IELTS Writing Task 2: Homework for young children

Homework has been part of school life for generations, but some people now argue that young children should not be given any. I agree to a large extent. In my opinion, primary pupils should not have regular written homework, although a small amount of reading at home is still valuable.

The first reason is that young children have already spent six or seven hours concentrating in the classroom. When they arrive home, they are tired, and more worksheets rarely teach them much. Many teachers doubt that homework makes much difference to results at this age. What it does produce is stress, and arguments between parents and children who would prefer to be doing something else.

Secondly, time after school is important for other kinds of learning. Playing outside keeps children healthy, games with friends teach them to cooperate, and hobbies such as music or sport build confidence. A child who has to spend every evening completing exercises loses these opportunities. Homework can also be unfair, because some pupils have educated parents and a quiet room, while others have neither.

However, I would not remove all learning from the home. Reading for fifteen minutes a day with a parent has clear benefits for vocabulary and imagination, and it does not feel like a task. Older primary pupils could also be given an occasional project, such as finding out about a local building, which lets them work in their own way and prepares them gently for secondary school.

In conclusion, I believe that traditional daily homework is unnecessary and sometimes harmful for young children. Schools should replace it with reading and the occasional creative project, and leave the rest of the evening for play and family life.