Homework in preschool, homework in kindergarten....
By mommyboo
@mommyboo (13174)
United States
August 14, 2008 5:03pm CST
...what is going on here?! Does your child who is three, four, or five years old have HOMEWORK? I asked this question of another discussion forum and I received over 50 responses from moms, and roughly one third to HALF of them thought this was no big deal or something good. I neither think it is 'no big deal' nor do I think it's good at all. What happened to kids being kids? I am sorry but a five year old is a little girl or a little boy. Their 'job' is to play and learn through play and learn through meeting and making friends and following rules and guidelines like sharing and being kind and helping, cleaning up after yourself, holding hands, following in line, waiting your turn, etc etc. I do not see a point in loading up your LITTLE boy or girl with paperwork they have to sit and do. This almost makes me ill to think about. It also makes me very angry.
Now I know I may get some answers from teachers and educators alike, but please think about it from the point of view of a five year old, and then step into that five year old parents' shoes. I do not want my daughter overwhelmed with work. I want her to enjoy learning and I want her to enjoy school. If she is given a bunch of stuff to bring home after being in school for hours, I will not be happy. In fact I will be a thorn in your side.
When I was in kindergarten, I NEVER had homework. I rarely had homework at all in elementary school that I remember, only things like book reports or special projects. In high school I didn't have much either, again, special projects that needed research and time to do, or maybe something I didn't manage to get done because I was goofing off lol. I took tough courses for the majority of high school too, as well as doing sports, and I worked my senior year as well as doing sports, but I toned down my work load a bit since I had enough credits to graduate. I also averaged a 3.6 gpa after four years... my first two years I was around a 3.86. Anyway, my point in sharing this is that I cannot see a need to create so much work for children, and I will never agree that it is okay. I did fine without having all that crap, and that is what it is, crap.
If you are dealing with this, how do you and your child deal with it? Do you think it's okay? I always encouraged my older kids to get as much done at school as they could. Once they both started doing this, neither of them had much homework. In fact, when I talked *directly* to the junior high and high school teachers, most of them stated they did not assign homework (except for things students did not finish in class) because of the dismal track record of it getting completed and turned in. Well DUH. Of course there's a dismal track record, when kids get home from school, they have other stuff to do. Nobody wants to sit there for 40 minutes or longer and do repetitive paperwork for no reason. Ok, my rant is done, bring on the comments.
5 people like this
19 responses
@philjas (1134)
• United States
14 Aug 08
My son had homework in kindergarten and I hated it. It wasn't only unfair to him but it was a pain for me, because at that age you have to really work to get them to do it, it was almost like I had homework myself. It was only three days a week, but then in first grade it was every night. To tell you the truth, I actually still hold to the theory I had when I was in school, that homework should not exist, period. The majority of adults don't have to bring work home to do, so why should kids have to do schoolwork at home? Isn't enough that they spend nearly 40 a week at school? They're KIDS! Give them a break.
2 people like this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
I agree. I am still trying to figure out how to handle it. To be quite honest, I will either ask for it to be given to me 2 weeks in advance and then have my daughter work on it AT school whenever she has a spare moment, or I will take the damn packets and do them myself. If she passes her tests and knows the standards, then there is no need for her to do any homework. I don't care if they don't like how I handle it, I am her parent, not them.
@revellanotvanella (4033)
• United States
15 Aug 08
Thats crazy and they just had a vote about turning kindergarten to full day and I was all for it but now I just do not know. I am a definate advocate of PLAY and thats the main reason I have not put them in day care because I just do not think they get enough play and a lot of them are understaffed or just impatient. My whole day is about my kids and making sure they get time to run around and do what they want to do once chores are done. Im disappointed its going this way for the schools because there is some really STRONG research on the power of PLAY in a child's life and enough to prove that it is more effective than the structured work of homework and taking it home is a crime. I remember watching the clock to get home and play and thats what we did as soon as we got home from school, didnt come in until dark and THEN homework was expected to get done (if we couldnt do that play was cut back).
I remember doing paperwork in kindergarten but never did I take any work home and one of the biggest things I took from kindergarten was being able to paint on this huge easel, it was a dream come true. It was always set up in stations where we got to play with toys together and move on to the next thing and the next. Even in Headstart, before kindergarten, I was spending my time playing and we had costumes to dress up in, blocks to build, I do not even remember that many teachers most of the time probably because I was so immersed in it and I LOVED it, my father was really invovled in the PTA and I was lucky because we got to play in the outdoor playground afterhours since my dad did regular maintenance or had meetings there. It is not natural for kids to be stuck in some structured environment like they expect them to be their brains are wired a totally different way and it just doesn't make sense that we try to left-brain them and I think creativity should be emphasized all the way up to 5 grade!
