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Original poster

6 year old boy doing 1 hour english/40 mins per day in holiday. Too much or just right?

124 replies

pepsi · 18/08/2006 14:47

A friend of mine was telling me how she has been working with her ds6 every day in the holidays to try and improve his skills for Year 2. He doesnt have any learning difficulties or anything, is just an average child I would say. I was amazed when she said she is doing an hour of writing, letters, drawing, plus 40mins of sums every morning. Of course this amazement has now turned to paranoia and visions of my ds sitting at the bottom of the class with a dunces hat. I have tried to do some reading during the hols but mainly its been play, play and a bit more play, holiday, going out, etc. Whats a reasonable amount of work to do per day in the hols...if any do you think?

OP posts:
Gillian76 · 18/08/2006 14:48

Sorry but I think your friend needs to get herself and her poor son a life!

shazronnie · 18/08/2006 14:50

It's the holidays FGS!!

I think as long as you encourage book reading and day to day math skills there is no need for structured holiday work.

Blandmum · 18/08/2006 14:50

I have done a small amount of work with ds (10-15 minutes) as often as practical....so none when we were camping. But I have done this because ds struggls a great deal with reading and was just starting to make some progress at the end of term. I didn't want him to lose momentum

geekgrrl · 18/08/2006 14:50

zero.
holidays are holidays, not a chance for mummy to play school.

BettySpaghetti · 18/08/2006 14:51

Personally I think this would put a lot of children off - holidays are for fun and relaxation.

OK, if a child wants to do some reading, writing etc then thats great but as sooon as you start making them do this amount every day then it becomes a chore for them.

Wordsmith · 18/08/2006 14:51

A reasonable amount of work for yr 2 in the hols - none! It's the hols. My DS is going into yr 2 in Sept. So far this hols we've read one of his schoolbooks. OK we could have done more but I think 6 yrs old is too young to spoil the hols with compulsory work. They get enough pressure later on.

Original poster
pepsi · 18/08/2006 14:52

Paranoia easing.

OP posts:
UrsulatheSeawitch · 18/08/2006 14:54

Ohhhh, this would be the National Trust boy, presumably? Is she trying to make him G&T?

Wordsmith · 18/08/2006 14:54

Gin & Tonic? isn't he a bit young?

Original poster
pepsi · 18/08/2006 14:55

Yes, good detective work.

OP posts:
PrettyCandles · 18/08/2006 14:57

That is seriously excessive IMO. I have deliberately steered clear of anything resembling school work this holiday with my ds (nearly 6, Y1 in Sept). I don't want to get him to sit and read to me - unless he chooses to do so of his own accord - and I certainly don't go anywhere near reading schemes, as I don't want to set him up to be bored with them at school. Instead we read anything and everything we see around us: eg I ask him for help navigating, so that he will read road signs. For maths-type activities we do things like cooking, so that we have to work out quantities of ingredients. For writing activities we send people letters (and receive them too as a result).

Ds comes to me and asks for 'a number task' - the other day I asked him to work out how many steps would be left if the whole family stood on the stairs with a foot on each step. He's been following the plumber around and getting an early start in physics, the effect of heat on metals, and how water flows, expands, rusts metals and so on.

There's so much you can do under the guise of play, that it's quite un-necessary to do formal educational activities.

Original poster
pepsi · 18/08/2006 14:57

Dont get the g&t bit. Wouldnt mind one myself right now. Packing for a wet weekend in Wales.

OP posts:
Original poster
pepsi · 18/08/2006 14:57

Dont get the g&t bit. Wouldnt mind one myself right now. Packing for a wet weekend in Wales.

OP posts:
AllieBongo · 18/08/2006 14:57

i thought holidays were for them to rest and enjoy?? If is suggested this to my ds (6) he would run away from home.

Enid · 18/08/2006 14:59

same as mb here

also mine are doing a maths workbook each - they thinkit is fun poor things

Original poster
pepsi · 18/08/2006 14:59

I dont know why I always allow myself to worry about these things. I thought it was a bit much, but always like to come on Mumsnet and 99.9% of the time I leave feeling more reassured. My two little lovelys spent the morning playing on the drive...refusing to come in when the rain came, hence completely soaked. I expect that got the neighbours tutting. Anyway they were laughing their heads off and very happy.

OP posts:
iota · 18/08/2006 15:06

my ds1 who is 7 is doing nothing, and quite rightly so IMHO

JessaJam · 18/08/2006 15:09

G&T is 'Gifted and Talented'...also known, sometimes, as 'has pushy parent (s)'

please note, i said "sometimes"...

juuule · 18/08/2006 15:09

Depends - if he enjoys doing it, then fine. If he doesn't then he shouldn't have to.

Beetroot · 18/08/2006 15:10

i get mine to practice their instruments 4/5 times a week for 40 mins.

Nothing else though. They read alot!!

zippitippitoes · 18/08/2006 15:11

I was amazed when she said she is doing an hour of writing, letters, drawing, plus 40mins of sums every morning

Hard to tell how much fun it might be without knowing exactly what he's doing but some children even like the work books, with the current poor weather it might be a good way to save him getting bored

I think it dpends how much he enjoys it..some kids like doing "school" work and if they are happy then it's fine..

Of course it's not a competition and so it doesn't matter whether you do anything similar yourself or not.

Blandmum · 18/08/2006 15:12

Glad I am not the only old witch here Enif!

This is just because he is sooooooooooooooooo far behind the others and will drop off the plot at a minutes notice.

Dare I admit dd is practicing her cello as well? (while watching cbbc! LOL)

Beetroot · 18/08/2006 15:14

i think cbbc should go off MB!!

Blandmum · 18/08/2006 15:15

LOL

She has grade 1 at the end of sept so as I have said, 'It isn't time to panic but it is time to practice' the TV being on is a compromise I am prepared to make

Blandmum · 18/08/2006 15:16

mind you the cello and chuckle brothers at the same time is cruelty to mummies

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