Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have done absolutely nothing on the homework front with the dc during the hols?

26 replies

MilaMae · 19/04/2010 10:43

Dc 6,6 and 5.
Feeling a bit bad as they got given spellings,phonic work,a diary etc. Because the weather has been so lovely they've been playing outside every single day pretty much all day,playing with friends and we've been at the beach,woods etc.

I've done a bit of reading at night but that's it. 2 of mine could have done with doing a bit of writing but I haven't had the heart to drag them in as it's so lovely outside. We had such a miserable winter,we're not going away this summer other than Cornwall and lets face it this could be it.

They're outside playing secret clubhouse in the garden this very minute and the bookbags are glaring at me,they go back tomorrow but still haven't the heart to drag them in.

Errrrrm I'm an ex teacher too

Make me feel less guilty-please

OP posts:
YesYouMust · 19/04/2010 10:45

Homework in the holidays?!?

Does their teacher hate you?

LaurieFairyCake · 19/04/2010 10:48

Nope, you don't get any hassle for that.

The only caution I would make is one you already know about them getting out of the habit - I had a very grumpy dd this morning who didn't want to do any piano practise or chores but she's 11 and seems to have taken loafing about and whining to new heights these holidays.

A break is a good thing, yes.

Shaz10 · 19/04/2010 10:49

I'm a teacher and I want to give you a hug. I hate homework, especially for little ones.

weegiemum · 19/04/2010 10:51

You ADNBU

It was the holidays. NO homework for us!

weegiemum · 19/04/2010 10:51

You ADNBU

It was the holidays. NO homework for us!

legspinner · 19/04/2010 10:56

We haven't done any homework in the holidays either, apart from reading...the DCs needed a rest. My DCs are now 9,9, 7...when they were 7,7,5 homework was a nightmare to sort out and we never had enough time. I think parents need a break from homework too!
BTW my DCs' school is moving away from homework as some research here (NZ) was showing that primary school homework can have a negative impacts on some children's learning.....do you feel less guilty now?

tethersend · 19/04/2010 10:57

I'm a teacher and I hate homework.

Don't see the point in it.

Hate hate hate it.

YANBU

Poledra · 19/04/2010 10:59

My mum is a retired teacher, and hates my DDs getting homework over the holidays. She points out that adults don't take work home over the holidays (well, most of them, anyway) so why do we expect children to do it?

I will admit, however, to spending some considerable time with DD1 yesterday doing her project homework with her. It was a drag but I know she'd be really upset not to have it to hand in so it's the lesser of 2 evils really (she gets quite nervy about getting things 'wrong' at school).

YesYouMust · 19/04/2010 11:02

My DCs school doesn't give out homework in the holidays.

pigsinmud · 19/04/2010 11:02

yanbu - dd1's teacher said absolutely no working in the holidays.

She has read because she loves it.

GooseyLoosey · 19/04/2010 11:04

I studiously ignored their book bags all holiday and mine are the same age. I looked in last night and had something of a shock at the amount of work in there. Oh well!

throckenholt · 19/04/2010 11:08

at 6 and 5 they don't need homework - especially in the holidays - mine have done none as well (age 7 and 8).

HerBeatitude · 19/04/2010 11:11

oh god I didn't even think about it.

Not sure if they had any set but if they did it didn't cross our minds.

Any more than my work did.

fartblossom · 19/04/2010 11:17

My DS is 5 and he has been given a booklet where he was meant to write letters of the alphabet. He hasnt done any of it. My excuse is he didnt want to and I personally want him to learn to write cos he WANTS to not be forced into it. At home anyway.

Also I agree about homework in the hols, its the school hols FFS let them have 2 weeks off having fun.

Original poster
MilaMae · 19/04/2010 11:54

Many thanks, all guilt pangs firmly squashed

Off to take my very brown,grubby,battered kneed kids out for their last picnic.

Tomorrow morning is going to be fun,one of mine in particular is going to be a very unhappy chap when he's booted out of bed at 7

OP posts:
AbsOfCroissant · 19/04/2010 12:19

Well, if this makes you feel better, I met up with a teacher friend last week who also hasn't done any work over the holidays, and the fiance of a teacher said that all he's done this vacation is grow a beard.

thehillsarealive · 19/04/2010 12:25

we have a 'rule' at our school; no homework at the end of term!

I think holidays are for playing and doing other stuff, not sitting indoors doing homework.

hmmf at your school - maybe suggest at the next parent meeting that homework is done in term time only.

southeastastra · 19/04/2010 12:26

we have practise sheets, but feeling duty bound to do them and a project which is driving me crazy

Jamieandhismagictorch · 19/04/2010 12:36

We did no homework this holiday, until yesterday evening, when DS2 (age 7) seems to have forgotten how to write - bs and ps mixed up - and js written backward etc

My 2 were very tired and I felt strongly they needed a break from schoolwork. That said, whenever they claimed to be bored in the car I threatened them with reciting their Times Tables .......

kmdwestyorks · 19/04/2010 12:45

I'm a teacher. I personally beleive homework was invented by parents who wanted somebody else to keep their kids entertained for them outside of school terms.

you don't need the schools help to keep them entertained during the holidays . I'm planning on using this excuse when my DD does get school age........

Some homework is important but a holiday is a holiday.

Children should be doing all the things the can't do during school term like playing out, having fun and if the school has a whinge you can always remind them of the importance of informal, unstructured learning to child development.

Healthy living, physical exercise and learning outside the classrom? aren't we all lobbying quite hard to increase these opportunities etc etc etc

PouffeGalore · 19/04/2010 12:49

kmdwestyorks - Totally agree. Been out on nature walks,picnics etc which was much more fun that trying to build an Elizabethan ship using the materials that they would have used!

Spidermama · 19/04/2010 12:53

I profoundly resent my children being given homework in the holidays. I see this as our family time together or time they spend with friends. Either way there is plenty of education going on in all sorts of ways. Just because it's off curriculum doesn't make it any less valuable. In fact I think it can be more valuable because they are doing curiosity-led learning.

I gave my dd a letter to take into school today to explain why she hadn't done her homework btw.

MintHumbug · 19/04/2010 13:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Alambil · 19/04/2010 13:29

DS had to write an information sheet on a nocturnal animal of his choice; one side of A4...

apparently it's for SATS prep.

We did it a few days ago and I've just realised we've done it a bit wrong! Oh well!

PfftTheMagicDragon · 19/04/2010 13:40

We have done none this holiday, DS needed the break.