There is better ways to get a parent and their child engaging at home then giving them homework. This is looking like the failed Little Einstein regime where they try to stuff the kids with information before their a certain age so they can become child geniuses or giving them packed schedules with way to many extracurriculars and we know now that does not work. Lets say you do end up with some child genius but what about when they become adults, are they really going to be normal functioning adults that can communicate with others and understand others, I doubt it. Kids learn how to engage effectively through free play--F-R-E-E
P-L-A-Y
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
I am totally against full day kindergarten, as because of cutoffs, kindergarteners can be as young as 4 when they start. They can also be as old as 6, but that is no guarantee that they are any more ready than that 4 year old. I want kindergarten to still be mostly play, it is not even REQUIRED to go to kindergarten. It is supposed to be a transition grade - a bridge between preschool and first grade. It is not supposed to be 'a prequel to first grade including stuff your kid doesn't even need to know till 2nd grade'.
I don't like this emphasis on structured stuff. I am not a big advocate of traditional education anyway. Learning can be lifelong and learning can be fun, but it must be undertaken in a way that it will be interesting, and in a way that you learn best, and in a way that will benefit you. I learn by doing. I don't learn by sitting in a class. Things only stick with me if I have the opportunity to USE the skills. I happen to feel that young kids learn THE SAME WAY. They learn and process and store the information easier if they see a reason why, and if they get to use and practice and perfect the skill in real life, not a hypothetical written thing on a paper. Say for instance a 'homework' project would be finding different ways to count out $1.63 and showing several examples by taping the change to a paper and then adding up the totals, that would be neat, or practicing your comprehension and writing by interviewing a family member and recording their answers. These would not be something to be assigned AFTER class and expected to bring back the next day though, these are things where the topic should be introduced, some practice and skills taught in class, and then the assignment given with steps due at certain dates. Asking kids to come up with their own ways to practice the skills would be even cooler.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
16 Aug 08
Of course each person has their own different opinion.
It's not like kids are being over loaded with homework and it's not that they don't have time to do it.
Bringing homework home even at those early stages is more like a game than work for the children. - THe ones that tend to see it as work is mainly the parents.
It creates the beginning of a good habit for starters - many different good habits. Most kids in school don't have enough self discipline to do their home work. Or feel it isn't important - many times they learn that from their parents attitude to it.
The other thing is that kids are actually proud of being able to do new things and they like to repeat them when they get home. This is good. not bad.
Let's take a look at the work - they might have to "read" a story. This is something that we a parents encourage them to do anyways. Regardless if is was asked to be done by the teacher or not.
They might be asked to practice their writing . I don't know about everyone else , but I encouraged my kids to do so as a play time even when they weren't in school. It's a good idea because too because many kids have less fine motor control than what would be expected at their ages.
My kids loved to play with magnetic letters and to "write" long stories. It didn't matter that one couldn't read them, but they enjoyed doing it and they could read those stories back to us. THat is part of learn trough play.
Maybe they are to draw something. Hey most kids love to draw and show us their master pieces.....
As I said, it's not really work for them and they do love to show us what they learned in school that day - no matter what it is. And that is good, specially if we pay attention to what they're showing us and show enthusiasm for their accomplishments.
So they're feeling pride for what they can do, they are showing us what they can do, they are learning good habits and how to be responsible. THey are doing things that they might be doing even if they weren't asked to do as homework- like reading and writing and drawing, and grouping things, and counting....That's what we encourage them to play with as a rule, anyways. Some things can even be done with their own toys like counting and patterning, and even make up stories.
Often it is the word homework that gets to adults, more that what they actually have to do . But the solution is easy, don't call it home work. It will make it easier to understand the whole process and see it from another perspective.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
I wish I could say I agree that kids are not getting overloaded with homework. My best friend's son was in kindergarten last year. He is 6. She showed me an example of what he received from the school. I am not kidding, it was a huge packet, like 15 double sided pages and it was handed out Monday afternoon and expected back finished by Friday. Granted, my daughter is not going to that school, but with that as an example I SAW, you can bet I was disturbed. My feeling is that if kids use their time wisely, they shouldn't HAVE any homework to worry about. With a project like a book report or similar, when it's assigned, you just break it down. First, read the book, then make an outline based on what needs to be included in the report. Then do each section, proof it, and turn it in.
