The most common question or conversation between parents these days seems to be about the amount of school work and home work our children receive every day. It starts in Grade 1 and usually comes as quite a shock to us parents. We ask each other whether our children are coping with the load of school work and homework they get. The conversation then generally moves on to if WE are coping with the homework and afternoon routine.
I was lucky enough to be warned before my son started with Grade 1 that the homework and classroom work would be a lot, a lot different from Grade R (Grade 0) anyway. But nothing can really prepare you for that first term. Not only are our children getting a lot of work in the classroom, but they also have to get into the routine of daily homework to help them understand their work better. Sport and cultural extra murals also come into the equation and make for an afternoon juggle of events. The older child in Primary school might be able to cope with all these, but for a 6 year old in Grade 1, it can be quite daunting….and as for the parent….if you have to cope with two or three children, well good luck to you! That’s how it feels anyway.
Each school’s standard is different of course, but there is a basic form of tuition that every Grade 1 child is supposed to get through. In both private and public schools, teachers have a great load to actually teach the children and make sure they fully grasp basic concepts of language and mathematics for later learning. The homework is there to help enforce these basic concepts.
Luckily children adapt quickly, and of course this applies to work load as well. We as parents are a little different and we tend to worry about how to help our children through this new phase.
Here are my 5 basic steps for the homework drill:
- The key to helping your child is to first have a very positive attitude towards school and homework. It won’t help your child if they continually overhear negative conversations their parents have about the amount of homework they get every day. Check your child’s homework book every day. Your child will learn from your positive responsibility.
- Try to have a routine in place for your afternoon and homework time. This will help your child set a pace that they are able to cope with. Maybe a snack or drink before sitting for homework would work better. Children also learn to organize their time better this way and will probably finish a lot quicker. Homework in Grade 1 should not take hours to finish.
- Depending on what time you get home from work, or what time you get home with your children, start to help them as soon as you can. If your child is in an aftercare facility, the staff do their best to help with a certain amount of homework. They unfortunately set time limits and understandably have a cut off time for allowing for homework. The cut off time is well within the workload limits.
- Sit with your child and give full attention to their work-especially in those first few weeks. They will feel secure and will be able to ask questions with mom or dad right there to help. Do not criticize their efforts or use negative comments.
- Praise your children for their efforts. Encourage intrinsic motivation. They shouldn’t have to do well for anyone else except themselves. The younger they learn this, the better. Always compliment and use positive affirmation. Try not to compare your children’s abilities unless it is in a positive manner. Remember to also reward them for their efforts.
I would further suggest to set time limits for TV (video /computer games) or even cut it out completely during the week. Children still need to play at this age. They have very long times of sitting at desks during the morning. The more outside play, the better they will get at doing their work faster. Making a certain time for TV can also be seen as a reward for hard work. We all need to relax at some point, after hard work that is.
After school activities such as sport and cultural activities should also be kept to a minimum. Children don’t need to do all the sports and cultural activities available. Although sport in Foundation Phase is not very competitive and more on a friendly basis, they can still burn out very quickly if they are doing too much. Maybe allow for one or two sports (or cultural activities) per term until they cope well enough with that as well as the homework routine. There will be plenty of time later on to focus on that one sport or cultural activity that they excel at. We must encourage them to do their best, of course, but basic education should exceed the need for competitive sports at this age. Let them have fun and enjoy their activities!
Children still need a parents input. If you have a nanny, aunt or someone else helping with afternoon homework, make sure you check that it has been done. This is the start of your child’s education. Look at your child’s work, take interest in what they are learning.
If you feel your child is not coping, make an appointment with the teacher and ask for help. Teachers will quickly be able to tell you how your child copes in the classroom. We as parents often tend to put more pressure on our children than is necessary.
Remember, lots of encouragement, play time (preferably outside), positive affirmation and hugs go a long way!
Happy parenting!
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