My 9-year-old attends a fantastic school, and I’m pleased with his teachers. While they seem to spend more time seated than I recall from my third-grade days, he still gets plenty of physical activity, hands-on learning, and socializing (which often involves acting silly with his friends). Although I would appreciate fewer worksheets and less Common Core math, the educators genuinely strive to make lessons engaging for the students. I’ve had the opportunity to observe some of his classes, and the kids, including my son, are bright-eyed and involved. What more could I possibly want?
However, the moment I pick him up from school, the most challenging part of our day begins. Six and a half hours in a classroom is exhausting for a 9-year-old. I remember feeling completely drained after long school days myself.
We don’t pack his schedule with activities after school; I believe school is sufficient for him to handle, with extra activities reserved for weekends or summer. When the weather permits, he can play outside, but structured after-school activities are scarce. All I desire is for him to unwind and have the chance to be a kid. Yet, homework interferes with that.
It’s not that he has excessive homework—typically, it should take him 15 minutes or so. But when he’s tired, and I’m tired, and he longs for a few hours without schoolwork, those 15 minutes can stretch to an hour or more. Here’s how it breaks down:
- 15 minutes of coaxing him to unpack his backpack, lay out his homework, and explain the assignment.
- 15 minutes of me negotiating, pleading, and sometimes bribing him to get started.
- 15 minutes of him searching for a pencil, requesting a snack, spilling juice on his notebook, cleaning it up, taking bathroom breaks, and creating a telescope from an empty toilet paper roll to observe squirrels at the neighbor’s bird feeder.
- 15 minutes (or more) to actually complete the homework, depending on how many breaks he feels he needs to complain about it.
Honestly, I would much rather see him spend his homework time on that toilet-paper telescope. I’d prefer to sit with him and discuss why the squirrel is so captivated by the birdseed, the squirrel’s diet, where the birds disappeared to, and the mechanics of telescope construction.
There are countless ways he could learn at home that wouldn’t drain his energy. Here are some activities I’d much rather he engage in than homework:
1. Spend Time Outdoors
Let him do something—anything! He could kick rocks (which could spark an earth science discussion) or turn the hose on and off (perfect for lessons in velocity).
2. Read for Pleasure
Reading is part of his daily homework, and thankfully, he’s an enthusiastic reader. I believe if reading weren’t a chore, he’d willingly read even more than the assigned 20 minutes just for the joy of it.
3. Play (and Spar) with His Brother
While they sometimes end up in playful tussles, I wish my older child had more opportunities to enjoy imaginative play with his little brother. It’s important for him to remember the wonders of storytelling and dressing up.
4. Practice His Recorder
Ah, the infamous recorder! Like many elementary kids, my son was given one this year. It can be a real nuisance with its high-pitched sounds, but he adores playing it (and has actually improved). Unfortunately, I often have to tell him to put it down for homework.
5. Complete Chores (Even with Resistance)
He might not enjoy this, but adding a few extra chores would be far more educational than filling out another worksheet. It teaches responsibility and discipline—valuable lessons for any child!
6. Experience Boredom
Sometimes, when he has free time, he feels bored and restless. It’s typical for kids his age. While it drives me a bit crazy, I would love for him to have more moments of “boredom.” Often, working through these feelings (without turning to screens) can lead to creativity and interesting activities.
7. Enjoy His Board Games
He has a closet filled with board games, art kits, and science kits, but we usually only get to them on weekends. I wish he could spend substantial time delving into these games, but alas, homework takes precedence.
8. Conduct Messy Science Experiments
He enjoys experiments like creating volcanoes, making slime, or generally causing harmless chaos. While I wouldn’t want this to be a daily activity, it would certainly be a more productive use of his time than homework.
9. Play Video Games
I admit that he might not need more video game time, as he gets ample breaks when he first gets home. Yet, many video games are not only entertaining but also educational. He has even started using programs to design his own games.
10. Anything Else
Honestly, just about anything besides homework!
If the purpose of homework is to continue learning beyond school hours, there are far more effective methods than additional worksheets and writing. I don’t blame the teachers or the school; this is a systemic issue. Numerous studies indicate that homework in elementary school often fails to achieve its intended goals, yet it seems many school systems haven’t caught on. Given the freedom to explore, children naturally learn through play and exploration, supplemented by gentle guidance from their parents. Unfortunately, homework often squashes that innate curiosity, and that frustrates me. There must be a better approach!
For more insights on navigating parenting and the educational landscape, check out our other blog posts on making informed decisions, including one on the home insemination kit topic. Additionally, for those interested in pregnancy-related resources, the Pregnancy Exposure Registries site is an excellent authority on the subject. If you’re looking for more information on insemination methods, this resource is highly recommended.
In summary, we need to rethink how we approach homework for our children. By providing them with opportunities to engage in activities that foster creativity, exploration, and real-life learning, we can better support their growth and development.