Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Is Doing Homework Bad for Your Child?


Wed 25 Dec 2019 | 12:10 PM
Yara Sameh

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that homework has a negative effect on the students' psychology and health, which makes their prevention in the educational system an urgent necessity.

The above mentioned hypothesis was also confirmed by studies that affirmed that it does not benefit the learners in anything, and it's just a waste of their time and prevents them from enjoying their childhood.

‘The importance of homework’

Some scholars have stated that homework does nothing to help students, however, educational expert Ehab Kamal Al-Naghi, and self-development consultant told “SEE” that the purpose of homework, in general, is to help reinforce what has been taught in the classroom.

“Sometimes it may be intended for gathering additional information beyond what has been taught in the classroom,” he added.

Ehab Kamal Al-Naghi

 

Accordingly, the importance of homework can be summarized, as follows:

• Improving the students' levels of perseverance.

• Learn how to prioritize what is important.

• Training students on problem-solving skills.

• To teach students how to work independently.

• Training students to develop mastery.

The  above mentioned points can be achieved when all concerned (the teacher, parent, and student) are aware of its importance and values.

 

Is doing homework a waste of time?

There are those who agree on doing homework a waste of time and there are others who oppose it:

Those in favor stated that it improves student achievement and enhances independent learning during school terms and social skills.

They also claimed that it allows parents the opportunity to monitor their children's learning and reflection on academic progress.

Meanwhile, opponents stated that too much homework can be harmful as it may increase stress, reduce free time and sleep, lead to cheating, and increases social inequality.

Homework can be a waste of time if it does not achieve its purpose as mentioned above and is limited only to keeping the students busy.

How does a child overcome their lack of love for education?

A student’s lack of love for education can be overcome by the following steps:

1. Stage and age Characteristics, as each age stage, has characteristics that differ from others.

2. Multiple intelligence of the student.

3. Focusing on educational and practical activities that enhance the learning and understanding of students.

4. Assignments limited by time, and to set a schedule for each subject per week in advance, in which the educator does not exceed.