I have a confession: I absolutely despise homework. I dread doing it, assisting with it, and honestly, I resent its very existence. Yes, I have a kindergartner, and before you chuckle, let me tell you—he gets a hefty amount of homework.
Each week begins with a packet that needs to be finished by Thursday, filled with worksheets. The instructions are often vague, leaving me puzzled about what the teacher actually wants, and I struggle to explain it to him. There are also worksheets that were meant to be completed in class, with notes saying “please finish,” yet they lack any guidance. Apart from asking, “Jake, do you know what you were supposed to do here?” what am I supposed to do to help him complete this?
Then there’s the reading material, poetry folders, and the infamous family homework. Family homework? I went through kindergarten too, thank you very much.
Did I mention this is KINDERGARTEN?
I might sound frustrated, but I’m weary of nightly battles over homework. I’m exhausted from teaching concepts that were overlooked in class yet come home as assignments. Both my partner and I work, we rush home, prepare dinner, and then tackle homework. Afterward, it’s bath time, bed, and we’re back at it the next day. My son is often taken aback on the rare days when we say, “You don’t have any homework.” Typically, this only happens on weekends.
Moreover, numerous studies indicate that homework in the early years is largely ineffective. It doesn’t truly reflect learning or progress and often just leads to burnout. We argue, tears are shed—some of them mine. By the time first grade rolls around, I fear my son will start to detest learning. What kind of lesson does this convey to a child?
I’m not against education; I’m a lawyer and actively volunteer at my child’s school. I deeply value education, reading, and writing. However, I question how worksheets, drills, and mandatory nightly homework, especially ones involving research projects, truly benefit a five-year-old. And let’s be real—the further you go in grades, the more likely it is that parents are the ones doing the homework.
In the end, kids aren’t actually learning anything.
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In summary, the struggle with homework, especially at such an early age, can be extremely frustrating for parents. Many question the necessity and effectiveness of these assignments, fearing they might hinder a child’s love for learning rather than foster it.