Homework Right After School or a Little Break First?

I let them have a snack while I go through their backpacks and deal with all of the paperwork. After snack I have their homework all set up and ready to go. I have not had good luck with letting them play before homework.

My daughter started 1st grade last week. She gets off the bus around 3:45. I make her sit at the table or island while I am making dinner and do her homework (usually around 5:30-6:00). She has only had homework 2 of the days, but my husband plays with the other 2 younger sisters while I make dinner and do homework. She is at the top of her class so it really does not take her long to get it done, at least right now. Sometimes she showers before dinner and sometimes after. She starts to brush her teeth by 8:00 and we try to be in bed with lights out by 8:30. Enjoy!!!

My son also just started 1st grade so I'm in your boat. Last year in Kindergarten I would let him play or watch a show when he got home but then when it was time to stop and do homework he had a melt down so we switched to homework immediately after he got home.

This year he asked if he could watch tv after school before doing homework. I told him that he could watch one 30 min. show while having a snack and as soon as it's over the tv goes off and we do homework. I also told him that the first time he pitched a fit over turning the tv off for homework would be the end of that and he would then have to do it immediately again.

So far, so good.

I always let my daughter have a choice. Do her homework right away, or wait 30 min to an hour.

She mostly waited about hour.

My kids get 30 minutes to unwind and play after school. No tv, no computer games or video games, though. They eat a snack and play and just unwind. Then they start homework. My son gets about 20-30 minutes of homework a night (3rd grade in gifted/talented program) so it's usually done and over with by 4pm so he's then free to play video games or watch TV for awhile. I am flexible, though... the weather is nice now and sometimes a neighbor wants to play with him right after school so I let him. I'm also more flexible in the middle of winter when it's dark at 4pm -- he can have more playtime if he wants before starting homework. My oldest daughter is in K this year and no homework yet but we'll do the same with her as she gets older and has homework.

The standing rule, though, is No Homework After Dinner. Period. If it's not done by 5:30, it's not done. He can finish it after getting ready for school the next morning or not turn it in. He's learning time management and learning that he can't stay up until 9pm just because he's procrastinating homework. I know too many kids who do that! Now, my son is totally not motivated by grades and doesn't care about unfinished homework, so there are consequences to not getting it done -- no tv/video games/computer games/iPod on the days he comes home without turning in his homework.

We had TONS of homework issues in 1st grade and a few the start of 2nd grade. But now (3rd) grade, he's usually pretty good about coming home, chilling out for 15 minutes and starting his homework. It only takes 20-30 minutes but he will take breaks after 10 minutes or so. Which is fine with me - he knows he has to get it done before dinner.

My sister (her kids are high school now) has always had the No Homework After Dinner rule and it works great. No one is grumpy about staying up late to finish it. And she hasn't had to nag about homework since elementary school (they learned time management regarding it early - which is a Good Thing to teach our kids). And they have lots of Family Time to relax and have fun together after dinner.

Hi there!
That depends on the child, but I think a little break with a nutritious snack and a nice chat about her day would be helpful after those long hours in the classroom ( I don't count on recess or lunch time to be relaxing times for children now days!) Every child works at his/her best doing homework at different hours of the day, some do it well right after getting home and some others before going to bed. In my opinion, it is healthier in all aspects, to let her have something light to eat, play around several minutes and then start homework. What I think is very important is having a nice and consistent routine out of it. Home, break, homework, free play or sport mostly at the same time and place everyday, so she gets used to it and believe me, you won't have struggles in the future when she grows up.

My kids are now in 6th grade. I used ot have them take a quick snack and then straight to homework. As the homework has increased--along with time it takes to complete either because it is harder or because it is more--I let them take a break with a snack for about 20 minutes after school. then they start their homoework and they can take a break after so much time. This gives them time to enjoy outside as the days get shorter and lets they refresh themselves. I have found that doing their easy stuff, taking a break to play, and then starting the more difficult work helps them cope with the amount of work. I also let them choose what homework they want to finish first--sometimes easiest first like spelling, sometimes math. They have tried to procrastinate since I am not home to get them moving but for the most part it works well. You have to choose what works well for you and your child.

I think it depends on the kids and your family, other activites etc.

I don't think it would hurt either way, it just depends if she needs some time to process the day before concentrating or if like you said she needs to just get it done and then know she can do what she wants for the rest of the night.
Unless you eat super early i would Not save homework for after dinner until much much older. but doing it at 4 instead of 3 no biggie.

