Do You Think 4 Years Old Is Too Young for Homework?

Some of the 4 year olds in the UK are set homework by their schools. Here in Canada, they're not set homework but they are encouraged to do some reading and learning some writing and numbers with us.

Every day my daughter comes home from school and says she needs to do her "work." We always let her sit at the dining table and trace her numbers, write her name, and do her drawings that she views as "work." I believe it's setting some good examples for later on--and I actually think that she's got the idea of doing work from me because she's seen me working from home from birth.

But there are some people who think we're wrong for doing this. We're not putting any pressure on her to do any school work. The only thing that we do on a daily basis without fail is have story time at the end. Both daughters will sit with me on the biggest one's bed and listen to the book for the day that Monkey has brought home from school. At weekends, they may have a different book from the collection or one of the library books.

Either way, story time has become part of the bedtime routine. Both love it--even the little one at 10 months old sits on the bed all expectantly for the story and listens to me and then her sister tell the story.

For us, doing some homework at 4 years old isn't bad. We don't force her. She wants to do it and her writing and understanding of letters and numbers has come on. We still let her have some TV time and play some games. And for her "work" is also drawing and colouring at times.

To force homework and put a lot on at this age is too young. Especially here in Canada where they're doing full days. England has that, but Scotland doesn't start until 4.5 years at the earliest and many children are 5 by the time they start school.

But I put it to you. Do you think 4 is too young for homework?

Comments

  1. I do not think 4 year old are to young for homework. As long as it simple and not much. I do think homework at that young age will help set up a good path for future homework.

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  2. Must young children love to learn, they are like little sponges, wanting to take things in. I don't see anything wrong with starting them young, of course it's not like an hour or two worth of book work. Even 10 to 15 minutes a day will help them get in a learning routine.

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    Replies
    1. Unfortunately, some of the schools in England are forcing them to do an hour or so each night. It's too young for that amount.

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