Last Thursday night, I found myself burning the midnight oil, dyeing pasta in a rainbow of colors and gathering an assortment of bottle caps, yarn, googly eyes, and buttons to help my 5-year-old finish his homework. This homework, designed to encourage family involvement in learning, has turned our evenings into chaotic struggles. Over the weekend, I emptied our coin jar, spending an hour explaining sorting methods that seemed to go over my child’s head. Just last night, I cut out a number line and two monsters for a math game that spiraled into a wild chase around the living room!
While I appreciate my child’s teacher’s intention to engage our family in his learning journey, I believe that assigning homework to kindergartners is fundamentally misguided. For one, my son doesn’t get home until 3:00 PM. Like any typical child, he needs some time to unwind after a long day, which usually involves running around outside, enjoying a snack, and releasing his pent-up energy. Then it’s time for dinner, bath, prepping for the next day, and eventually bedtime. By the time he’s finally settled down, it’s nearly 8 PM. Adding in homework during this hectic routine just adds to the stress for everyone involved.
Homework may be reasonable for older children who can manage their responsibilities better than a 5-year-old who still needs assistance with simple tasks. If schools genuinely want families to participate in the learning experience, I have a few suggestions:
- Stop bombarding us with countless advertisements for unnecessary products.
- Instead, provide a list of simple activities at the start of the year, allowing families to choose what fits their time and budget.
- Bring back nap time—moms would definitely support that!
- Recognize that the chances of these kids attending an Ivy League school are slim, so let’s not treat kindergarten like a rigorous academic endeavor.
- Make homework assignments optional.
- Alternatively, give families the whole week, including the weekend, to complete a single assignment.
- Remember, we’re talking about 5-year-olds.
- Ask parents what they already do to reinforce learning at home.
- Consider sending home quick worksheets that take mere moments to complete.
- Or simply refrain from assigning homework altogether.
A kindergartner’s day is already quite long. Can we allow them to come home and play, rather than adding more work? Concerns about handwriting or number recognition can be discussed during parent-teacher conferences, or schools can send notes in backpacks to keep parents informed. But please, let’s stop assigning homework to our little ones.
I understand that some children may require extra guidance or accommodations that make after-school work necessary. I also recognize that not every child learns at the same pace and may need additional time to finish what they started in class. However, when it comes to my kindergartner, I will choose free play and family bonding over assignments that lead to frustration for both of us.
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In summary, while the intention behind kindergarten homework is positive, it often leads to unnecessary stress for families. By rethinking how we involve families in learning, we can ensure that young children have the time and space they need to grow, play, and thrive.