LITTLE ROCK - The start of a new school year typically marks the dreaded return of homework for students and parents. Brittney Schrick, extension family life specialist and associate professor for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said it's key for parents to give children plenty of free time, manage their own expectations and think outside the box regarding homework help.Schrick said that it's crucial for children - especially elementary and middle school-aged students - to have a period of free time after they get out of school, instead of immediately sitting down to focus on homework."Adults often have this perspective of, 'All you've been doing is sitting in a chair all day, why are you tired?'" Schrick said. "But it's exhausting. They have to focus all day and not move around, when what they want to do is move around, so it's really important that when they get home, they are given time to do something else with minimal expectations." In the last 20 years, schools have reduced free play time, including recess, and prioritized academics much earlier for younger students, Schrick said."Historically, kindergarten and first grade were really about learning how to go to school, and they were learning about how to be in a classroom with other kids, the basic building blocks of social interaction and rule-following," she said. "It's gotten to the point where parents are concerned when their kids can't read before they go to kindergarten."Those are kind of unrealistic expectations because kids haven't changed – it's the expectations that are placed on them that have changed," Schrick said.More Homework, More Problems Schrick said the emphasis on academics for younger students has led to teachers assigning them more homework, which often harms more than it helps."I would argue that homework is not developmentally appropriate for kids below high school, but definitely not ...
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