PARENTING: How much homework is too much for your kids? Parents address concerns...
Usually it's the kid's job to complain about homework, so this is different...
It's not often that we find parents complaining about homework. But we live in a society where being a conscious parent means that you are as much involved in the homework process as you would be in all other parental admin roles.
Recently, one of the things that many parents have expressed concern over has to do with the amount of homework that kids are bringing home. From as young as Grade 1, children are being subjected to "a full 12 plus hours of non-stop learning at such a young age." (IOL)
"Sakeenah Ponto, whose daughter is in Grade 1, said: “My challenge or issue is they get way too much homework, and as a Muslim, my faith also plays a huge role. Our kids basically have a full 12 plus hours of non-stop learning at such a young age. This is something that causes mental breakdowns. I have heard mothers complaining that their children aren't coping at all.” (IOL)
The mental state of mind for children is concerning at any time, but most especially during these rocky times. It is said that children work best with routine, with a sense of security and support. But could the overwhelming nature of homework actually be a cause of their stress?
Some parents have expressed their concern over the volume of homework with teachers and principals at the respective schools, but to no avail. The bigger truth here is that there is a level of pressure at each stage of the schooling organisation.
Perhaps it is the pressure of having to complete a curriculum, or pressure from the department of education, or a lack of leadership and support from teachers because of the volume of students? It could be a range of things...
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But parents need help as much as children do. There is definitely a gap when it comes to the level of support that is given when it comes to the completion of homework.
"Senior research associate at the University of Johannesburg Mary Metcalfe said: “The issues around homework need to be age-appropriate and carefully planned so that it is not just the teacher sending work home because there was no time to do it at school." (IOL)
Whatever the age of the child, they need to be able to work on homework independently, and the age capability of working on homework clearly varies from older children, where it is part of learning disciplines of prioritisation and planning and completing tasks.
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