If you’re a parent, homework is one thing you often have to deal with when it comes to your kids. Whether your child is home-schooled or going to school, they’ll do homework. Below are quick answers to frequently asked questions on homework for kids that parents often ask.
Why do kids hate homework?
There are many reasons kids hate homework, including the fact that it keeps them from playing with their friends. Some kids feel homework isn’t meant for everybody; they believe it should be an additional practice for students who need it. Also, homework can get overwhelming, especially when it’s not a subject they love or when the homework is too much. After spending hours learning at school, coming back home to continue that work is something kids don’t find charming.
Moreover, when homework has caused a child emotional trauma, such a child will end up hating having to do homework. Homework can cause stress, fatigue, sleep loss, restlessness, and even bad dreams.
How many kids do their homework?
The percentage of kids that do their homework is higher than those that don’t. Records show that over 95% of elementary school kids do their homework outside of school. Another study shows that over 70% of students don’t like homework, but they do it nonetheless for fear of retribution.
Doing homework is harder for kids whose parents are probably too busy and don’t have time to take them through it. The group of kids who don’t do their homework is composed of those who have already been negatively affected by it.
How to motivate kids to do homework?
It is natural to get anxious as a parent because you feel it is your responsibility to help your child do well in school. However, there’s no need to be anxious; you can motivate your child to do his homework by:
- Don’t take out your frustration on your child, expecting from him what he can’t give. Encourage your child, reassure him of greatness, and boost his confidence in himself.
- Create a structure around the time for homework – such as allocating time for it and following it every day.
- Trust your child to make his own choices within the boundaries of the parameters you set around schoolwork.
- Let your child decide what he will do or not do about his bad grades; don’t tell him how to feel.
- Believe in your child and let him know you believe in him; that’s the greatest motivation ever.
Homework for kids: how much homework is too much in elementary school?
It isn’t ideal for an elementary school kid to already be frustrated by homework at such an early age. A child shouldn’t have to spend so long on homework; there’s a 10-minute rule recommended by the NEA. The rule states that homework in elementary school should take ten minutes per grade level per night. That means a first grader should finish his assignment in ten minutes, a second-grader in twenty, and so on.
However, while homework guidelines vary between school boards and across the country, it ultimately depends on the teacher and student. That is, how much homework a child is assigned depends on his teacher, and how much time he takes depends on him.
Reasons why kids should have less homework
Children will be much more productive if they have less homework to worry about. That’s because less homework means longer sleep time and rest. When kids are given less homework, they are in good shape to learn, and they are encouraged to. Moreover, with less homework, kids get more rest and are more focused.
Where kids are concerned, all work and no play really does make Jack a dull boy. If kids are given sufficient free time, thanks to less homework, they’ll be more well-rounded.
Conclusion
While homework is absolutely necessary, too much can result in health problems, from mild to serious. Homework is aimed at helping kids retain what they’ve been taught in school; too much may result in the exact opposite. Whenever you feel anxious or unable to help your child, you can always hire homework help for kids.
