Jennieworld Today

Last week on the radio I heard someone talking about how he and his wife were trying to get their child’s school project finished in time to take to school. The DJ was wishing that the kids didn’t bring homework of this sort home, as it always ends up with the parents doing all the work. I have had plenty of experience of this myself! At least the school seems to be becoming a little more honest, and accepting that we parents do play a role in the completion of these half-term homework assignments. On the letter sent for my youngest’s latest project, the request was made that parents should try to include their child in some aspect of the project’s creation. Why can’t they just send something home that a three/four year old can do more or less independently - some simple writing, or a picture to colour in, for example, rather than giving us as parents jobs to do for which we really don’t have the time?! Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with my kids, and I love doing crafty stuff with them (our preference, as a family, leans to the baking side of it!) but I don’t enjoy these homework assignments as I can only include one child in the task at a time, which is challenge enough, but then if it’s something that my children really can’t do on their own it is very frustrating for them as well. I end up having to tell them off for getting fingers full of glue and paint rather than being patient and waiting for me to do it (and how many patient four years olds do you know?) and we all walk away at the end of it in thoroughly bad moods! Maybe I should start a petition, to ban holiday projects altogether! Thoughts on a postcard please…