How Much Is Too Much Homework?
Is homework too much for students? Let us consider the story of a student we will call Jack. He is a fifth-grader and spends approximately 13 hours on school days, either doing homework or studying. Should his parents be proud of him? Shift your imagination to Jack sitting for the same hours a day working on a sewing machine. It is terrible. It’s a parent’s right to raise concern whenever schools give too many assignments. However, they don’t often know how to address the matter effectively.
Drowning in Homework?
Jack and I met for the first time when his mom brought him in for therapy sessions concerning his nose-diving school grades. After a short duration with the boy, it was evident that his self-esteem, mood, and happiness were slowly diminishing. I came to learn about his daily routine, which woke him up at six-thirty every morning to arrive in school by eight. His typical school day means he arrives home at four-thirty every afternoon. After getting home, he would grab a snack then have math tuition or piano lessons depending on which day it is. Supper comes at seven o’clock, followed by homework for an average of 2 to 3 hours every night. It adds up to 13 hours every day this boy spends hunched over a desk.
It is not a typical situation! Now let’s substitute learning with sewing. “sewing? For 13 hours no less? How inhumane?” these are some of the questions you may be asking yourself. You are probably aghast by the idea of having a kid work for 13 hours. Then why are you comfortable with them doing extensive homework on top of school work? It may not seem like brutality or mistreatment, but the consequences include robbing his childhood. As a result of his academics, he virtually has no time to engage in things like playing board games, watching movies, video games, or just having fun with friends. Over the weekends, Jack works on various school projects or studying for school tests. He has no time to play outside during school days and also no indoor playdates. In summary, Jack has no time to socialize with other kids away from the classroom set up.
Most of our kids get tons of homework assignments, research, or project writing each night when they get to the 4th or 5th grade in middle school. It is all purely in addition to 8 hours they spend while in school doing other educational stuff. Several studies indicate that homework has very little connection with the achievement of kids in elementary school. In middle school, homework marginally relates to a student’s performance. On the contrary, play is a very critical component in a child’s healthy development. Aspects, including brain development, social skills, and creativity, all depend on how effectively a child play. There are several serious effects if a child doesn’t engage in physical exercise or sport. Similarly, it can lead to visible health problems such as depression, low self-esteem, insomnia, and obesity.
A more durable alternative for achieving academically for children between the age of 3 to 12 is regularly participating in the family meal. It means parents should check in with their kids to show care and involvement, offer support, and provide supervision. Working family meals into a schedule helps especially for kids before they enter adolescence. Also, family meals help with reducing eating disorders when kids enter their adolescent years.
Experts recommend kids have 10 minutes of homework assignments per day or less per grade. That means a fifth-grader like Jack should have 50 or fewer minutes in homework equivalent. Kids need to bond with their peers and engage in active physical exercise to improve the quality of life.
Things parents can do when their child’s homework gets too much.
- Inform their teachers or school management.
- Inform tutors about the findings of research concerning too much homework. Most of them are not aware of their effects.
- Seek allies from other parents and address the issue as a collective to the school together.
Don’t let your kid drown in pain while they are dealing with a considerable amount of homework. It may help their academics, but beware the negatives don’t outweigh the positives.