Homework in year 1 causing tears. Is it worth it?

[RatOnnaStick]

So DS1 had his second weekly homework task yesterday. To make an aerial plan of one floor of a house he'd like to live in, and a key showing the various things he's put inside it. We had a go this morning and I think he did fine actually. Took him 10 minutes to do most of it but it ended in tears because he finds writing and drawing very hard (hypermobile hands) and, indeed, even his name at the top is not legible. But he tried. He had a go and surely at this age that's what matters isn't it?

Anyway, my question is, how important is homework at this age? And how much is he going to struggle with it if he can't make his writing readable? And what can I do to boost his confidence and not just give up when things inevitably get hard for him?

I have some sympathy with the "when's he going to learn he has to do it?" argument

But actually, I have a 16 year old who was like this and whom I did not push.

He's fine now - has been since he was about 11

You have to weigh up the costs and benefits of homework, and how much stress it causes you and them

Pick your battles, I am a very very easy going mum. My children are now in their teens I've never had any problems with them, never in trouble, always polite worked hard in secondary school very happy. Yet strict friends of mine have had their children go off the rails in spectacular style. Bullying children into doing homework when they are upset helps NO-ONE

I don't think forcing a children who is struggling is right.

But I do agree with blue, since I came from a country homework in primary is pretty normal. I've told my ds that he has to do his homework from the start. But things have been pretty much no pressure at my ds's school until now anyway, and there weren't any tears until now.

Well i dont tell them they don't have to do their homework. I don't bring it up. If they ask to do something then I'll help them.

My older children are in seniors and there has never been a transitioning problem. Homework expectations are different at senior school.

Can't have affected them they are top set and predicted great grades.

Hi there,
I was previously a primary teacher, in fact I've taught in year 1. Homework is actually not compulsory and personally I don't believe this style of homework is needed at all. There is actually research to say homework in primary school makes hardly any difference to academic results.

Its a personal choice, you can write in and say that your child will not be doing homework (except reading and maybe spellings which I'm excluding for now) or the other option is to set a timer for 10-15 minutes and let them complete what they can but no more after that.

I would also ask yourself how is this helping your child? If its expecting them to learn or do something that they have not learnt in school then this isn't what homework is for. Play and family time is more important when they are 6 or 7, as a happy well rested child learns much better when they are in school.

Just to add to above. Another interesting fact is that its not usual for children at 6 to have unreadable handwriting. Every child develops at their own pace and it will improve over time. For boys especially sometimes their muscles that control their fingers are just not strong enough before 7 or 8 and it hurts to write. This comes eventually but not at the same point for every child.

I would encourage him to write but not let it get to the point where the uncomfort puts him off. Monkey bars, climbing and other gross motor skills are equally as important to developing good writing too!

Ask yourself - what is the worse than can happen?

No school surely would reprimand your child for no homework being completed through missed breaks, choosing time etc.

You won't get fined.

If they ask, be honest. Tell them that in your opinion, you either do not believe homework is advantageous at this stage of his education, is counter-productive at home, leads to tears and unhappiness or that he is getting to much and is detrimental to his health and well-being and interferes with his 'right' to play and be a child!

They may not like your answer - that is all.

PS: I teach Y1 and HATE homework. I don't mind the home readers but at 5/6 - they need time for other extracurricular activities and time to play - become bored and creative and use their imagination. Not stuck at the dining room table at loggerheads with parents for being forced to do something that, IMO, does absolutely nothing in terms of achievement and attainment and except tick boxes and 'looks good on paper'.