Kindergartener HATES homework- what can I do?

[Anonymous]

My kindergartener (6 in April) really fights doing homework like it's his job. I realize homework in K is controversial, but I don't think it's particularly onerous. He gets a packet at the beginning of the week which consists of a short repetitive poem and a couple of handwriting worksheets. Plus, he does take-home reading and is getting two short easy books a night to read.

You'd think I was asking him to cut his arm off each night. How can I deal with this kind of push-back?

[Anonymous]

How old is he exactly?

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I wouldn't have him do it. He's in kindergarten for 6 hours a day -- anything he didn't learn in those 6 hours is not going to happen with another 15 minutes. Instead, take that time and read to him, play card games with him (excellent for math skills), and talk with him.

[Anonymous]

My kindergartener also hated homework. I had him do it in the morning every day after he got dressed, sitting at the table while I made breakfast. Then I would read his books to him while he was eating. Then as he got to be a better reader, he would read them again out loud to his brother. I think the point is just to get used to pulling something put of your backpack and doing it, not to do a lot of learning at home.

[Anonymous]

What are his complaints? Figure out where the problem is.

I have best luck by timing it after snack and a little play but before my kids get too tired. Getting too tired is the kiss of death and one of my kids gets tired pretty easily. Also, I had to sit with them in kindergarten, which he really enjoyed so helped him want to do it. Now in 2 nd grade I don't have to sit there anymore.

[Anonymous]

It sounds really boring and not all that enriching. I would skip it except for the reading.

[Anonymous]

Distraction and bribery. Well, not exactly. But I found that I had to make the environment attractive to my kids to get them into the routine. Once it's a routine, it's much easier. I have them do it on the kitchen bench while I clean up and give them a snack. When they're little, they might need you to sit with them. Ask him what you can do together to make it more fun. Offer a nice drink or snack, maybe have a game out ready so he can see it and know you will go straight to that once it's done. Basically, do whatever you can to urge him on and help him. Let him know the teacher is expecting it. Don't fight with him, though.

I did that with my kids' music practice (even getting the instrument ready) and it just helped to get over the hump and into a routine (so I now don't need to do it, but sometimes I still do as I think they have busy lives and a little help shows I understand).

[Anonymous]

Does he have aftercare or after school activities? My K'er fights it on days he gets home late. He's tired. I don't make him do it. So far, I've heard nothing from the teacher, but he does do it most days.

I would let it go and address it if the teacher says something.

[Anonymous]

That sounds like a lot for a kindergartener.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I never "made" any of my kids do homework. I'd remind them but not make them. At some point 3rd/4th grade it would become something that they just took responsibility for. I think it was a combination of the fact that it started to be more integrated into their school work, there were consequences in that the teacher wanted to see it done and they were embarassed/upset when they didn't do - in other words it started to matter to them. Then again - we didn't have regulary homework until 2nd grade - K is way too young.

Now, I never have to prod my kids to do their homework - occasionally I help them organize it if they get overwhelmed, or proof a big project or find resources. But, they take responsibility. So, I wouldn't worry yet.

[Anonymous]

I would skip it. You don't want to set up homework as this miserable battle. Wait a year, he'll be older, and the homework will be more meaningful (seriously, handwriting worksheets for K??!!??)

[Anonymous]

Don't make him do it. Homework in K is optional, at least at our school. If a worksheet looks fun or interesting to my child I might print it off and let her do it but I'm not forcing it in kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

I agree- don't make him do it. That is a lot of HW for a kindergartner. Tell the teacher you won't be doing HW anymore. They will most likely be OK with it.

[Anonymous]

Homework is dumb. Skip it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Wow, I didn't think it was a lot, truly. When my older child was in K, they had a lot more homework, but the K team has revamped HW and it's much less than it used to be.

Seriously, the short story takes 30 seconds to read, plus 1 two-sided handwriting sheet. That's it for the week. Is that really a lot? I usually have him do one side on one day and then next side on another day.

To be honest, his handwriting is not good. He's in OT for fine motor skills deficiencies, but should I push back on having him do the worksheets at home?

To answer some questions:

1. He's 5 and will be 6 in mid-April.

2. No aftercare.

3. His complaints- some of them don't make sense. He gets mad that his sister is done with her HW before he is, but that's because she sits down and gets it done, instead of complaining, which just drags it out. He also says it's boring; that's fair. He's able to do the take home reading easily, as the books are DRA 2 and he's reading at a DRA 5. The reading specialist wants them to start at a lower level to make reading enjoyable, which makes sense.