Working parents - when do you do homework with DCs?

7 replies

jaabaar · 17/12/2013 02:00

If both parents work and DCs are in afterschoolclubs, when do u do homework with them?

Till you are home it is 6.30. Dinner and shower etc 8.

I really wonder how parents plan their day with homework?

Thanks for sharing.

OP posts:

chutneypig · 17/12/2013 02:17

I try and do some reading in the evening, but the bulk gets left to the weekend. I find it a real struggle, if I'm honest. My children are in the same class, Y2, so I try to get them to do each piece separately, which just adds to the problem. I try and get them to tackle a bit Saturday morning, some the afternoons and the same Sunday. Fine in theory but it get quickly thrown if we do anything at the weekend.

I'm dreading as they get older. I think they get a lot of homework now, online maths, spelling/sentence writing, usually a worksheet or some research type thing plus reading books. To add to that this term they've had a daily reading challenge which if its not recorded in their diary each day they fail to move up a chart in the classroom and don't get a prize each month. Added to which they had a sponsored read last month.

None of which is helped by the school being very unclear on timings for a lot of the work, or even what's required.

Suffice to say, I feel I'm struggling with it all so if others have bright ideas I'm all ears.

HerRoyalNotness · 17/12/2013 02:24

We try to do reading and spelling in the car. For anything else it's done while cooking dinner or eating it. It's hard to get it done, by the time it's finished and meal eaten, it's bedtime. Hating the commute in our new city. I think as they get older, after school club insists homework is done before anything else. That will just leave us to check and do some nightly reading.

Original poster

jaabaar · 17/12/2013 02:24

I just think there is no time for homework if children arrive home at 6.30? Unless they go late to bed?

OP posts:

chutneypig · 17/12/2013 02:33

Certainly not sit down homework in the evenings, I'd agree. If we read its kind of a bedtime story type thing. But very often they're too tired to even do that.

I'd like to raise it at school at some point, I think it's something they possibly just don't consider. My two make up about half the children at their school, who are in after school to that time everyday. I'm not even sure at the moment they're not the only ones.

I think after school would be very amenable to them doing work there but I like to keep an eye that they're concentrating and not getting other input, so I'd rather be around while they're doing it.

ILoveRacnoss · 28/12/2013 10:19

We read at bedtime and do other homework at the weekend.

I now teach at the school my DCs attend(ed). The staff used to be mostly childless, but an increasing number of staff are parents so the school overall has got better at understanding things like the time available in the evenings (and the amount of notice needed for fancy dress, cake sales, donations ...!)

anitasmall · 04/01/2014 21:28

At my daughter's school the deadline is written on the home work. Most of the time: maths HW is picked up on Monday due on Wednesday, English is picked up on Friday and due on Monday.

We try to do the HW on the day we receive it and if we did not finish it we do it the next day. My daughter does not go to bed at 7...

She just started to attend afternoon club and I was told they do HW there.

OldBeanbagz · 10/01/2014 13:44

At my DS's school the children do their homework at the after school club.

My DS and DD tend to do their homework whilst i'm cooking dinner (6-6.30pm) so i'm in the same room if they need any help. Reading & music practice is done after dinner.

How old are your DC? It does get easier as they get older. DD (Y7) pretty much just gets on with it and she makes sure she does it on the day she gets in even if it's not due in for a few days (not sure how long this will last).

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