Why is homework bad for you

While students growing up in more affluent areas are likely playing sports, participating in other recreational activities after school, or receiving additional tutoring, children in disadvantaged areas are more likely headed to work after school, taking care of siblings while their parents work or dealing with an unstable home life.

Adding homework into the mix is one more thing to deal with — and if the student is struggling, the task of completing homework can be too much to consider at the end of an already long school day. While all students may groan at the mention of homework, it may be more than just a nuisance for poor and disadvantaged children, instead becoming another burden to carry and contend with.

Beyond the logistical issues, homework can negatively impact physical health and stress — and once again this may be a more significant problem among economically disadvantaged youth who typically have a higher stress level than their non-poor peers to begin with. Yet, today, it is not just the disadvantaged who suffer from the stressors that homework inflicts.

More difficult to believe is the growing consensus that children on the other end of the spectrum, children raised in affluence, may also be at risk.

When it comes to health and stress it is clear that excessive homework, for children at both ends of the spectrum, can be damaging.

Which begs the question, how much homework is too much homework? The National Education Association and the National Parent Teacher Association recommend that students spend 10 minutes per grade level per night on homework.

That means that first graders should spend 10 minutes on homework, second graders 20 minutes and so on. Free-time plays a major role in fostering creativity and emotional development — factors as important to long-term success as education itself. Previous Next. View Larger Image. If they are unable to go school each day to acquire the skills they require to be successful in life, then they will be at a disadvantage for their entire lives.

Multiple studies have found that most students are getting too much extra assignments, leading to sleep deprivation, unhealthy levels of stress, as well as related health problems. Can stress the child. Can be a burden. Less important. Consume free time. Share This Story! Without time to socialize and relax, students can become increasingly stressed, impacting life at school and at home. After a full day of learning in class, students can become burnt out if they have too much homework.

When this happens, the child may stop completing homework or rely on a parent to assist with homework. As a result, the benefits of homework are lost and grades can start to slip. Too much homework can also result in less active learning, a type of learning that occurs in context and encourages participation. Active learning promotes the analysis and application of class content in real world settings.

Homework does not always provide these opportunities, leading to boredom and a lack of problem-solving skills. As parents, you can help your child have a stress-free homework experience.

Sticking to a clear and organized homework routine helps children develop better homework habits as they get older. This routine also comes in handy when homework becomes more difficult and time-consuming.