Research suggests: Replace homework with play.

Photo Leah-Anne Thomps

After school let kids play. Young kids shouldn't struggle with homework for academic purposes. Research suggests that kids better off playing than doing homework in early years.

The Sydney Morning Herald ran an interesting article on homework on Monday. The article points out something that teachers have know for a long time, "there is no evidence that homework benefits achievement during the early school years." Dr Richard Walker, of the Faculty of Education at the University of Sydney stated, "Given the research findings, homework during these years, of half an hour or more each day, as excessive. But he says there is evidence supporting the benefits of homework at high school."

The article called, "Life after school: all homework, no play" points out that commonly held practices need examined.