My 9-year-old attends a fantastic school, and I genuinely appreciate his teachers. Although they seem to spend more time seated than I recall from my own third-grade experience, he still manages to enjoy a fair share of physical activity, hands-on learning, and, of course, socializing (or as I like to call it, acting a bit wild with his fellow 9-year-olds).
While I wish there were fewer worksheets and less time spent on Common Core math, the educators strive to keep things engaging for the kids. I’ve even observed some of their classes, and I can see the spark in their eyes, including my son’s. Honestly, what more could I ask for?
However, the moment I pick him up from school, the most challenging part of our day kicks in. After six and a half hours of being in a classroom, my son, though just 9, is understandably worn out. I remember long school days and how exhausted I felt too.
We don’t over-schedule after-school activities; to me, school is enough for him, and I believe he should have weekends or summer breaks for any extra-curricular pursuits. When the weather is nice, he sometimes plays on the playground after school, but structured activities are pretty rare.
All I want is for him to unwind and enjoy being a kid after his long school day. But homework complicates that.
It’s not that he has an overwhelming amount of it; it usually takes him 15 minutes or so to complete. Yet, when he’s tired, and I’m equally drained, those 15 minutes can stretch into an hour.
Here’s how it typically breaks down:
- 15 minutes of me encouraging him to take out his backpack, lay out the homework, and explain what he needs to do.
- 15 minutes of me coaxing him to actually start the assignment.
- 15 minutes for him to search for a pencil, request a snack, spill juice on his homework, clean it up, dash to the bathroom, and build a telescope out of a toilet paper roll to observe a squirrel raiding the neighbor’s bird feeder.
- Another 15 minutes to finally tackle the actual homework, which might take longer if he needs breaks to complain.
Honestly, I’d prefer if he spent that time working on that telescope instead. I’d much rather sit down and discuss why the squirrel is so fascinated by the bird seed, explore its dietary habits, ponder the absence of birds, and investigate how telescopes function.
There are countless other enriching activities he could pursue at home that wouldn’t drain his energy. Here are ten things I’d love to see him doing instead of homework:
- Enjoy the Outdoors
Let him kick around some rocks or play with the hose (hello, impromptu physics lesson!). - Dive into a Book
Reading is part of his homework, and while he’s an enthusiastic reader, I believe he would naturally read even more for pure enjoyment if it weren’t a requirement. - Engage in Play with His Brother
Sure, they might wrestle at times, but I wish my older son had more opportunities to enjoy imaginative play with his younger sibling, who has a boundless imagination. - Experiment with His Recorder
That squeaky instrument may drive me nuts, but he loves it and has shown improvement. Unfortunately, I often have to remind him to put it down for homework. - Tackle Chores (Even If He Complains)
This isn’t his favorite choice, but I think having extra chores would be more educational than another worksheet. Learning responsibility is crucial! - Experience Boredom
Sometimes he gets restless when he has free time, but allowing boredom can spark creativity. Those moments often lead to interesting, imaginative play. - Explore the Board Games Collection
He has an array of board games, art kits, and science projects that usually only get attention on weekends. I wish he could delve into these more during the week. - Conduct Science Experiments
He loves volcanoes, slime, and other messy experiments. I’d gladly trade homework for some hands-on science fun. - Play Video Games
I know he gets enough screen time, but some games are surprisingly educational. He’s even started designing his own games, which is impressive! - Any Other Activity
Honestly, I’d rather he do anything besides homework!
If the goal of homework is to extend learning beyond the classroom, numerous alternatives could achieve this without resorting to more worksheets. I don’t blame teachers or the school; it’s a broader issue. Research indicates that homework in elementary school often fails to fulfill its purpose, yet many educational systems seem unaware.
Children naturally learn through play, exploration, and gentle encouragement from parents. Unfortunately, homework often stifles that drive, and it’s disheartening. Surely there must be a better solution.
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Summary
This article highlights the challenges of balancing homework with the need for children to enjoy free time. It emphasizes the importance of play, exploration, and creativity in a child’s learning experience, suggesting various activities that could be more beneficial than traditional homework assignments.