A little while back, I dropped off my oldest child for her very first day of kindergarten. As I stood there, I noticed the other moms dabbing at their eyes with tissues, while I was ready to celebrate. I mean, after staying home with her and her rambunctious little brother for what felt like an eternity, I had my own way of coping. Let’s just say, I didn’t actually pour champagne into Dixie cups for everyone in the carpool lane—though the thought did cross my mind! No, I was more focused on cranking up my tunes and zooming out of the parking lot.
Our household absolutely adores kindergarten. My daughter is thrilled to have new friends to chat with, and I’m equally happy that she’s got someone else to talk to all day long. But here’s the kicker: the homework load seems a tad overwhelming for a 5-year-old. I’m not the type to complain for the sake of it, but hear me out.
Back in my day, kindergarten was just part-time. We attended for a mere 3 hours each day, totaling 15 hours a week. Now, my daughter spends a whopping 6.5 hours a day there, which adds up to 32.5 hours weekly. When you factor in her homework, she’s clocking nearly 40 hours a week on schoolwork—basically a full-time gig!
You might think I’m exaggerating when I say she has about 8 hours of homework each week. Let’s break it down, shall we?
Homework Packet
The homework packet consists of worksheets that need to be completed throughout the week. These include writing practice, counting exercises, and some drawing. Getting her to sit down and focus? Yeah, that takes about 30 minutes a day, leading to 2.5 hours of homework weekly.
Reading
I’m all for reading—pro-literacy is our motto! We usually read a book before bedtime anyway. However, the teacher suggests reading for 20 minutes daily. With a chatty 5-year-old, that often stretches to 30 minutes. Another 2.5 hours logged, and don’t even get me started on the reading logs I have to fill out (ugh!).
Flashcards
Then there are the 72 flashcards we’re supposed to review twice a week, covering numbers and both uppercase and lowercase letters. This task usually takes about an hour, or until someone (likely me) starts crying. That’s an extra 2 hours a week.
So, in total, that’s 7 hours of homework piled on top of her 32.5 hours in the classroom. Isn’t that a bit excessive? After all, SHE’S ONLY 5. She deserves time to play with her little brother and simply be a kid. Can’t we let them focus on learning while they’re at school and allow their young minds to rest at home?
You might think I’m just being lazy about homework, and maybe there’s some truth to that. Did I mention I have a 3-year-old too? And I work full-time? So, yes, I’m often too exhausted to guide her through 7 hours of homework each week. Plus, she’s pretty worn out herself.
Have you ever tried to go through 72 flashcards with a child who has the attention span of a goldfish? It’s pure agony—for everyone involved!
I’m not against a reasonable amount of homework; it just feels like too much is a burden on both kids and parents. I want my daughter to love learning and enjoy school, but I’d prefer a better balance that allows time for rest and play in the evenings. Childhood is fleeting, and we should cherish every moment.