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AIBU?

to think this is too much homework for a three year old

119 replies

Waggamamma · 23/10/2013 21:58

I've never posted in aibu before so getting ready to be told I might be unreasonable.

My ds just turned three and was moved into the preschool room at his private nursery which he attends two afternoons a week while I work.

Since moving up I feel they are setting too much 'homework.' In the last three weeks we've been asked to:

  • Bring in an 'animal' (soft toy) for show and tell and learn 5 facts about that animal.
  • Make a model that represents space and talk about it
  • Carve a pumpkin for the halloween competition (and do a costume for the party). At three years old seriously?
  • Learn two pages a4 of songs for the nativity in early dec.


Aibu in thinking this is a bit much for a preschooler who attends nursery ten hours per week? Or am I being a lazy parent? we do our own crafts/baking at home plus swimming lessons and trips out to see friends etc. It's hard to find the time for the nursery stuff too. We're struggling to fit it all in.

I was really happy with the toddler room the change to preschool seems the expect a lot overnight - learning the alphabet etc. He's moving to the preschool attached to our catchment school in January anyway so we can make use of the funded hours.
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scurryfunge · 23/10/2013 22:00

Wow. Seems daft. Get a dog who can eat the homework.

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Justforlaughs · 23/10/2013 22:01

Wow, just Wow! I don;t think my 14 yo gets that much! Grin
Well, she might but she doesn't do any at home, anyway!

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KirjavaTheCorpse · 23/10/2013 22:01

Jesus. My three year old can talk and use the toilet and I'm grateful.

Are most of the children that are being set this homework (in particular the model-making, talking about space and the A4 song memorizing) closer to 4, than 3? Because it makes a bit more sense then.

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Strumpetron · 23/10/2013 22:01

I don't think 3 year olds should get homework at all. Never mind that much.

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Waggamamma · 23/10/2013 22:03

kirjava the preschool room is 3-5yrs, but I'd say majority are between 3 and 4.

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chattychattyboomba · 23/10/2013 22:03

YANBU

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Bragadocia · 23/10/2013 22:04

My DS is 3.10 and I'm just trying to imagine him doing the presentation things without going off on waffly nonsensical tangents; it would be absurd. I had no idea preschoolers did homework. I help him with the songs and we need to bring in family pictures, but that's it.

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sarahtigh · 23/10/2013 22:05

having a costume for hallowe'en party is not homework you can buy it or ignore it

soft toy is show and tell carving pumpkin is a comp so debatable whether homework

learning songs and making models is definitely homework

I am not in favour of any homework for nursery nor in first couple of years in primary apart from a reading book and a few words in a pot,

learning sounds of letters is part of pre-school

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sonlypuppyfat · 23/10/2013 22:05

I'm telling you now listen to me DON'T DO IT. My DD is 8 and I don't make her do any.

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TeWiSavesTheDay · 23/10/2013 22:05

I'd find a different preschool! Homework at 3?! Madness.

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jellyboatsandpirates · 23/10/2013 22:05

Bloody hell, 3?! No, YANBU!

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Pancakeflipper · 23/10/2013 22:07

Yes. Any set homework for a 3yr old is too much.

If children wish to do something connected to what topics they are doing at nursery or something they have done with their family then super. But not set stuff.

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KirjavaTheCorpse · 23/10/2013 22:08

Grin Brag my toddler would probably start talking about how much he loves cheesestrings, and how this morning the cat farted this morning and it was very funny. A presentation at 3 ffs.

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Amy106 · 23/10/2013 22:08

Homework for a three year old is not reasonable. I would be treating it as suggestions only and just do what dc is really keen on.

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mameulah · 23/10/2013 22:08

YADNBU!!!

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DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 23/10/2013 22:11

YANBU. Why aren't they teaching the kids the songs they want them to learn?! I've never had to do this with my DD. nope I'm just a willing rapt audience when she wants to sing them to me.

As for the rest.... just dont do it. They're not going to give him detention.

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Waggamamma · 23/10/2013 22:11

so glad the consensus is im not being unreasonable Smile . I thought it might be an ofsted thing?

I don't mind doing the halloween costume, we'd do one anyway.

I just feel we pay for private nursery to take care of him while we work and recently it's just been creating more work! The toddler room was so cosy welcoming and easy going.

He's changing preschool in January anyway so not sure whether to raise it or just put up for a few months. I dont want ds to feel left out by not taking a space model, pumpkin etc.

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ReallyTired · 23/10/2013 22:11

It sounds like homework for the parents rather than a child. There is no way I would let a 3 year old carve a pumpkin. Thankfully my daughter has never been to a nursery or that celebrated halloween. Many people have religious objections to halloween.

My daughter in reception doesn't get homework. I think at this age the best thing a parent can do is read library books to your child.

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Viviennemary · 23/10/2013 22:14

I think any amount of homework is too much for a three year old. This sort of nonsense is just more work for the parents. They should be doing the activities at the nursery not expecting you to do them at home. I think I would raise this with them but I know what you mean about not wanting your DC to be left out.

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AryaofhouseSnark · 23/10/2013 22:14

Wow, Dts are 3 and don't have anything like that. Nursery do take home tasks if you want them, but they are just games and fun things to do, I think. We haven't actually done them yet. Blush
It sounds like an awful lot for a 3 yo.

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Wingdingdong · 23/10/2013 22:17

The only 'homework' DD was given at (private) nursery was to bring in any spare kitchen roll tubes, boxes and interesting scraps of wrapping paper. Occasionally there was a charity thing which involved a bit of parent participation.

Funnily enough, the nursery saw it as THEIR job to teach my child five interesting facts about an animal and lend it to my child to bring home to show US. Likewise models and pictures of space.

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RobotLoverFucker · 23/10/2013 22:18

I remember when mine were in pre-school their "homework" would be to bring something in for the letter that week Eg. "p" they might take something pink - that homework is ridiculous - YANBU!!!

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pigletmania · 23/10/2013 22:20

Yes it s too much, my goidness let children be children, he's only a little dot. I would have a talk to your manager f your concerned

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breatheslowly · 23/10/2013 22:20

That is really weird. My DD is 3 (just). We've bought her a Halloween costume because she asked for one. She has been asking for a pumpkin, so we will get one and I am fairly confident that I will have to do the carving with her wandering in and out and generally getting in the way. She'd love to take an animal toy in for show and tell, but learning 5 facts would be a challenge. Not because she wouldn't be able to, but because she would refuse to. Same for the Christmas songs. She learnt all of the words to the songs last year in nursery, but I am fairly confident that she would refuse to learn them with me. The space model is well beyond what you could expect from a 3 yo.

I'd be fairly pissed off with spending money on nursery only for the nursery to dictate how we spend our spare time and cash. DD's nursery doesn't set any HW, the only time we have done something for nursery was the class bear, but we had to request it. Opinion is divided as to whether HW is of any value in primary and secondary schools, so I really doubt that it has any value in nursery.

The school that DD is probably going to (the only one in the village) seems to do dressing up about twice a term. I am really not looking forward to that.

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pombal · 23/10/2013 22:21

Just don't do it, they can't do anything about it.
3 is too young to do homework so what is happening is you are getting homework.

Just smile and mumble polite excuse if they get miffed.

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