Research indicates that homework offers little benefit to young children, so why do we insist they complete it? I’ve decided my elementary-aged kids won’t be doing homework, and here’s why: it’s not mandatory. While education is required, homework for young children is not. I have the power to choose not to make my 5-year-old sit down and focus on assignments after spending six hours already in school.
Many parents are voicing concerns about various issues in education today. They are absolutely justified. Recess is disappearing, and the pressure of standardized testing is affecting both teachers and students. In fact, in my local district, kids only have one 20-minute recess each day, with physical education classes occurring every four days. While we may not be able to influence school policies directly, we can create a home environment that prioritizes our children’s free time over the arbitrary completion of homework, especially at such a young age.
Anyone who has undergone the ordeal of helping an elementary school child with homework knows it often devolves into a prolonged struggle to maintain their focus. I’d prefer to avoid that. Will my child be held back for not completing a worksheet with 14 triangles or circling various trucks? Absolutely not.
You may have occasionally questioned the absurdity of your grade-schoolers’ homework loads, but did you realize you have the right to opt out? We often adhere to the “rules” imposed by educational institutions without considering that we have alternatives. What if we took the advice of numerous studies and stopped assigning homework to elementary students altogether? I doubt the world would come crashing down.
In her insightful article, “Why Parents Should Not Make Kids Do Homework,” Sarah Thompson, an advocate for play, emphasizes that parents shouldn’t impose hours of homework on young children. A comprehensive review led by Harris Cooper, a psychologist from Duke University, found that the benefits of homework vary significantly by age: high schoolers may gain from it if limited to two hours nightly, middle schoolers see only slight improvements, and for younger children, it’s best to wait.
The focus on standardized testing has led to an influx of homework designed to help students prepare. But this just adds to the frustration for both parents and kids. If you took an informal poll at school pickup, you’d likely find that many parents have secretly completed their child’s homework this week—those who say otherwise are probably not being honest.
Valerie Strauss, an education reporter for The Washington Post, points out, “No research has ever found any advantage to assigning homework in elementary school. There isn’t even a positive correlation between the amount of homework assigned and academic achievement.” If we are requiring our young children to do homework, it might stem from a misunderstanding of the evidence or an outdated belief in its necessity.
So why do we continue? We receive homework folders and feel compelled to enforce their completion. But if we know our children are not focusing on the tasks, why persist? Recently, a teacher’s no-homework policy captured widespread attention online, indicating a collective desire to alleviate this burden for both parents and kids. With compelling research suggesting homework is largely ineffective for young learners, it begs the question: why don’t we change our approach?
In a few weeks, I plan to inform my kindergartner’s teacher that he will not be participating in homework assignments. I can only imagine how that conversation will go.
For those interested in exploring related topics, check out this fertility booster for men, which provides insightful information on another aspect of family planning. Additionally, if you’re seeking more resources on pregnancy and home insemination, this site is excellent. And for those curious about live birth rates and the intricacies of insemination, this page offers valuable insights.
Summary:
This article discusses the lack of benefits associated with homework for young children and the choice parents have to opt out. Research indicates that homework does not enhance the academic achievement of elementary-aged kids, and many parents feel pressure to enforce homework completion despite its ineffectiveness. The author advocates for prioritizing children’s free time and play over homework obligations, highlighting the importance of reassessing educational norms.