Why Is Homework Good for Early Childhood Development?
The benefit of homework has always been a highly debated subject. When considered in the right context, however, the advantages become apparent. Homework is not intended to teach, but to review and reinforce what has already been introduced in the classroom. When assigned correctly, young children benefit in other ways as well.
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Academic Benefits
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Young children will develop good study habits and improve reading and math skills by completing homework assignments that are brief and skill-specific, such as tracing letters of the alphabet or writing numbers 0-5. Assignments that require repeated writing will be too monotonous and cause children to begin having a negative mindset about homework.
Character Development
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Children can be taught responsibility through homework if teachers check it and give feedback. If assignments are thrown away or never addressed, even young students may think that they do not have to turn in quality work. Teachers can instill the importance of homework by praising students, putting motivational stickers on papers, and writing short notes on the completed assignments. When kids know that their homework will be checked, this helps them become accountable.
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Family Involvement
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Young children benefit from homework when their family becomes involved on a daily basis. Most students of this age will need help from an adult or older sibling at home. A teacher will be able to ascertain which students are getting help when they check assignments regularly. This gives the teacher a place to begin communication with parents.
Attitude
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Young children tend to have a positive attitude about schoolwork. They often will ask for assignments because they equate this with being on par with older siblings whom they observe working at home. They also tend to give more value to the work, wanting to complete it correctly and promptly. Hopefully, this attitude will continue as they progress in school.
Considerations
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Homework can be a great learning tool for reviewing concepts. To be sure students receive the optimal benefits, teachers should remember to keep assignments short, address only one or two skills, and give feedback in a timely manner.
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