Daughter Starting Kindergarden

here's what we do in my house...

I have a 7 yr old and a 3 year old and my husband doesn't get home till very late so it's just me and the kids for the most part. When we get home from work, school, daycare, etc. I set a kitchen time for 30 minutes - the kids can play, watch TV, go in the backyard (as long as they are in earshot of the timer)it's free time for them. Then as soon as the timer goes off they know it's homework time.

I then set the timer for 15 minutes and they know they only have to work for 15 minutes. If the homework isn't done, they get a 5 minute break via the timer (they love the timer) and then another 15 minutes of homework with 5 minute breaks until it's done.

This really breaks up the day for them and they know they can do anything for just 15 minutes at a time. The timer adds a little fun to it.

Good Luck!

thats ok, i also have a 5year who justed started this year but she was in special intervention, there are going to be days where she doesn't want to do anything and days she will finish her homework before you now it, my daughter is the same way with her when she donot get, but i will talk to her and tell her she has to try because she is getting older and there is something nw to learn everyday, sometimes she cries and do not stop so i tell her get away because i get aggravated, so i will then tell her take time out and we will start again, you can also try to buy other learning with different actitives and see if she will do it, my daughter does that after she finishes homework that school gives her, she will settle in hopefully, just give her time and do not get stress out because it can be.

Hi,

I have a 5 year old who is now entering 1st grade. Last school year (he was in kindergarten) it was very difficult because he got bored very often. What I would do is take breaks in between (it takes longer but keeps them focused) but I also explained to him on a daily basis that the faster he finished his homework, the more time he would have to hang out and do the things he likes. Mid-year he was able to focus better, improved his schoolwork overall & completed his homework faster than his 10 yr old sister because he wanted to hang out and do his own thing.

Not sure if these suggestions work but you can give it a try. Each child has their own personality and we have to try and figure out what works best for them.

Good luck.
M.

Hi A.,
I am a Kindergarten teacher myself so let me start by asking you what time of day are you trying to do the work with her? Is she tired, hungry or hasn't really seen you all day? How much work have they given her to do? All these things can factor into why she is giving you a hard time. But it may be a temporary thing and when she gets into school she may see homework in a different light, so to speak, depending on her teacher's approach and what her new friends are doing with theirs. For now if she is tired, try and choose a different time of the day to do it. If she's hungry try giving her a little snack first. If she hasn't seen you all day sit down with her and do some "homework" of your own. Reward her after with a story or a game just the two of you! Hope that helps let me know if I cna help in any other way.

L.

A.,
I am the mother of four, ages 2,4,6, and 8. I totally know what you are going through. My 8 year old, when he was in kindergarden had a teacher who taught me how to get them to do good work. She gave each child in her class a card of good deeds. Each card had a grid of 25 squares on it and every time they did something good they got a sticker and when the whole card was filled they got a small prize from the prize basket (usually a little rubber ball, plastic spider ring, small stuff that is fun). Since that time, I instituted "The cards" as they are known in my house. Whenever a child is having a hard time doing something they are supposed to be doing ( if they won't do homework, or if they won't clean their room or playroom regularly or are fighting with each other too much ) then I re-institute the cards. They love the instant rewards system and it is really important to give tons of praise. You should not take away stickers for bad behavior, but keep re-inforcing good. Try to make whatever activities you do fun, relaxed, and filled with praise. You might try doing the work lying down with her on a couch snuggling, so she associates work with warmth and love. Just a few thoughts. Good luck. Hope I was of some help.
-S. T-

There have been some very good suggestions so far. What I plan on doing before my daughter enters K this year will be to get her very own desk where she can do her homework peacefully in her own space. We will also have a schedule for homework that will remain consistant daily, such as after she gets home she'll have a snack then homework then playtime. I have already started, and will continue to remind her how important homework is. She will also have my undivided attention at this time to reinforce its importance.

