Homework for Kindergartener

[SimplyComplex]

My DD started Kindergarten this year and I want to start incorporating a little bit of homework during the week when shes home from school. Nothing major just practice on writing her name, letters and numbers. Shes brought home a few worksheets shes done at school this week and she seems to be getting it. I slacked off this summer and didnt do any kind of practice of school type work with her. She went to Pre-K last year so its not like shes never done school work. Im not one of those over-achiever moms that think their kid has to be ahead of every other kid, just want her to be at the same level, not behind.

So I found some worksheets to practice but the problem is getting her to do it. Since I rarely have her do work at home I know she will want to resist doing it. Are there any tips or tricks that I could use to get her more interested in practice work? ALSO: When is a good time to do homework at this age? Would it be better to do it right after school when shes still in "school mode" or should we wait til after dinner when shes had time to relax and play ? Thanks in advance

 

[ex-pat]

Definitely feed her a good snack first, and give her a chance to change from school clothes to play clothes. A good approach is "Now that you're a big girl, you have homework like the big girls." Also, no more than 10 minutes or one worksheet should be done at this age, unless she wants to. Make it clear she can play "school" with you and use the worksheets also. Reward her with stickers for each completed page done well. keep it as positive and low-key as possible.

 

[Chris7]

Its been our experience that doing the homework right after school (within ten minutes of getting home) works best for our son, who is also in kindergarten. Here's our thoughts:

1) It sets a good example of not procrastinating. Do your work first, and then you can play all you want to

2) Like you mentioned, they are still in the 'school' mode and have not lost focus too much yet

3) Sometimes homework that we receive can take longer than we might expect or we don't have the right supplies. Waiting only puts us in a frenzy and frustrates the boy more than he may be

4) Both of us as parents are in school and if there is some work that he can do on his own, we tend to do something for our schooling at the same time, even if its just organizing papers in a folder. If you don't have any school or work stuff to do with your kiddo, print off a sudoku or crossword puzzle or mak a grocery list. The point is to show that adults too have work to do.

5) We always do our best to verbally praise him for a job well done.

 

[FaithPrevails]

My children's after school routine is as follows:

-Snack
-Outside play time
-Chores/Homework (they switch tasks so they can share the homework desk)
-Outside play time until dinner

Kindergarten homework sent home from school is usually pretty easy stuff and I've always done it with my kids. They seem more interested in doing it that way.

However, if the teacher is not sending home work and you are simply looking to supplement, make it more fun than worksheets. Your DD gets plenty of those at school.

Ways to work on handwriting that are fun are:

-Smear shaving cream and use fingertip to write letters
-Use a paintbrush and water to "paint" letters on the sidewalk or driveway (or you can use apple juice to make a secret message and then bake it to reveal the message)
-Fingerpaints

 

[Cute Tink]

^ this.

You could get some sidewalk chalk to write on your driveway too. Make it seem fun and interesting and your daughter will probably want to join in with you.

Use loads of praise for her participating too, because it draws them in and keeps them interested. Your daughter will probably value doing it for the attention she will get from you more than anything and the learning will just happen.

You should be praised for being involved with your child's education.

 

[EmilyF]

I'd know our kid. Levi just can't handle homework right when he gets home from school. Right after dinner, it's smooth sailing and he gets it done and we've only had tears once (he was up at 5:45 yesterday and was exhausted by homework time). Last year was such a wreck. He's kind of scary smart, but his mind and body are so active that he needed the break by the end of the day.

Starfall's Learn to Read with phonics has some great games and I think they have print outs too. If she doesn't have formal homework, it may be worth going to a teachers store or a Lakeshore Learning type store. You can get some activity books and some educational games.

Let her teach YOU too. Have her make a little lesson about what she learned in school that day.

AND!!! If you can find The Letter People online, sit and watch them together! They are so much fun!