I see so many people talking about 'it's just to get them ready for more homework'. No, I disagree. I already mentioned that from talking to junior high and high school teachers, they do NOT assign homework. They do expect kids to finish assignments given in class, but they are given time in class to finish. The assignments are not long nor complicated, they are designed to practice a new skill taught that day or to add to a skill taught on a previous day, or review for a test. In my opinion, elementary students are the ones LEAST prepared to have an onslaught of homework. They are the ones LEAST able to finish something independently or to even realize that they need to get on the ball and complete something given to them so they do not have to bring it home. It would be to their benefit for elementary school teachers to not assign homework. They are not 'preparing' students for more, they don't GET more.
Now, I do agree about the reading. I like reading, and my daughter wants to learn how to read. She can read a few words, and my goal is to get her reading the entry level stuff for kindergarten before she starts. She likes to practice writing too. The thing is, this is all well and good as long as there isn't a heavy expectation placed on it. I don't like feeling like I *have to* do something. I'm much more likely to do it if it is not mandatory and I don't hve to worry about some evil person getting mad at her because she didn't finish something.1 person likes this
@crazed_moma (1054)
• United States
15 Aug 08
As much as they expect them to learn in Kindergarten it's necessary to do some work at home too. The short time they're there, half day here, is just NOT enough. If they went all day then I'd say no home work necessary. My girls are working on catching up to every one who's had some preschool and doing fairly well. The home work is impacting that result.
1 person likes this
@revellanotvanella (4033)
• United States
15 Aug 08
Yea, but catching up to who standards? Impacting what result?
If you leave a young child at such a young age to play all day and interact with others do you see that as a waste of time, well in a grown adult mind that is considered 'logical thinking' but is it really so necessary to press this on our children? Im not saying dont interact act with your children and try to teach them things, I go to the library regularly with my kids but led them lead by telling me what books to read or where they want to play, etc. But giving kids assignments just seems to restraint.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
They are expecting too much. MY generation did FINE and we did not have those ridiculous sky high expectations placed on us when we were 4 and 5 years old. I don't care about keeping up with the Joneses or whoever it is we think we need to keep up with now. If they didn't expect our kindergarteners to finish out the year, knowing what 30 years ago were the standards for THIRD graders, then we wouldn't be in this mess.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
Another thing, just because technology has increased and knowledge has increased does not mean that children are different. A 4 or 5 year old is still a 4 or 5 year old, virtually unchanged physically, emotionally, mentally, or socially despite the passage of 30 years. Expecting more out of them is not fair, kids now are no better equipped to deal with higher expectations than kids 30 years ago. It is also extremely not fair to parents, many of which work all day and come from my generation and we have NO idea or understanding of why the expectations have changed.
If anything, kids these days are more disadvantaged in that they don't self-entertain, there are so many forms of entertainment via tv, computer, internet, gaming systems, books on cd, and a lot of kids also are not motivated. When I was young, if I did not find something to do with myself, I'd end up getting chores, so I was very very good at finding something I enjoyed to get busy with. I was also motivated to just GET DONE with anything I hated doing because the quicker you could get done, the more time you had for something that was actually of value to you.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
15 Aug 08
I absolutely agree with you on this, in my opinion kids go to school for 6 hours a day, so why should they have to come home and sit for another couple of hours doing more.
I think one of mine came home with a lot of homework when he was about 6, I was not impressed and refused to do it, since then none of them have had any homework. I do read with them though and will spend about 10 or 15 minutes with them doing reading.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
16 Aug 08
My eldest is 16 now, he has just left school, he never brought a single piece of homework home. He used to do all his in school time too. I never complained about the homework of the littler one, I just never did it with them. I just think that it is wrong for them to spend all day in school only to have to come home and start again. Most of the other parents around here are not like me, they have their kids sitting down doing extra work as soon as they get home, and OK they do well at school, better than mine in fact but at least my kids know how to be kids. Their kids are not allowed out of their sight and if they get a bit of dirt on them it is like the world has ended. Probably one of the reasons I dont have any of them as friends LOL
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
20 Aug 08
Did your kids ever get in trouble or docked points for not turning in the extra work though? I have no problem reading or doing some learning activity, but I will not do worksheets or packets. I just won't. The school will know it up front because that's what I intend to tell them BEFORE I enroll her. I know I can't possibly be the ONLY parent who says absolutely not about assigned homework.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
Yay! So did you complain and they left you alone? I really just have two expectations - ONE - that any work that is to be done is given at the beginning of class, and TWO - that a reasonable amount of time is given during class to finish it. If kids are goofing off, they might not finish it, but then it's the kid's fault and it makes sense they would be required to take it home and do it. I disagree with not giving any class time, I think that is very unfair to a child and stiffing them, because then they have to do that instead of another activity once they get home - or they get marked down for not having it complete.
