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Homework for a 6 year old

6 replies

Polygon · 28/08/2012 21:20

Dd has to be at school from 8am until 4pm (not in UK). She comes home with reading to do, lists of words to learn for spelling tests and bits and pieces like writing a story or doing some maths. The problem is that she is exhausted and I cannot get her to concentrate enough to do anything. We are lucky if she reads 5 pages of her school reader. I try to make it more fun. I have tried time and again explaining to her how important it is. I talk to her about how great it is when you can read anything you like and trick your parents into thinking you´re asleep when actually you´re reading exciting stories with a torch in bed. Dh tries. Grandma and Grandpa try when they´re here. I´ve tried just saying it´s her responsibility, I´ll help her if she asks but otherwise she has to do it or not do it as she thinks is best.
When it comes down to it I think she is just too tired and completely lacking interest. Her bedtime is one of the earliest in her class - she is always asleep between 7.30 and 8pm. I would like to get her to bed earlier but she just can´t get to sleep earlier. I think it´s a body-clock thing.
I wonder if I should talk to school and say that she just can´t do homework - or only at the weekend (although she really fights against doing anything at the weekend as she says she´s been at school all week and needs a break). I am worried that she is so disinterested in school.
I´d be grateful for any advice please!

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Ferguson · 28/08/2012 22:20

Hi - ex Primary TA (male) here :

As long as she is keeping up with the essentials of reading,writing and numeracy, and isn't falling behind in class, I personally wouldn't worry too much about the homework.

Depending on where you are, and the ethos of the school, I would leave it for a while, and it certainly isn't worth a battle. Somehow Chinese and Japanese kids seem to thrive on a 12 hour working day, but I don't know how they do it; just a completely different culture I guess.

Probably as she matures and gets stronger she will feel more able to cope with homework.

cheers

suedpantsoffem · 28/08/2012 22:27

I agree with Ferguson, but if the school Envymisstate on homework being done, would it be possible to try doing it in the morning instead if at night? She might be less tired.

bebanjo · 29/08/2012 10:54

try a different school?

Chestnutx3 · 29/08/2012 12:13

We have similar in a UK school. Firstly as soon as you come in dinner on the table she can watch TV/wind down after school as you make dinner. Then do the homework - set a time 15/30mins to complete. Then allow her more downtime before bath/bed.

Get her to read the reading book before going to bed or in the morning before school.

Set a time - Sunday mornings or Saturday afternoons to complete the homework, give her a time limit and promise a reward afterwards.

You just have to make it routine I'm afraid. Is the homework worthwhile who knows, but it often has to be done in time as it is reinforcing what they are learning in class.

I have the same problems in encouraging my DD to read who is a similar age. I've tried everything including giving up encouraging her (she just went backwards even the teachers admitted it!), I'm hoping it will click soon or that her new form teacher will work miracles.

CecilyP · 29/08/2012 12:45

OP, your DD's school day seems awfully long, so no wonder she is tired. We used to finish at 4 pm when I was her age, but we didn't start until 9.20 in the morning. Come to think of it, we didn't have homework either. What do they do in that very long school day that they have to have homework as well?

Polygon · 29/08/2012 19:54

Thanks everyone for your suggestions/comments.
CecilyP, this is really how we feel. In other schools here (which run for so long) they have "homework time" in school (?! - strange that in the UK this is called "school work"! :)). But dd is also too tired starting school so early - she isn´t a morning person! I think we do have to put more into the weekends. But, I think Ferguson´s suggestion of not battling about it and waiting until she´s a bit older is probably the best for everyone!

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