How do you feel about homework?
Does it cause stress and conflict at home, or do you think homework is an vital part of your child's education?
If you're in the first camp, you're not alone. More than a third of parents feel homework "isn't helpful" for children of primary school age, according to new research.
The Independent reports:
Homework is a “huge cause of stress” for many families – and for children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) it can be detrimental to their health, feedback to Ofsted says. The majority (72 per cent) of parents said they believe prep at school – allowing pupils’ time to plan and get ready for lessons through research – would be a better alternative to homework.
This really surprises me but then I'm a major fan of homework. In fact, Id'd go so far as to say that I'd campaign against scrapping homework if my child's school proposed doing so.
Why? Because having to do homework has equipped my kids with so many essential life skills.
Now, I'll hold my hands up here and admit that I wrote about why I was in favour of banning homework just a few years ago but I've changed my mind. That's allowed.
In fact, what prompted this change of heart was seeing my eldest child sail through his first year at secondary school, completely unfazed by the pressures of homework.
Yes, homework was a cause of stress and even tears (mostly mine) for many years in my house but we overcame that and have now reached a point where the first thing my lads do when the get home is settle down at the kitchen table to make a start on their homework while I fix them a snack and ask them about their day.
Homework has actually become one of my favourite parts of the day. We got here by persevering through all the years where my kids begged not to have to do their homework the moment they got home, but now they thank me (literally) for teaching them to get it out the way early so the rest of the afternoon and evening is theirs.
We'd love to know your thoughts on this story. Are you in support of homework? Or do you think it's unhelpful and causes unnecessary stress at home? Leave us a comment here or come and join the conversation over on our Facebook page. And don't forget to take part in our poll on the subject.
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