My older kids always found that if they manage their time well, they could almost always complete daily assignments AT SCHOOL. They just had to become very conscientious and good at getting in class, getting out their books and paper, getting the assignments written down and then work on them during the teaching.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Aug 08
I never heard of homework in pre-school but kindergarten yes. And of course it requires a lot of parental involvement because the child can't read yet. I remember doing a lot of head butting with my kids over their homework when they were little, especially first grade when they were learning to read. I don't know if it's crap or not but I definitely don't remember getting homework regularly until Junior High. Maybe some kids need the reinforcement, I don't know. It's really stressful in a household where both parents work outside the home and then you have to come home and deal with homework on top of everything else!
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
I could read when I was 4, and my daughter is learning. I think she will be able to read some easy things by the time she starts kindergarten. She learns easily, I don't push anything but I am trying to keep a heads up on the standards she needs to know so I can try to expose her to those things early.
I know that I don't want to be sitting there doing homework when I don't even think homework is necessary. I'm still not sure how I will deal with it, but I know for sure I will not just accept it lol.
@shana123 (2095)
• India
15 Aug 08
My cousin brother had joined the nursery school, it was very difficult for my aunt who is working in a complex has account to take care of her child, She already had some files to do at home, their family member had no other go to cook food for themselves so they had to depend on my aunt for food after all her son will come with few books saying mommy today's homework.Seriously she is having a bad time now with all the stuffs .The big problem is all teachers in the school are training the childeren in teaching them with stories and rhymes but they dont make the child write, these tiny tots stumble to write words and sentences oh if you read my cousin's fair not you would start bursting out in laughter because he will write apple as ape two letters will be missing in between.. its really a headcahe for my aunt to teach him slowly .So i can say that NO homeworks for childeren please!!
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
I do think some struggling is normal, I've seen what kids in kindergarten write, but it improves immensely from the beginning of the year to the end as they learn. My daughter likes to write things so I will help her sound out a word and she'll write it, or I will write it and ask her to spell it out to me, then she will copy it and write it herself. She knows all her letters and the sounds they make, and she can usually pick out the right letters in a word just from hearing it. I got her a fridge toy when she was 2 and it had magnet letters that you'd stick in the toy and it would say the letter and the sound it makes. She played with that thing for HOURS when she was younger lol.
@mflower2053 (3223)
• United States
15 Aug 08
I do think that kids don't get enough play. Not sure if its like that everywhere but in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana kids are not allowed to talk during lunch or in class and don't have recess. So when are they suppose to socialize with other kids? Everyone makes a big deal of kids should go to school so they can socialize with other kids their age but when do they get the chance? As far as homework goes. Isn't it something like coloring or something like that? Don't they do enough of that in school? Maybe they are just getting them use to getting homework?
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
Not allowed to TALK? Oh heavens no, it's not like that here and I daresay I hope it never comes down to that. Of course there are times when talking is not appropriate, such as when a teacher is sharing a new concept or during a test - but at LUNCH? Everybody talks at lunch. In class if there isn't a reason to be quiet, I know kids talk in class too. No recess is like blasphemy!! All elementary school kids need recess, they also need a regular PE class, if not every day at least 3 days a week!
The way things are going with budget cuts and all that, after school my daughter will have ballet, art, swimming, music, and whatever else got cut out of the school that is necessary for her to be well rounded because all the dumb school wants to focus on is 'your kid should be ready for harvard by next year'. Nonsense, she is 4!
It is really getting to the point where it is up to the parent to provide things that the school is supposed to - art, music, pe, elective fun stuff that boosts creativity, potential, and contributes to healthy learning. Because of this, the school cannot insist on homework, there is no time for it.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
15 Aug 08
My son had homework 4 days a week in Kindergarten and first grade. Last year in second grade he only had homework about 2 times a week. It was much less stressful for him. He started back to 3rd grade today, so we will see how much he gets this year.
