Too Much Homework Harms Kids (and Their Parents)

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Let’s get one thing straight: no parent would mind if their kids were occupied for hours at a time, tucked away in their rooms, giving us some much-needed “me time.” Unfortunately, we can’t just lock them away (my partner, Jess, would never allow it). Even if we soundproofed the walls! But wouldn’t it be nice if our kids had something to do that kept them from constantly interrupting our lives?

So when I come across articles like one from The Washington Post, where parents of older children lament the overwhelming amount of homework their kids face, part of me thinks, “Count me in!” But surely there’s a happy medium between chaos and confinement. I know it exists because my generation found it.

Homework is a staple of American education. It teaches responsibility, independence, and helps our already overburdened teachers manage their classrooms. Kids need to learn how to tackle tasks on their own, but I can’t recall having much homework in elementary school. A few dioramas, some book reports, and maybe some spelling and multiplication tables. I didn’t come home to hours of homework—I watched cartoons, played outside, and ate snacks. Sounds a lot like my son’s current routine, right? But next year, when he enters first grade, I fear that’s about to change.

Once he’s in first grade, he’ll have real homework, which means I’ll be doing homework too. Let’s be real—first graders can only manage so much on their own, which is practically nothing. I’m still helping him with the basics, and now he’s expected to tackle complex concepts? Last week, he celebrated his “100th Day” of school, which meant we had to help him with a project about 100 items. Spoiler alert: most of those projects were clearly created by the parents. Because, let’s face it, our kids are five years old! We spent hours collecting items for this assignment; the only thing our five-year-old has 100 of are boogers!

And this is just the beginning. Today’s kindergarten resembles what we used to see in first grade, and the homework load is more akin to middle school expectations. While teaching kids the value of responsibility is important, do they really need to start this young? Their schedules are already packed with after-school activities and playdates. They need time to unwind, and so do we. That precious time disappears under the weight of homework assignments that require us to supervise them in their rooms.

It’s strange to think our kids are too young to play outside alone but old enough to handle hours of homework. Are they kids or little adults? My son will have plenty of work ahead of him in life, so why start now? He’s already stressed about sitting next to Sam—what if she proposes again?! Our kids have enough on their plates as it is. Can we hold off on the pressure a little longer?

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In summary, while homework is a necessary part of education, the current overload can be detrimental to both kids and parents. We need to find a balance that allows children to learn while still enjoying their childhood.