Reception Homework with younger siblings

[HettySunshine]

Does anyone have any advice please.

My daughter is in reception and is just starting to have little projects to do as homework. Typically these will take half an hour to an hour to complete and are on top of her reading, phonics and maths work.

I'm really struggling to get all her work done with her. We also have 21/2 year old twins and our house is very open plan. The only proper work space is the kitchen table but it is impossible to do anything without spending half the time moving the twigs away. My dh works long hours so isn't around much either in the evenings or over the weekend.

I've tried leaving it until the twins are in bed but my dad is so tired by that point that she can't really focus. We tend to do her reading books in the car before drop off or in the afternoon on the days the twins are with family or in nursery but obviously this doesn't work for messy projects that need space and a surface. We've barely touched her phonics pack 😔

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Wow that’s a lot of homework for a reception child! Is that every day? My ds is in reception and just has either reading or phonics to do and we have been told to spend no longer than 5-10 mins on it.
I would honestly just do what you can, and have a chat with the teacher to let them know you are struggling with time.

That’s a crazy amount of homework. Just do what you can and speak to the teacher. My lo only has to practise a letter a night and has reading once a week.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The projects are only once a week. This week for example was to do a fireworks picture with some words for the noises - whizz, bang, pop etc.

We were excited about it and had collected some different coloured leaves to be the bonfire and various bits and bobs for the fireworks but actually making the picture was a nightmare!

We were supposed to talk about firework safety and how many fireworks there were etc etc but it was impossible when I had to keep interrupting to say 'get down dt1', 'don't touch that dt2' 'no, no don't squeeze the glue' ad infinitum'.

We're going to try and don some phonics work while the twins are sleeping but they don't always nap at the same time. I'm at a bit of a loss...

Sorry for the typos.

Can you not involve them? Give them there own firework picture to make?

Can you set it up so that all three children are sitting at the table doing the same activity - so give the twins a pile of leaves and some paper and glue and let them make their own picture. You can chat about the fireworks with all three whilst they're all busy sticking and creating.

Ooo, maybe in their high chairs so they can't get hold of all the things?!

That's a great idea. Thank you.

Just don't do it if it's too much. DD is in reception too and gets a lot less homework than what you've described, but we still don't do half of it. I am completely against homework for such young children (I'm a secondary teacher and even in secondary lots of it is pointless 'busy work')

I'd say involve them as well.
Also, if it really takes up to an hour perhaps split into more manageable chunks of time?
Thirdly, remember this is your DD's homework, not yours. Although it's reasonable to help in Reception you are working towards her being able to do it unaided, so helping her for a bit then leaving her to get on with it while you deal with the twins, then coming back to see how she is getting on, is perfectly fine.

I had the same as you with reception DD and toddler twins and was just going to say twins in high chairs doing the ‘same’ activity as big sis.

They’re much less enthusiastic now they have their own homework to do

About to suggest the same as qumquat above. DH also a secondary school teacher and says homework should be only if a kid is enjoying it and wants to do it - otherwise there's no evidence it helps at all, and can really turn kids off if they are exhausted already. Just do what you can without pushing too hard.

That being said, for things that you actually want to do, just get all three kids to do it simultaneously and keep the twins at one end of the table away from DD. We have also found that now our kids are older we have to keep the table clear at all times (same setup where kitchen table is the only work space downstairs) so they have somewhere to sit to do work where we can still keep an eye on them.

I remember it being a really difficult stage when my eldest was in YR. We don't have twins but youngest is autistic and was a pretty full on 2 year old.

We had Hama beads and a pegboard that he loved to sit at the table and do. Sunday morning we found the best slot for projects as we were both around then. We did reading we did at bedtime (I take your point, she was knackered!) and spellings staying at the table after tea (giving little one some apple or something else that took ages to eat).

We luckily have a kitchen table and a dining table. We basically eat at the kitchen table and use the dining table is for homework, games and puzzles. It's old fashioned these days but it suits us.

Can you do it at the weekend when your DH can get out of your hair with the twins?

Otherwise let them do the same "homework" or use the TV as a babysitter for 1/2 hour if they are happy to sit down quietly.