1 person likes this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
14 Aug 08
My daughter had home work in preschool. And yes I was surprised. She is only in her 1st week of kindergarten. So nothing yet. But I will not be surprised. After all one of her items from her school list is a back pack, also folders. So it will only be a matter of time.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
Well, I hope for your sake that the backpacks and folders are just on everybody's supply list. My daughter brings a backpack and a snack to preschool, but they ask all of the kids to bring backpacks. This is what they put their art projects in for each day and the worksheets or coloring sheets and the book order forms so parents don't forget anything. Occasionally I did get a handout to bring home but it was optional. Sometimes we'd do them, she'd get a sticker for turning it in.
@Elixiress (3878)
•
15 Aug 08
I see no problem with them getting homework, but I do disagree with them getting written homework. I think that if they got homework to develop something that they learnt then that is fine, for example if they learnt not to have wires trailing the floor as it is a safety risk and then they go around the house and ask their parents to tidy all the wires away and maybe not down the risks they found in their home to discuss in the next lesson. Sometime fun and active for homework.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
I agree with you. I guess my problem too is WRITTEN homework. I despise it. Demonstrating a skill or teaching parents something they learned and then bringing back proof of that is not something I'd mind. I just don't want something time consuming and busywork and given by the teacher to the student at the END of the day with an expectation that it comes back in the morning.
@StarChild517 (657)
• United States
14 Aug 08
I am sick of how young children are starting school these days I mean they are children let them be children because well they will spend the rest of their lives working or slaving away to paperwork or something. Homework haha at that age please just waste childrens minds away these days
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
No kidding. It is pointless. I have had people argue with me when I bring up the fact that I have NEVER brought work home with me and neither does my husband, but then again we aren't attorneys and we aren't teachers, and those are usually the job fields of the people giving me a bad time because I DON'T bring work home. I don't think bringing work home is ever a good idea. If you can't get it done during your 8 or 9 hours at work, your work load is probably too big.
When I worked, I did give it 100% AT work, but once I was home, to heck with work, I pretended it did not exist. I feel the same way about school and homework.
@Corimore (249)
• United States
15 Aug 08
I think it is stupid. Putting so much on a small child they have enough to deal with without paperwork when they can't read yet. What a way to tell your kid give up now it just gets worse. My son had hours of homework in the second grade. They overload them with homework then expect them to have time for extra stuff like baseball or basketball. I think we as a nation are pushing our children so much to succeed that we are just make them feel like failures when they aren't perfect.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
I heard something like 10 min per subject per grade level or similar. I think that for any child who is in elementary school, it should be 10 minutes or less TOTAL, maybe 20 if the child works slow. If you go off that 10 min per subject per grade level, then a first grader would technically have at least 50 minutes because you figure they have at least 5 subjects they cover daily! That is completely insane.
@hllywdprncss76 (179)
• United States
15 Aug 08
My girls are 3 and 4 and both are in preschool and they have homework. Im glad they do because its helping my girls prepare for Catholic school. I guess when i was in elementary school i always had a report due or some kind of major project due it seems normal but i was in private school. When i got to junior high (first time in public school) that was a piece of cake & lost interest because i was so ahead coming from catholic school. I passed with 3.5 gpa & never put any effort in anything. Im glad for the homework because i would rather have my girls brains being stimulated. Its not like they have that much homework anyways in preschool at least with my girls its 5 sheets a week. You trace your letters, color a couple of pictures & learn a bible verse.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
There are plenty of better ways to stimulate your brain besides homework. Trust me. If learning is the goal, there are better ways than work sheets, paper, and memorization/rote. My daughter did the letters, coloring, an art project etc during her preschool class. I don't see a point in bringing something home after you already did it in class.
@insaneduck9 (836)
• United States
14 Aug 08
Wow, this is crazy. I can't believe there's homework in preschool and homework in kindergarten. Wasn't kindergarten suppose to be a warm-up for grade one?
I remember kindergarten and I remembered it as a "fun" environment. Kids who receive homework in kindergarten and/or preschool won't remember it as "fun". Kids are just being kids and they are being more disciplined for no reason! Is this a punishment of some sort, if not, it definitely seems like it!
Parents might not think this is a "big deal" because they aren't the ones who are affected. I'm also ranting if you haven't noticed and kindergarten is usually halfday and sometimes full day and no-one want's to spend sitting and doing work 24/7 during school time instead of just being a kid and having fun.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
Yes, isn't this ridiculous? It has something to do with government folks or educators deciding that the 'US is behind other countries academically so we must do something about it'. I don't agree. I don't think it matters that much and I am not about to steal from childhood to 'measure up' to another country for nothing. There is no difference in kids who learned to read at 4 or 5 vs kids who learned to read at 7 when both kids are 12. Their comprehension is the same, their skill level is the same - if both have the same circumstances except one learned earlier than the other. It was probably much easier and more natural for the older one to learn, they were ready mentally and physiologically whereas not a lot of 4 year olds would be at the same level. I think this is the same thing as some kids walking at 8 months and others are almost 2, or kids who potty train at 18 months and others at 4. There is a big range of normal and not all kids are going to be ready as early as some of the earliest ones. You cannot base an expectation for all kids off the ones who are prodigys, or ones who can sit still and have a long attention span, or ones who are just geared or wired towards learning quickly and spitting info back out.
