Does your child like homework or educational stuff

[Misstic]

My son, who just turned 5, is bright from what I can see and based on what his school says. I am told he applies himself very well at school. However, he is generally less than enthusiastic about homework or doing structured learning at home. I heard parents say that their kids love homework, or loves to do maths. One said that her son actively asks to do maths or other educational things like spellings, etc.

Put it this way, if I said nothing to my son about doing homework he wouldn't eagerly ask to do it. 99% of the time is playing. He is an only child so we are constantly playing football, board games, lego, and a host other things including endless wrestling, etc. It is exhausting and I long for him to take a book and go off on his own to read or to ask to quietly do his homework or something academic - maths, etc. What makes some children at his age so keen on doing academic stuff without being promoted?

Should I do something to get him more excited about academic work. If so, how? He us very bright bit I think other kids will eventually overtake him if they are more enthusiastic about doing academic work without being asked.

[llangennith]

DD1 loved all that stuff. I was forever having to buy puzzle books and the like. She enthusiastically did any homework that was set.
DS and DD2 thought she was weird and didn't do any homework until it was compulsory at high school.
All got good university degrees

[That1950sMum]

Five is far too young for homework.

As long as you're reading to him, talking about things and doing some subtle maths (boardgames, cooking, talking about shapes etc) you're doing fine.

Don't make him do the homework if he really doesn't enjoy it.

[Misstic]

Thanks all. Agree with focusing on everyday learnunf. He has homework nearly everyday from school. Nothing difficult. I think it is mainly about instilling a discipline to set aside everyday to do some 'homework '. At the end of a busy day, that can be a very testing time all around. I'm not going to push him to do it.

Where do you normally sit your child to do their homework or any formal academic work? For us it's the kitchen table but that's not the best place for concentration.

It is interesting that generally there is a difference between girls and boys. At what age do boys catch up?

[sirfredfredgeorge]

What sort of homework does your reception aged kid get everyday from school, of the EYFS goals so few are "academic", that if they're wasting spending time out of school on those, they would have to spend none of the time in school doing it to get a balance across the curriculum.

[Misstic]

It varies. Their maths homework involves identifying shapes, colouring by numbers. There is reading, and writing could be writing their name, address, etc. Nothing onerous. Pretty simple and basic stuff that they already know. I think it really is about developing a homework habit.

[user789653241]

Mine loved doing "work" from quite early. He saw myself or dh doing some paperworks and he wanted to do one too. So we bought him some maze, colour by numbers, dot to dot type of workbooks. He loved it. He moved onto some academic ones afterwards, but still called workbooks paperwork!
I think he got into good habit of doing work at home regularly, he now does some online works voluntarily.

[jelliebelly]

My ds is 11 - has always hated homework but he does well enough to be considered "gifted and talented" by his private prep. Still hates homework - so does his sister who is 8 but unlikely to be academically strong. Both of mine have always done their homework but never willingly!!