To not make DD6 (Year 1) do homework?

[Thesnailonthewhale]

She was 6 in December, an she's above age related expectations in all areas. Reading age of 8y6m.doing Year 2 maths etc

School are getting a bit uppity about her not completing the set homework each week. (Spellings, some maths sheets etc)

She reads every day without being prompted and is incredibly inquisitive etc helps around the house, plays creatively, is active.
She counts coins at shops, does puzzle books, can tell the time to quarters and halfs and (still working on 5 mins) - weighs and measures ingredients for cooking and baking etc. (all applied maths)

Should I make her do the extra stuff? I can't see the point personally.

Sounds like you wouldn't really need to make her. I would just ask her to do the sheets. Not a big deal.

Homework isn’t compulsory. It’s really not necessary, especially at 6. If she’s reading at home and doing real life based numeracy then she is doing fine. School can’t demand it.

Yanbu just tell the teacher it is too easy and she’s bored by it, and forcing her to do “baby work” is killing her love of learning

I think you should. Just because she may be ‘above age related expectations’ that doesn’t excuse her from doing things the rest of the class are expected to do. Plus, if she’s bright then it shouldn’t take too long for her to complete. I think it sets a good example of doing what’s expected of you irrespective of if you believe you are above it academically.

Why wouldn't you.

By not making her, you're telling her that homework, and by extension, school isn't important.

You're letting her down by instilling this attitude

Also, "school getting uppity"? Is that how you see them?

If it won’t take her long, why aren’t you doing it? I actually think it helps to get into good habits of sitting down and completing the work and then being responsible for handing it in.

I’d actually have more sympathy for not doing it with a child that is struggling than one that is bright. I don’t think homework at 6 is worth a battle or tears etc but yours could probably do it quickly and then crack on.

How does she feel during spelling tests if you haven’t gone over the words with her beforehand? Even if she’s bright and doing well, I wouldn’t want to make her uncomfortable in school.

Homework is rubbish for little ones and makes no difference to attainment.

I never made mine do it. Spellings and reading only.

i taught secondary for 25 years. I don’t agree with it below year10

It's been proven again and again that homework at primary school is not effective, and can actually discourage learning.

Anyone insisting on homework other than reading for pleasure is not following best practice. I wouldn't (and didn't) make them do it.

I don't really believe in homework at that age, and if it was a battle then I'd be sympathetic. But you are at a school with homework, and she sounds more than capable of doing it. So why wouldn't you?

What does this 'getting uppity' actually look like?

I would ask your DD why she's not doing the set homework and then go from there. If it's boring for her, then I'd second the advice @NobodysChildNow gave and tell the teacher (or whoever is making the complaints) the reason. But if it's just that she's picked up your attitude that you think homework for 6-year-olds is unnecessary, I'm not so convinced, even if she's achieving above her age expectations. I tend to agree with you that most homework set for primary school students is unnecessary and even a waste of time. But it's part of the regimentation that schooling demands, and if that becomes her baked-in attitude towards homework as she progresses, it can become a big issue for everyone.

If she’s so above all areas then she will be able to do it and finish it in 5/10mins

why wouldn’t you support the school ?

kids should do homework

we have always done it. 5 mins per subject usually - so reading - maths - spelling

I can't believe you're asking.

YES

Of course she needs to do it.

You're trying to make her aware that there is such a thing as homework.
It's not simply about the fact you think she is ahead and doesn't need it.
It's about learning that what she does at school doesn't stop when she walks out the school gates.

You're trying to create a routine and be supportive.

Parents like you are a bit of a nightmare for teachers.

What message are you giving her if you're saying 'Mummy doesn't think it's worth doing this'.?

It's not been proved at all.

If you or any parent has an issue with homework, you ought to speak to the head teacher and have an adult to adult discussion, not teach your child to 'rebel'.

There are plenty of teachers who would disagree with that.

It's about teaching independent learning and studying outside of school.

I think you should encourage her. It's not just about the work, it's also about routine and good habits and developing focus and independent study. She may have many good qualities like inquisitiveness etc but sooner or later the homework will need to happen for her to keep up at school and it'll be a bit of a shock if you don't start building the foundation for good habits now.

Same. Never made mine do it and both were high achieving academically.
They learn discipline and study skills later not when they are little.
Homework kills the love of learning and soaks up precious family time. Totally pointless.

It’s fine. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I make mine do homework when I think it benefits them. We do maybe 40% of it. This is at primary level (my youngest is Y3). I did even less with my older one in primary.

I focus on where they need extra practice or sometimes we do things they enjoy most. As a child, my mum was often up til 10pm doing my homework for me because it was so much and so overwhelming. I know parents of my older dc who do their homework for them, which is ridiculous. What’s the point?

We took this approach with eldest and she is in top sets in secondary. Youngest does well enough and is really good at maths. I’d much rather them be outside playing or doing activities they enjoy than doing homework, at this age.

It’s different at secondary level. My Y8 does every bit of homework (they get detention if they don’t but it’s more important at that stage). When they’re little, I’d much rather they play and decompress.

I would make her do it OP but maybe not for the reasons others would say.
I was your daughter, school was easy enough - I was ahead in ready and maths and enjoyed learning so I didn't really need to put in the efforts with homeworks etc. because I could grasp things easily.
This became a problem though because doing homework, it's how we learn to study. When I got older and things didn't come easy I became easily frustrated. I didn't really know how to study other than a cram session the night before which might have carried me through an exam but didn't actually teach me the material long term.
Now is the chance to get her into a good routine so that when things become a bit tougher, when she starts to do exams, she already has a foundation to build on.

YABU on the info given. Why wouldn’t you get her to do it? It does sound like it would be a battleground for you both or undermine her confidence.

Absolutely this. Shocking behaviour from a parent.

Agree that hw is an opportunity to build study skills and planning.

It’s taken a while but my yr6 now asks to do spelling practise because he understands that is a way to improve and succeed.

Small helpful steps on the way to secondary school.

I’d make her do it. It is a good routine to get into, you might find she gets upset if she’s the only one in class not doing it