OH. Another rant. Full day kindergarten. Ok, I admit that for parents who work, this is a good thing because it means fewer hours of daycare to pay for. However, with a parent who doesn't work outside the home, and doesn't WANT their child in full day, there should be a half day option, ALWAYS. I am pretty sure the school near me still does half day kindergarten, and after my daughter is through with that, I won't care as much but right now I really care and I'll go outside my district if I have to in order to ensure she has half day.
@eveeee (659)
•
14 Aug 08
Hi
I live in the UK and my son used to get more homework in his infants and nursery school than he does now in senior school. The nursery one was always a book sharing activity and then a picture or small activity to do about the story. This was fine, as i encouraged reading together and his fine motor skills as he did the activity. It was never compulsory, and they always gave out positive comments, no matter what the child did. In infants though the homework increased and he had sometimes about half hour a time a few times a week.
I work in a children's day nursery, and we wouldn't dream of giving out homework to any of the children and we have a very strong emphasis on play. In fact as if September we, and all settings looking after the under 5's have a new curriculum framework to follow, which takes the emphasis completely away from any formal learning, focusing more on play and play based learning along with the children's individual needs. Children of this age group learn so much through their play, and can develop without any formal pressure on them.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
I actually would not mind if the 'homework' were only optional. If it were optional, then I'd ask my daughter if she wanted to do it, and how much she wanted to do, and that would be the limit. If she wanted to do it all, then we'd do it all. If she wanted to do one page or activity, we'd do one page or activity. If she didn't feel like doing any of it, then it would go in the trash. It would be all right if it wasn't a have-to, and that's what I'm most concerned about.
The preschool I send her to now focuses on learning through play, although there is always a learning section with a letter and number and activity/craft. It is not highly academic, which is what I wanted. She was 3 1/2 when she started preschool and I just wanted her to have the socialization and learn about having a teacher (without mommy there) and the rules of a classroom and a routine. It is very important to me that she learns through self motivation, not having too many expectations placed on her by people who have no idea what she needs.
@redchase (347)
•
14 Aug 08
i understand where you're coming from. my sister had that same thing going on in kinder and such. the problem there was that my mom cant read in english, i mean she can barely read in spanish. in the area in which i live, thats how it is alot of the time. most of the kids are first generation americans and the parents cant speak or read english. it makes it hard for the kid to get the work done. i had to help my sister out with her homework as much as i could because i still had my own work to get done and activities to do because i was in high school and i was involved in activities, so i wasnt home a lot of the time. and even the little things like decorating paper turkeys or pumpkins she didnt do because by the time everyone got picked up from school, got fed, the house was picked up, it was late and she was tired so my mom got stuck doing the work anyway.
i think someone, i dont know who or where, is trying to get the family to be more involved with the kids and everything. and i have to admit i admire the try but still you have to realize that life is busy especially nowadays. the parents have one job or sometimes two and the kids have activities because it seems recently parents arent happy with just letting kids play and have to get them involved in something be it karate or dance or something like that. well anyway thats my two cents.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Aug 08
I agree that parents should be involved in helping their child learn, but I do not think this means making them do homework, helping them do homework, or teaching or explaining concepts and ideas that a teacher is supposed to do at school. I did not go to college to be a teacher, and I don't have teaching knowledge of core subjects with the state standards in mind. The teachers do! That is what they are supposed to be doing, and giving practice opportunities for the kids to develop and practice the skills AT SCHOOL where they can monitor how they are doing, answer questions, and help.
As far as outside school, you're right, there are other activities and simply downtime and family time. For instance my daughter has ballet and in the summer she also takes swimming lessons. I am not going to drop her activities because of something else I consider unnecessary. She enjoys ballet, and she enjoys getting together with her friends. In my opinion, both of those things are more important than work outside of school.
@iambaiyunlvshui (122)
• China
15 Aug 08
yes nowdays our kids have too many homework . they need free air to get to do some happy things .but homework is also needed
