but people are being quite vocal on this one.
  5. It annoys me as the responsibility and pressure is put on the kids for things they don’t have easy access to and which take away from family time and budget.

Just give the boy some cardboard boxes and let him just have a go.
And then, if you must, send an email in saying "dear teacher, obviously you didn't mean to actually use wood and stuff, so Darius is doing a junk model toy using the video as an initial inspiration."

Your making this harder than it needs to be.

vandelle · 05/04/2025 20:35

Buckarooo · 05/04/2025 20:21

They don't have to produce anything. It's not YOUR homework.

The child does it.

Show quote history

Oh really? 😉fancy I didn't realise that!

It might be the kid's project, so why all the hints, tips, pictures, youtube vids aimed at the OP for inspiration? Surely the child should be the creative one.

Anyway I'm amused nonetheless.

Longma · 06/04/2025 04:59

Parents need to let the school know that it isn’t acceptable - primary school homework doesn’t need to consist of anything more than regular reading.

Schools will often give homework as it’s what some - not all - parents want. And sadly some school leaders really push for it.

As a teacher I wouldn’t want to set it. I want children to enjoy their school break. I certainly am this fortnight!

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