Dear Annie,My five-year-old son has just started kindergarten, and his teacher tells us he has trouble completing all of his work. She said that she knows he is very smart and knows how to do the project but it takes him longer than the other kids to finish assignments. We notice this at home also when he is doing homework. He knows the answer but acts like he doesn’t know or just stares at the paper. What can we do to help him besides encouraging him and could this be something wrong with his thought process?
Page
Dear Page,
The fact that your 5-year-old has “homework” in kindergarten surprises and somewhat disturbs me, so I would start by talking to the teacher about the goals of these assignments. Sometimes teachers give homework because the children enjoy doing projects at home, but I do not think your son should be pressured at this young age to complete his homework. “Encouragement” can sometimes feel like criticism, so I would back off. Instead, see what happens if you announce after dinner that you’re going to do your homework; you can pay bills or read a book or do some kind of quiet paperwork. He will probably volunteer that he wants to do his homework, too. You can also play school; let him be the teacher and give you some homework to do. Then you can reverse roles.
In the meantime, I would keep in touch with the teacher to learn as much as possible about what she is observing in the classroom. I would also talk to her and to the school administrators about why homework is being assigned at this young age. In my opinion, kindergarten should be about digging in the sandbox, doodling with crayons, dancing, playing with blocks, and learning to get along with peers. What you want your son to feel is that school is fun – not a source of anxiety or pressure. That said, if the teacher has observed specific tasks that your son finds challenging and if you believe he may have a learning problem, then by all means consult a specialist.
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