Updated: March 3, 2017
Originally Published: May 26, 2015
Every Friday, my first grader comes home with a blue sheet detailing her homework for the week. It includes a dozen spelling words, daily reading exercises, math workbook pages, and a reminder for 20 minutes of reading and a few minutes of practicing addition and subtraction facts each night. By the next Friday, I sign the same sheet, marking off all completed tasks with a checkmark.
When we stick to a routine, homework takes about half an hour each night, not counting the reading time, which is our cozy bedtime ritual. However, if we fall behind or if I’m solo-parenting while juggling three kids, the work can quickly pile up. By Thursday night, we often find ourselves cramming and feeling anxious. A quick spelling review over slurped cereal on Friday mornings has become our norm.
I understand the pressures teachers face, especially in a school system that’s navigating funding challenges. I want my daughter to learn and even enjoy the Common Core math worksheets we tackle together. Education is a priority in our family; we believe it’s crucial for lifelong engagement, not just a stepping stone to college or future success.
Yet, I can’t help but despise the homework. I can’t stand that children as young as six are burdened with it, especially when it consists mostly of repetitive worksheets and memorization. I dislike that the precious hours between school pickup and bedtime are spent with her sitting still, pencil in hand. Those moments should be child-led, not adult-directed. I adore education and the joy of learning, but homework for young kids? No, thank you.
If I could magically change the system, I’d follow the lead of P.S. 116 in Manhattan and eliminate homework for the lower grades altogether. Here’s how I envision the blue sheet looking instead:
- Explore Outdoors
Go outside and pick petals off the rose bushes, mixing them with mud and pebbles for some messy fun. Get dirt under your nails, race snails across the picnic table, and give them quirky names. - Embrace Boredom
Get bored enough to invent an alien language and teach it to your siblings. Ask to mop the floors just for the thrill of it. Learn to embrace boredom and find creative ways to fill that void. - Enjoy Solitude
Spend time alone, free from adult supervision. Get lost in arranging dollhouse furniture or ride your bike until you’re breathless. Experience the joy of simply being, without adults hovering. - Read for Pleasure
Peruse the back of the cereal box or the front page of the newspaper. Read to your little sister or dive into a book well past bedtime. Forget about logging minutes or pages—just enjoy the story. - Create Something
Make a dirt cake in the backyard, a daisy chain for your hair, or a puppet theater from a cardboard box. The point is to create without worry about grades or evaluations. - Write Freely
Compose a letter to a distant friend, scribble in the steam on the shower wall, or write a poem without worrying about punctuation. Just let the words flow! - Contribute at Home
Fold laundry, pack your own lunch, or spark a dinner table debate. Experience the joy of being involved and feel like you matter. - Rest and Recharge
Snuggle into bed with your favorite stuffed animal. Drift off without a thought of homework or tests. Remember that sleep is where so much of childhood magic happens.
As a rule-follower who respects our school, I submit to the blue sheet week after week. My daughter completes her assignments with my reluctant support. I sign it, knowing that I’m part of a system that seems ineffective at best and possibly harmful at worst.
I long for more childhood and less homework. I wish for deeper learning without the burden of assignments. I want better for our kids. Do you?
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Summary:
This article reflects on the challenges of homework for young children, advocating for more engaging and creative activities instead of traditional assignments. It suggests a shift towards play, exploration, and self-directed learning, emphasizing the importance of childhood experiences over repetitive tasks.