Would you say anything to your DC if they had produced crap homework?

[Iamnotminterested]

It's for a practical subject, not one of her favourites and her younger sister could have done better. But she spent quite a long time on it. Should I butt out?

If she spent a long time and tried her best, butt out. But be there to offer sugestions for the next similar piece.

Personally I would butt out, she probably already knows anyway. Unless she asks for some last minute help that is, or if it is a really important piece of work with time to re-do. Otherwise maybe offer some instruction next time.

Depends why it's crap.

No effort: say something.

Doesn't understand what was asked: say something.

Is not good at subject and doesn't need to be: zip it.

f she's worked hard at it, no. If she's done a high speed bodge job to get it over with, yes.

I do always tell DD1 to proofread her work and look out for silly errors, which always leads to some improvements, but on the whole I let her get on with it.

If ds makes no effort and produces crap I tell him that I hope he gets detention for it. If he has tried his absolute best then I praise him to the hilt. If it is something that can be improved I might make some subtle suggestions.

I find it very hard not to but have decided on a non interventionist policy frim now on as DS1 gets very upset about any criticism constructive or not. He really goes ballistic and gets very angry and upset (and then i do too). i plan to tell his teachers at parents night. I will revisit the problem when he has grown up a bit.

I feel your pain wiggly. Ds1 (13) does not take criticism or suggestions re homework. It usually results in a huge meltdown. Mine and his.

It is very hard Iam because you want them to do well but it's down to them really.

We had the Sunday from hell yesterday about this very thing....

So glad to hear I'm not the only one who has a DS who goes into meltdown over homework - apart from arguing about when it should be done I am trying hard not to interfere other than when the subsequent meltdown is- it's too hard i can't do it - when it's more a case of application rather than difficulty - therein follows more - I went to boarding school, sat in a classroom for an hour or more in silence with no opportunity to ask anyone for help - am now trying to establish a similar home set up - it's getting to be the only way I'm going to get through the next 7 years.

I'm still trying to work out what we are allowed / expected to help with - at primary it was all more simple

I think that's where I have trouble please. I think there is too much parental involvement in HW in this house if I am honest.

A lot of Year 9 parents have no idea whether their DC have homework or whether they have done it and I thought that's what it would be like. DS1 would tootle off to his bedroom for an hour or two and get it done.

But no, it's all over the dining table while he procrastinates, has a break (after doing nothing) and so it goes on. The whinging takes longer than the homework.

I need him to take the responsibility.

What subject, which year is she in, is it an exam subject, has she tried her best?

Hmm, if she spent a lot of time on it, probably not. If they rushed it and actually spent 45 minutes of the hour on Facebook, I would say something.

Ds1 always complains about me helping, ds2 without getting cross but DS 2 listens and happily takes suggestions on board ( teachers like him !), our latest collaboration ended up on the display board.

I wouldn't say anything if she'd tried,but I would if she wasn't putting in the effort.TBH,now I would also comment if I thought DS had tried but missed the point,or tried but had given up too soon! (I wouldn't say "this is crap" though - I'd be a bit subtle!)

That is only for DC2 though,as DC1 interprets anything less than full on praise as "this is crap,and you are hopeless" which is counterproductive.

Would depend on the subject and how much effort had gone into it. My DD is a master of only writing one paragraph for English, announcing that they were told to only write half a page, and then moaning when she doesn't get a good grade.

But if she had to draw a hippo for art homework and it looked like an elephant, I would let that pass.