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5 Reasons Kids Shouldn't Have Homework

  • Dec 4, 2017
  • 3 min read

In the United States, studies always seem to come first, but other countries rank higher on the Program for International Student Assessment ranking, an assessment that is focused on testing 15 year old students on their capabilities for reading, mathematics and science. American kids are always told to do their homework before they can go outside. That focus is reversed in European countries such as Finland, the country that has been ranked in the top 10 happiest countries in the world.

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I don't remember learning English or Math well enough when I went to primary. We had sheets and readings to work on when we got home after school was over. What I do remember was working on Science projects as well as some presentations on History. I always hated working on Math because I still didn't have a grasp on it when the teacher would move on to the next unit. Sure, they had tutors available but, why should we need to work after school on more work when we had plenty of time to learn it?

Here Are 5 Reasons Why Kids Shouldn't Have Homework:

1. More Playtime Rewards Better Work

Kids develop more out of cognitive and emotional activities.

2. Expectations Don't Make Sense

You should be expected to complete your work within the hours.

Kids tend to a school related routine of 7 hours a day and then are expected to take their school work with them to work on for 60 to 90 minutes and that's assuming they work the whole time at the average speed. That's 8 hours of work which would be a 9 to 5 job. If you live where I live, it gets dark by 6 p.m. and kids don't go out and play when it gets dark. Edward R. Laskowski, M.D. answers the question of "how much exercise do kids need a day?" on Mayo Clinic with "at least an hour a day."

3. Exercise Is Necessary

Focusing the attention on physical effort.

You hear about it on the news, you read it on some articles and people tell you about it in real life, exercise. Hearing about obesity and all of the health problems that come with it in the United States is hard. Hearing anyone say that they don't have time to exercise is even harder. Obesity comes from diet and lack of exercise. According to State of Obesity, only 21 states in America are required by law to provide recess or physical activity. That's less than half the country!

4. Less Homework Is Working Abroad

Finland, Germany, Japan, and Denmark have little to no homework.

Other countries around the world have been giving out little to no homework to their students and it's been working. In 2015, Finland scored 13th place in Math, 4th in Reading, and 5th in Science while the United States placed 41st, 23rd and 24th on the PISA 2015.

5. Homework Is Stressful

Kids in Elementary can experience physical stress.

Fitness Instructor, Author, and Science Teacher Emily Cordz wrote a blog post discussing why homework is stressful. She says, "For elementary schools, the shortened recess time puts more pressure on children without allowing them the time to work out their energy and digest what they have learned." Symptoms from stress can include headaches, upset stomach, aches, and/or insomnia.

The idea of decreasing homework hasn't been tested to its capability in the U.S. Of course, some countries are more successful in education than others. If you want to take action, contact your local Department of Education and let them know what you think will help kids' development.

What other reasons do you have that weren't on this list?

 
 
 

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