Now, as a former Kindergarten teacher, I think that homework for preschoolers is unnecessary and she may be telling you that through her behavior. 2.5 year olds need play to learn, not paper & pencil tasks. They simply aren't ready for that at that age developmentally. She sounds to me like she is overloaded with the homework and she should just get outside, get dirty and enjoy the rest of the summer before homework really isn't a choice.

I hope it all works out for you. And if you have found something that works well I'd love to hear it since I have a feeling I may be having the same battles soon.
A.

How about if you try to reward her with something when she finished her homework? My son starts kindergarten and has been in school since 3 but never received any homework. Lots of luck... hope it gets better.

Hi A.! Don't fret too much...it seems like your little one is just not being challenged enough. My guess is that she picks things up really easily and doesn't have to work at it too much. That's why she'd be so frustrated when she keeps having to practice things she knows! I would try explaining to her that you understand these things are boring for her because she's so good! (make her feel good, might make her cooperate more) But tell her these things have to be done, so encourage her to get the homework finished quickly so she has more time to play! If you keep enforcing this, it will build good habits for later on in her school years. Also, once she starts kindegarten, she will probably like it a lot more because they'll be more for her to do and more friends to think about!
Also, i've seen on a tv show (the nanny 911 ones!) that if you sit with her until she's finished her homework and just help her through it, if she needs the help, it may make things more calm for you. This was done with a boy who had learning disabilities and wasn't getting enough attention because of other brothers and sisters. So it may not make much of a difference for your daughter. And it's probably what you're doing already!
I wish you the best of luck!

A.,

Your daughter is almost 5. This is the "what's in it for me" stage of life. Inlike a 2 or 3 year old, she's not going to do things she's not crazy about just because it makes you happy. So, make it work for you.

1. Give her an M&M for every letter or number she does correctly the first time.

2. Put a star on a chart for every sheet she finishes without tears or arguments. When she gets a certain number of stars, take her to the park for the afternoon on a weekend and get some ice cream. You know, one sheet a day Monday through Friday without having a fit about it, and we get something special on the weekend.

3. Try letting her pick which sheet she does each day. Kids like to have some control over the process.

4. Play school with her. Take turns being the teacher and the student. Give her worksheets to do during her student time, and let her assign work to you, too. extra play time with mommy is always a good way to get something out of them.

5. Schedule a "work time" into your evening routine. Sit down at the table with her and work, too. Write letters, catch up on bill paying, any kind of paperwork will do.

Give these a shot, she may just cooperate if it's something different that the regular everyday power struggle over it.

Jess

Hi A.,
I ma going to give u the same advice that my 5 year old's g-d mother gave me. When your daughter comes home from school start her off with a snack. My son comes home from pre school starving so a snack is the first order of buisness.
tracing letters can be fun if you show her that ur tracing as well.

N.

My son is also going to be starting Kindergarten in September. The school did not give is any work to do over the summer, i wish that they had. My son loves school, but he gets frustrated too. When he gets in that mood, I put the work aside, and we take a break, and go back to it a little while later. Hope this helps.

Jenn

My daughter was the same way all through kindergarten. I used to put a chart up on the refrigerator and stars on that and that helped. I also said no desert till homework was done. I'm sure this is a battle that is going to go on for years and years.

Jenn Smith
http://jennsmith.stayinhomeandlovinit.com

I am so nervous about this with my son as well. I haven't found out what school he will be going to yet...so there is no summer work. I worry about whether he will sit and work with me on HW.

As for your daughter...I love the idea of you playing school and doing work for her...she will probably love that. A with chart stickers toward a reward will be good. How about a special snack when she is done. I find special snacks encourage my son...and they can be "good" food...like he loves cucumbers so I offer him that or an apple. You will work it out. GOOD LUCK!

This is coming from not only a mother of a 2 1/2 year old, but also a 10 year Kindergarten teacher. Don't push too hard. She'll end up refusing to do her work even harder, and she's WAY too young to turn her back on school!
Just try to make it fun for her, and don't push it when she's tried or distracted.
Good luck.