Homework for four year olds?

[PrincessKsMom]

Yes. I'll find the literature if I can this afternoon. Kids who are doing busy work are not out playing, not learning independently, not spending time with parents, taking time when older sibs may need help, etc.

Little kids do not need to be doing busy work. The most important reason is because it causes them to HATE school work early on. (Yes it is fun in the beginning.) But they learn that it is meaningless. If they have that mindset, then how do they look at other work as it comes along.

This is the exact opposite of my situation. She was in school, playing with her friends after school, spent time with my husband and I at night and is an only child. She also LOVES school still, and she's in the 7th grade. She's a great student, has developed beautiful study and work habits and is a very consciencious student. Obviously PreK isn't the only reason for all of this, but I really don't see a detriment to learning early, at least in her case. IMHO, I can't agree with your statement "But they learn that it is meaningless." If that is what they are learning, they are learning it from parent attitudes toward work and homework, certainly not on their own.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Once she hit kindergarten it was WAY more homework though so it sort of prepared her for that.

I agree. My son is in Kindergarten now, and I'm glad we got in the routine of doing homework as soon as he got him from Pre-K. Although then it wasn't called "homework" because it was a Universal Pre-K funded by the city, and they had to follow the rules handed down to them. It was a sheet of "recommended activities" given out every monday, then "voluntarily" given to the teacher on Fridays.
Ironically they (the pre-k) were told they were not to stress the alphabet, learning letters, or any site words by the "powers that be" in the dept of ed, but that same dept of ed but also expect (based on the curriculum) the incoming kindergarten students to already know most of the alphabet and be able to recognize some basic words. Which they did not "allow" to be taught in the pre-k that they funded. Hmmm.

It was cutting and pasting pictures of objects that started with the letter of the week.

Exactly the type of thing my son was doing in pre-k, and is now repeating in the beginning of kindergarten. Although now he is asked to label the pictures to the best of his ability. He now has other work as well - phonics, "math" (counting and shapes). We also have a reading log where we need to list all the books we read - recommended minimum of 2 per night. So again, glad we got in the routine of doing "homework" already.

Honestly, I saw no harm in doing our "recommended activities" in pre-k. It was reinforcing the colors, shapes, and letters (shhh - don't tell the DOE) that he was being exposed to in the classroom and in everyday life. All told, it was about 20 minutes total per week...not exactly a strain on the family. My son looked at it more like doing arts and crafts - cut out the picture and glue it to the paper is kind of fun when you're 4.

 

[bambootinker]

This is the exact opposite of my situation. She was in school, playing with her friends after school, spent time with my husband and I at night and is an only child. She also LOVES school still, and she's in the 7th grade. She's a great student, has developed beautiful study and work habits and is a very consciencious student. Obviously PreK isn't the only reason for all of this, but I really don't see a detriment to learning early, at least in her case. IMHO, I can't agree with your statement "But they learn that it is meaningless." If that is what they are learning, they are learning it from parent attitudes toward work and homework, certainly not on their own.

Your child is the exception, and i suspect it has more to do with personality than perfect parenting. There are those kids that are a bit more anal, and like the worksheets, etc.

There is a time for learning that life has many meaningless tasks. Preschool should be learning about all of the stuff that makes the world magnificent, not to make a perfect "H". "Homework" should be the reading that expands their world and connects them with their parent, exploration, PLAY.

 

[PixiePop]

No, my son was not given homework at 4. He did get it when he started kindergarten.

 

[famofsix]

I give the kids I tutor (3 and 4) occasionally projects for home...


put items that begin with b in the provided box.

wear yellow on yellow day.

But it isn't really homework but they feel important having it since big sister has real homework.

Reading to the child is what I encourage the parents to do for homework.

 

[Mkrop]

DSs did not have homework in preschool, on occasion they did have a project that they asked us to complete at home, but theyw ere very few and far between.

Now in K they have homework every night except weekends. Most nights it isnt too bad, today's were are struggling a little bc my son has fine motor skill issues and this is writing and cutting.

But third grade is when things get crazy here, the amount of homework jumps drastically from 2nd grade to 3rd. First time parents are usually flipping out.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Your child is the exception, and i suspect it has more to do with personality than perfect parenting. There are those kids that are a bit more anal, and like the worksheets, etc.

