These are all very real and valid concerns. However, results of studies on the effectiveness of homework are quite surprising.The current research on homework and school performance shows that there is very little evidence that homework does anything to help with your child's future academic success. Even so, we have seen a steady increase in the amount of homework assigned in the last 25 years.
However, according to Dr. Harris Cooper, the director of the Program in Education at Duke University, homework does not improve academic performance or level of understanding of elementary school students. Even for high school students, the benefits of homework decline after the children do more than two hours a night.
It appears that the extra homework your child gets doesn't seem to help him. But more than that, having too much homework may be harming your child.
Do you feel your children get too much homework?
Homework takes away from quality family time; time that your child should be spending with you. It requires that you oversee your child, make sure he completes his assignments, and places you in the adversarial role of enforcer. It interferes with your child's play time, time which is necessary for normal social development. It takes away from extracurricular activity time, time in which your child can develop his or her own unique talents.As you child gets older, peer contact becomes more important for normal development. Excess homework limits the amount of time children have with friends. Many students get far too little sleep, which also has a negative influence of their ability to perform in school.
To be fair, there are times that homework can benefit your child. Homework can reinforce new concepts that your child learned during the day. It can also help your child think independently. However, usually excess assignments consist of tedious busy work and contribute very little to your child's grasp of the material or its mastery.
* If you feel that your child is getting too much busy work assigned, then talk to the teacher. Most teachers don't see homework as a problem for families.
* Communicate your feeling to the school principal. Most administrators feel that parents are happy that their children are working hard in school. It is up to you to let him know that you feel that the excess work is detrimental.
Our society is filled with enough stress. We don't need to give our children more. For younger children homework is all but worthless. For older children, there are some benefits, but the advantages of homework are all but destroyed by the excessive amounts given. Excessive homework wastes your child's time, causes unnecessary stress, and might even destroy his love of learning.
It seems like our children may be getting too much of a bad thing.
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- Oppositional Defiant Disorder Parenting Help
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- Teen Behavior Program
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- ADD ADHD Treatment Program
- The complete integrated program combining natural and conventional treatments to help you find the right treatment plan for your child
- ODD Screening Test
- Find out if your child has Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Up to date information on Oppositional Defiant Disorder
New Guestbook
Andie wrote
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree! I am starting to trust that my child knows more about what's good for him than any indoctrinated, bureaucratic public school system. Instinct is something that should NEVER be taken away. And I have had the same experience. Homework is almost silly at such a young age. They simply don't have the concepts of why it's important, and logic or explanation does nothing to substantiate it. Let the children be children. Learning should be so inspiring at young ages (and older for that matter), that they should not know it's "school".
Posted June 15, 2009
Nicole wrote
I am having a lot of difficulty with my 7 year old and hw and she doesnt really get a lot of hw but the teacher did say that she would be fine without it now she doesnt want to do any of it
Posted March 06, 2009
Hollie wrote
My son is 6 years old and in 1st grade. He has 2 homework papers every night and is supposed to read a book also. I work until 5:00 at night and by the time I get them picked up from daycare and get home it is about 5:40. Now, it is time to do homework (which usually requires constant supervisison (odd) and try to get dinner going. (Sometimes my husband is home to help, but he swings shifts every 7 days, so not very often.) We do manage to get the 2 homework papers done, but I havd advised his teacher that reading a book every night is impossible. He goes to bed at 7:30pm because he has to get up at 5:50am to get ready for the bus. We read our weekly books on the weekend, prior to them being due. It does work much better, however some nights it is enough to drive me crazy. By the time homework is done, its time to get in the bath and ready for bed. No time at all in the evening with my kids for anything fun.
Posted March 03, 2009
Georgina Lowe wrote
I recently found this resource for my son on the internet to help him handle all of his studies and he is really enjoying it. It's called "grade boosting secrets" www.GradeBoostingSecrets.com
Posted January 30, 2009
Timothy(Grandfather) wrote
Our 6 year old grandson now lives with us and goes to the area school system. He is confirmed with ODD. The school works hard to help however he is on medication for the school day, now he can perform at school. The problem is that the medication wears off after school and the homework is a very difficult project for him to perform. I have told the school this but he still gets home work Tuesday and Thursday nights. He does get most of it done but it still is very difficult for him and us. Being a retired police officer I find this ODD matter a very difficult situation. This child never acts or performs as a normal child does. The home work matter is a constant battle and getting him back up in the AM is another issue that we are trying to tackle at this time. I appreciate and enjoy the Doctors emails weekly. Thanks again.
Posted November 17, 2008
aaron wrote
it really helped my kids 14 and really routy sometimes i just want to say forget it but this changed my view and his
Posted November 07, 2008
