My 5 year old is getting stressed out about homework

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really struggling getting my 5 year old's K homework done each night. We don't get home until around 6:30. Before he had homework every night, it was a struggle just to get him and my 2 year old fed and ready for bed in time (with a little play time). Now, with homework in the mix, it's crazy. I've had to push bedtime to later.

AND, the winter break homework "packet" was insane! We brought it on vacation with us, but still didn't finish it and had to spend another hour on it after getting back. Ridiculous.

good god, this is completely inappropriate for kindergarten. They should have homework in the first place. They certainly should have a damn packet to complete over break.

[Anonymous]

Which school systems are you all in?
Just curious to know which ones get HW and which ones dont, or is it based on school/teacher?

Someone told me in MCPS HW is optional in K, anyone know if thats true? If it is what does that mean exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Homework is good to start them understanding its an expectation. We got it weekly so you could space it out over the week. Give the kid a snack or meal, then sit down with them and get it done. Do it together.

Lamest advice ever. If a kindergartener is crying over it every night, it's not going to get done.

I do wonder why she is so stressed. My child had homework but other than reading, it really takes a few minutes a day. If the homework cannot realistically be done very fast, you need to take it up with the teacher and principal. If that is not the case, you need to find out why your daughter is so resistant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Homework is good to start them understanding its an expectation. We got it weekly so you could space it out over the week. Give the kid a snack or meal, then sit down with them and get it done. Do it together.

Lamest advice ever. If a kindergartener is crying over it every night, it's not going to get done.

I do wonder why she is so stressed. My child had homework but other than reading, it really takes a few minutes a day. If the homework cannot realistically be done very fast, you need to take it up with the teacher and principal. If that is not the case, you need to find out why your daughter is so resistant.

At 5, it could just be a maturity issue. Likely, she'll be fine in another year or two. Maybe even in another couple months.

Kids develop differently, and 5 is very young.

[Anonymous]

We do it until it's done . Doesn't matter if it's 5 min or 5 hours. You do your work.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, K teacher here (not in DC and still on break!)

At least here, I CAN take away second recess as a disciplinary measure, and our math homework is a graded standard - If your child doesn't do it, I unfortunately have to give them a grade of incomplete. Fortunately however, these sheets take less than 5 minutes to complete.

[Anonymous]

Educator family here. We don't believe in homework for kids; the studies back that up. This is a big part of why we're planning on homeschooling or private-schooling. The fact that so many parents are just saying "do it; it's part of being responsible" shows just how perverse our educulture has become in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, K teacher here (not in DC and still on break!)

At least here, I CAN take away second recess as a disciplinary measure, and our math homework is a graded standard - If your child doesn't do it, I unfortunately have to give them a grade of incomplete. Fortunately however, these sheets take less than 5 minutes to complete.

That sucks. You know that, right?

Poor kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really struggling getting my 5 year old's K homework done each night. We don't get home until around 6:30. Before he had homework every night, it was a struggle just to get him and my 2 year old fed and ready for bed in time (with a little play time). Now, with homework in the mix, it's crazy. I've had to push bedtime to later.

AND, the winter break homework "packet" was insane! We brought it on vacation with us, but still didn't finish it and had to spend another hour on it after getting back. Ridiculous.

Winter break homework packet? In K?

Your child must go to Beauvoir. Mine is in 2nd grade in MCPS and her WEEKLY 'homework' consists of two A4-sized worksheets; she's done with them in 15 minutes.

I, for one, tend to think this is ridiculous. Second-graders are old enough to study independently to reinforce skills they've learn in the classroom. No wonder tests scores in reading in math are so abominable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, K teacher here (not in DC and still on break!)

At least here, I CAN take away second recess as a disciplinary measure, and our math homework is a graded standard - If your child doesn't do it, I unfortunately have to give them a grade of incomplete. Fortunately however, these sheets take less than 5 minutes to complete.

That is not developmentally appropriate for a 5yo.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all of your perspectives. DD is at grade level or ahead in all subjects so I especially don't see much value in HW.

Part of the problem is we get large packets which we do inconsistently, so it builds up. I think not doing it was my way of resisting the stress for her, but if there will be consequences for her, I want to at least try.

When the teacher reminds her to get HW done, she starts worrying about losing recess or getting in trouble. If I do not put a time limit on HW, DD will keep going until she is exhausted and stressed once reminded. I do believe other students had to sit out for recess but not my child.

The HW is assigned by all 4 K teachers at our school, so it's apparently been discussed and agreed to administratively.

I think PP who had the winter break packet must be at the same school. It was huge and we didn't bother. Until she cried and said it was the last day and she was going to be on the bad list.

All that said, my plan of attack is a more regular schedule and a timer for 10 minutes. If she gets stressed even during the time we allotted, stop and explain to the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, K teacher here (not in DC and still on break!)

At least here, I CAN take away second recess as a disciplinary measure, and our math homework is a graded standard - If your child doesn't do it, I unfortunately have to give them a grade of incomplete. Fortunately however, these sheets take less than 5 minutes to complete.

That sucks. You know that, right?

Poor kids.

Take it up with the administrators. I'm the middle man just doing my job. We don't like it any more than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really struggling getting my 5 year old's K homework done each night. We don't get home until around 6:30. Before he had homework every night, it was a struggle just to get him and my 2 year old fed and ready for bed in time (with a little play time). Now, with homework in the mix, it's crazy. I've had to push bedtime to later.

AND, the winter break homework "packet" was insane! We brought it on vacation with us, but still didn't finish it and had to spend another hour on it after getting back. Ridiculous.

Give me a break, you don't have 10 min for nightly homework? Or even a half hr? Or ONE HOUR when there was one WEEK off from school? There isn't 10 min where your snowflake complains about whatever happened at school -- he couldn't replace that time with HW? This isn't India or China where they're giving 5 hrs of HW a night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all of your perspectives. DD is at grade level or ahead in all subjects so I especially don't see much value in HW.

Part of the problem is we get large packets which we do inconsistently, so it builds up. I think not doing it was my way of resisting the stress for her, but if there will be consequences for her, I want to at least try.

When the teacher reminds her to get HW done, she starts worrying about losing recess or getting in trouble. If I do not put a time limit on HW, DD will keep going until she is exhausted and stressed once reminded. I do believe other students had to sit out for recess but not my child.

The HW is assigned by all 4 K teachers at our school, so it's apparently been discussed and agreed to administratively.

I think PP who had the winter break packet must be at the same school. It was huge and we didn't bother. Until she cried and said it was the last day and she was going to be on the bad list.

All that said, my plan of attack is a more regular schedule and a timer for 10 minutes. If she gets stressed even during the time we allotted, stop and explain to the teacher.

So she WANTED to do the HW, but you -- the parent -- procrastinated until the last day until she had to cry to get you to sit down with her and help?? If a kid is stressed by HW such that they want to do it -- whether to learn or to not be on the bad list or whatever -- why on earth would you discourage that??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do it until it's done . Doesn't matter if it's 5 min or 5 hours. You do your work.

THIS. 5 is NOT too young. Sorry but this is why achievement is so subpar -- no one believes their snowflake should have to do anything they don't want to do or be stressed for even a minute.