There is a time for learning that life has many meaningless tasks. Preschool should be learning about all of the stuff that makes the world magnificent, not to make a perfect "H". "Homework" should be the reading that expands their world and connects them with their parent, exploration, PLAY.

Wow, did you come here to make friends? So far you've insulted my parenting, because obviously it's "personality" and not "parenting" and you've called my child anal. I simply stated that it was the circumstances in MY situation. Please don't critique what you don't know. I'm glad to hear that you are also the end all, be all of early education and have deemed Pre-Ks who teach meaningless tasks unnecessary.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I totally agree with bambootinker.

What next, just take the babies off the mother's breast.

My son, and MANY other children that I have known, were nowhere near developmentally ready to either handle, or benefit from, this kind of 'homework'.

 

[SC Minnie]

Personally I think when choosing a PreK you should look for one that suits your childs learning style. Not every child is up for learning the same way. My DD didn't have a problem with 'homework'- again this was about 5 minutes per night and not a big deal. I would have probably worked with her on my own if the preschool didn't do it. But we chose a school that fit her learning style and she thrived. If that had not been the case we would have looked for another place that was less structured.

I don't think there is only one right way to teach that age nor should a parent be criticized for choosing one over the other.

 

[HamTown]

Our 4 yo program gets homework once a week before Christmas and maybe twice a week after Christmas. It is coloring and tracing their letters. Why? Because they are expected to be able to do this when they start Kindergarten. They are not "graded" and it helps our teachers see what the children may need extra help with.

My Kindergartener has had homework almost every night since the beginning of school. To her, it's no big deal because she's done it before. She loves it. (Her brother, not so much)

Our Preschool makes sure to use the same handwriting curriculum that our public school system uses. We use the same folder system for bringing things to and from school. It just helps to get the kids into a routine. Kindergarten brings so many changes for these kids. Having any sort of familiarity will help them and their teacher.

 

[bambootinker]

LOL, you can't make a tactile child have a great time doing worksheets by being a happy little camper...The world needs anal people, I'm sure your daughter will do well, most do. Anal isn't bad. Call it type "A" if you like!

 

[Tinijocaro]

From an educational standpoint, the business of preschoolers is to learn by doing, exploring and interacting with the world in imaginative ways. This is how they learn best. Not by sitting down with worksheets. Yes, some kids will enjoy it but it isn't in the best interest of the child. A great teacher will find a way to help the kids learn the "standards" in age appropriate ways. For example- writing letters in shaving cream or sand. Family reading time as "homework" is appropriate, because some families wouldn't ever think of doing this, so it must be labeled as "homework". Kids need practice listening to stories to aid in vocab development and listening practice.

Not saying that it's not good to work with your kids on letters and reading ans such. It needs to be done in a fun and age appropriate way, not with worksheets.

 

[LaraK]

Sorry to disappear all day...work then Girl Scouts....I just got home.

Thanks for the responses. I do make him do it just to teach the behavior and reinforce responsibilities. My daughter's Kindergarten told us that the only thing they expect when the kids come in is for them to be able to hold a pencil.

I don't know...the Pre-K is in the same place where he went to daycare last year. I think the teacher is on a "I'm a teacher" kick rather than "I work in a daycare". So be it, but I still think it's silly...he's not learning anything academic.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

Interesting. I went to a private school. I was 4 when I started and it was required that we know how to read when we started. We had homework all of the time including learning Bible verses (it was a Christian school). It certainly didn't do me any harm.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I don't know...the Pre-K is in the same place where he went to daycare last year. I think the teacher is on a "I'm a teacher" kick rather than "I work in a daycare". So be it, but I still think it's silly...he's not learning anything academic.

This may be where the differing opinions come from. When my daughter went to Pre-K it was in a grammar school which went from Pre-K through 8th grade. It was not a daycare school/center. Pre-K3 was 3 1/2 day sessions and Pre-K4 was either 5 1/2 days or 5 full days. My daughter did get homework -- i.e., printing her letters, color in worksheets, cut out pictures that began with certain letters, etc. but nothing overwhelming.

 

[chager]

When DS14 was in Pk he had "homework" that consisted of bringing in something for the letter of the week and once a week a worksheet for the letter. He really wasn't required to do it, but was always excited and would complete his "homework" as soon as he got home. I think at some point he had to practice his name, address, and phone number too. It is really hard on the kids that don't know this prior to K now. They feel behind because most know this when they get there now.