My daughter is in kindergaten and I allow her to have a snack and watch some tv for 30 minutes or so and then we start on homework. She does well and has not had a melt down. But she is also very excited about being a big girl and doing big girl homework so she always wants to do her homework and then some. So I believe helping her be excited about schools makes our tv time to homework time a lot easier for the both of us. Good Luck

My kids don't get home until about 4:00. We usually eat dinner at 6:00, so there isn't that much of an afternoon time. They have a snack right away, and then have to start homework before TV, playing with neighbor friends, playing Wii, or any other toy or entertainment. My older daughter is very interested in getting done quickly so she can play with friends, but I check it to make sure it isn't a sloppy rush-job. My younger daughter likes to have her snack outside, and sometimes she hangs out in the yard awhile before coming in to do her homework, but she doesn't delay too long because she wants time to watch TV or play with her best friend before dinner. I don't nag, or tell them a specific time they have to start, we're just consistant with the rule of homework first. If they fuss, it's their own free time that is lost. I only let them do their homework after dinner on nights they have an after school activity, so they have a little down time at home after a longer day. Otherwise, after dinner is family time, resting/reading, early to bed. My kids would be too tired and cranky if I let them wait until evening. And they wouldn't have any extra incentive to get it done without any fussing. I know we have neighbors that always want to play immediately after school, but I am firm with the routine that rules that work best for us.

I would maybe give her a snack and an hour of playtime, then she can do the homework before dinner.

if there were a bunch of kids outside playing they get to play for no more than an hour. then once they come in its a small snack/drink and then homework while waiting for dinner.

We come home, I feed my daughter (she is often REAL hungry when she gets home) and I let her unwind.
After about 1 hour... then it is homework time.
After homework, she can play. She knows that.
It is our routine.
She knows that.
That has been the routine since she was in Kindergarten. She is now in the 3rd Grade.

A kid, DOES need to deflate and unwind after coming home. Just like an adult who comes home from a long day at work.
A kid in school, has a LONG day too, and they 'work' hard in school.

I ALWAYS have my girl do homework BEFORE dinner. Because after dinner, it is just too busy and too late and she is too tired by then. And then she'd want to spend time with Daddy after he gets home from work and hang out with him too... and just relax after dinner and then bathe and get ready for bed. So that is not good timing.

Tell her, there is no reason to 'rush' homework... because AFTER homework she can play... and she has the rest of the evening to do that.
Also at that age/grade, a child still needs supervision/assistance with their homework. So, you can help pace her too.

all the best,
Susan

When I pick up my son if the weather is good I let him play in the school yard for 1/2 an hour, we go home have a snack and then start homework. This worked for him last year in 1st grade. They are in school for a long day and in his case had to shake off all the pent up energy, then replenish his energy with a snack. There wasn't that much homework in 1st grade so like the other poster added, see what works for your daughter. As a side bar at first I tried doing HW after dinner , that was a huge mistake. At that point he is home for a few hours, running around, watching some tv, that when I said after dinner it's time for homework, he couldn't settle down and do it, he was "over" the day already.

I've found giving a little play time.....maybe 20 or 30 minutes DOES help her be able to focus on homework and not rush thru it. Gives her a mental and physical outlet. I try to make it a PHYSICAL activity.....bike, scooter, etc. if at all possible.

Which one would work better for your daughter? There is no right answer, it is a preference based on your childs temperament, and what you have to do as a family.

Which does she like better?

M.

When I was growing up, I would get a break first. After school, I would have an exhausting day, so my M. would have us take a refreshing bath, have something to eat (so we could concentrate better) and then do homework and go to bed.

well we are always busy... so we do it right after school THEN they can play or do other things! It also encourages them to get their work done in school!

My boys will be in 3rd last year we did some of our homework in the morning after breakfast...we usually play on the playground for 30-60 mins(unless raining) once home they have 30 mins snack/down time while watching a show on PBS. Then we do a little homework and 30mins of reading...then they play DSi...brainteasers first(40 math problems) for about 30mins...Dad gets home for dinner and I'm off duty ;)

Two years ago (K and 2nd graders), I had them do it right afterschool before any playtime occurred. They would just get frustrated with me and I couldn't blame them. When I used to work, I would come home and want a break, too. Well, school (even for young children) is their "work".

Last year (1st and 3rd graders), I had them do it after dinner. Before dinner they played and did their chores. I thought that would be a better time, so that they weren't all hyped up before getting ready for bed. But, it turned out that didn't work so well for us. Then we would sometimes be late with dinner and then encroach on our getting ready for bed time.

This year (Preschool, 2nd and 4th graders), I have them play until 4pm. Then, it is homework time. Chores come next. They can't have any more free time until homework and chores are done. So far (almost two weeks into the school year), it seems to be working much better for us. I have to pick my kids up from school (no bus available for us), so they get more time afterschool than some of our friends whose kids ride the bus for 45-60 minutes afterschool. For them, the bus ride, is their free time because they are talking and "playing" with the other kids on the bus. So, they do their homework right after they get home.

My advice (the short form of it. lol) is to try out different methods and see what is going to work the best for you and your child. Just be sure you work through the adjustment period before deciding if it works or not for your family.