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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Is this too much for a 4 year old?

56 replies

BattyKoda · 25/03/2010 19:55

My 4yo DS is at preschool, he's due to start school full time in September. He gets homework once a week, usually 2 sheets of tracing letters, colouring picture, circling the correct number etc. He gets 2 books, one for me to read to him, one for him to read to me, he reads to the teacher once a week and swaps his book. He also has had the alphabet to learn, which he has, phonetically (sp?!) and the 'normal' way, so he has progressed onto 'bear' words (a selection of words on flashcards), which he does with the teacher once a week and at home with me. I've just had a look in his folder and he's now been given the 3rd set of bear words, which is great, it means he's learnt the first two sets, but I can't help feeling a bit.... too much too soon? Shouldn't he just be having fun and making friends at preschool? Or is this normal?

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Original poster

BattyKoda · 25/03/2010 19:56

Sorry I waffled on a bit there

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purpleturtle · 25/03/2010 19:58

It does sound like a lot to me - mine have never had homework from preschool, and neither of the older ones was really reading while at preschool, although both seem to have worked it out before they actually started school .

Batteryhuman · 25/03/2010 19:58

Seems a hell of a lot to me!

Original poster

BattyKoda · 25/03/2010 19:59

It does feel like alot... He's doing great but I'm worried that he'll loose interest by the time he starts full time!

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purpleturtle · 25/03/2010 19:59

Posted to soon really sorry.

I think that if these activities are led by your DS, and he enjoys them, then it's probably ok. But the minute it appears that there's any kind of pressure to do them, it stops being ok.

purpleturtle · 25/03/2010 20:00

too soon

ByTheSea · 25/03/2010 20:01

Are you in the UK? Because all early years foundation stage education should be mostly learning through play with some adult-led activities thrown in. What you are describing sounds very formal to me and completely at odds with current early years' best practice.

thecloudhopper · 25/03/2010 20:01

In one word yes !!!!!

To me pre school is the chance to learn doing, develop social skills, basic maths skills, knowladge of the world around them and pre reading/phonic skills. Isn't he tired when he comes home?

Original poster

BattyKoda · 25/03/2010 20:03

He goes through stages of enjoying it... a couple of weeks ago I could not get him to do his homework, it was a picture to colour and some counting exercises, so I left it, I didn't want to force him. It was returned the week after with 'please try' on it but he seemed happy to do it that week (+ the homework given that week ) He gets excited about doing his words because he gets a stamp at school if he gets them all right.

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FiveGoMadInDorset · 25/03/2010 20:03

This is the stuff they should be doing in Reception not preschool, when I went to meet DD's key worker, they learn their letters and numbers but writing is definitely left until school.

Original poster

BattyKoda · 25/03/2010 20:04

Yes, in the UK ByTheSea.

thecloudhopper - thats what I thought!

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lovecheese · 25/03/2010 20:04

All this at pre-school? Is the pre-school linked to a pushy primary school? My DDs both went to the pre-school at their primary and they didnt do this sort of thing, I would question why they are pushing so much so young.

CarGirl · 25/03/2010 20:05

That's more than mine does in reception and she has a wonderful reception teacher, they are learning critical thinking etc etc etc

Original poster

BattyKoda · 25/03/2010 20:07

FiveGoMadInDorset - they do a 'creative writing' session, where they are encouraged to 'write' about something that they've done at school that day. Obviously it's not proper 'writing' he can only write his name.

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madwomanintheattic · 25/03/2010 20:08

is this a bog standard run of the mill ofsted inspected facility?

it seems to be unaware of the current practices lol.

and the regular bog standard ofsted inspected reception teacher is going to have to cater for your son's needs as well as the children who canbarely recognise their own name in written form...

i'm all for kids being inquisitve and picking stuff up as they go (both ds1 and dd2 taught themselves to read long before school), but for this to be happening in a pre-school is a tad bizarre. our pre-school weren't allowed to do formal 'teaching', it was all learning through play...

if it is a nursery leading to formal pre-prep then they may have a different ethos. not sure really.

even in yr r, if homework is given at all, it is usually at parent's discretion - not 'optional' as such, but certainly not marked and graded lol.

CarGirl · 25/03/2010 20:09

I would not be happy if mine had been expected to do this at pre-school. They brought a book home once or twice a week for you to read together and that was it.

Original poster

BattyKoda · 25/03/2010 20:09

lovecheese - it is linked to a primary, don't know if it's pushy, but they do get good results if thats an indicator. Thing is, it's unlikely that he'll be going to that school as we are relocating.

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Original poster

BattyKoda · 25/03/2010 20:10

I'm really worried now!

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Original poster

BattyKoda · 25/03/2010 20:11

His teacher is really lovely, and it's a great school. The preschool and reception are all in the same big room...obviously sectioned off. I don't know if that has something to do with it?

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CarGirl · 25/03/2010 20:12

I wouldn't worry but I would drop into conversation that you understood that under EYFS that it should be all learning through play. If he doesn't want to do the homework just send it back saying that.

helyg · 25/03/2010 20:14

My DD is a similar age, she was 4 last month and is starting in Reception after Easter. She has spent this week and last doing afternoons in Reception to get used to it, and has already had homework. Last week she had to find pictures of things starting with the letter "P", stick them to a piece of paper, and write what they were underneath. Tonight she has brought home her homework for over the Easter holidays, which is 8 pages of activities (dot to dot, colouring by numbers etc) plus they have to do up to 4 pages of their homework books (writing, sticking pictures etc) as a diary of their holidays. Once she starts properly after Easter she will also have a reading book every weekend.

She didn't do a huge amount of reading and writing at nursery school (although she is starting to write simple words such as mam, dad, cat etc and she can read very basic stuff), but they go to primary school as soon as they turn 4 here so they would be in Reception at your son's age anyway.

Undercovamutha · 25/03/2010 20:16

It does sound a lot. My DD is in pre-school (they share a teacher/classroom with receptions though), but is youngest in her year (3.5yo). She has only just started bringing very basic 'homework' home (flashcards), but I know that some of the older ones in her year have been bringing books home for a few months. However, nothing like you suggest.

I feel stressed at the very thought of it. I think it does sound like a lot. Is it worth speaking to the teacher informally to find out whether this is standard? I suppose if he's okay with it - but I thought pre-school was more about play

Original poster

BattyKoda · 25/03/2010 20:23

Undercovamutha - she has mentioned before that they don't usually introduce letters etc to them at this stage but thought they'd give it a go and they've all (the children) picked it up really quickly so they've continued...

I'm worried he's gonna be sick of it by the time he starts school properley!

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Undercovamutha · 25/03/2010 20:43

I can't see that there is any harm in it as long as your DS is happy, but I just hate to see such young children on the 'treadmill' so young IYSWIM.

Original poster

BattyKoda · 25/03/2010 20:48

I think that's what has just hit me, that he seems to be on the treadmill! I'm definately going to stop asking him to do his homework, I'll just leave it out for him to decide when, and if, he will do it.

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