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The dreaded word for students across the country-homework.

Homework has long been a source of debate, with parents, educators, and education specialists debating the advantages of at-home study. There are many pros and cons of homework. We've examined a few significant points to provide you with a summary of the benefits and disadvantages of homework.

Check Out The Pros and Cons of Homework

Pro 1: Homework Helps to Improve Student Achievement

Homework teaches students various beneficial skills that they will carry with them throughout their academic and professional life, from time management and organization to self-motivation and autonomous learning.

Homework helps students of all ages build critical study abilities that help them throughout their academic careers. Learning at home also encourages the development of good research habits while encouraging students to take ownership of their tasks.

If you're finding that homework is becoming an issue at home, check out this article to learn how to tackle them before they get out of hand.

Con 1: Too Much Homework Can Negatively Affect Students

You'll often hear from students that they're stressed out by schoolwork. Stress becomes even more apparent as students get into higher grade levels.

A study conducted on high school student's experiences found that high-achieving students found that too much homework leads to sleep deprivation and other health problems such as:

More than half of students say that homework is their primary source of stress, and we know what stress can do on our bodies.

It's been shown that excessive homework can lead to cheating. With too much homework, students end up copying off one another in an attempt to finish all their assignments.

Pro 2: Homework Helps to Reinforce Classroom Learning

Homework is most effective when it allows students to revise what they learn in class. Did you know that students typically retain only 50% of the information teachers provide in class?

Students need to apply that information to learn it.

Homework also helps students develop key skills that they'll use throughout their lives:

Accountability

Autonomy

Discipline

Time management

Self-direction

Critical thinking

Independent problem-solving

The skills learned in homework can then be applied to other subjects and practical situations in students' daily lives.

Con 2: Takes Away From Students Leisure Time

Children need free time. This free time allows children to relax and explore the world that they are living in. This free time also gives them valuable skills they wouldn't learn in a classroom, such as riding a bike, reading a book, or socializing with friends and family.

Having leisure time teaches kids valuable skills that cannot be acquired when doing their homework at a computer.

Plus, students need to get enough exercise. Getting exercise can improve cognitive function, which might be hindered by sedentary activities such as homework.

Pro 3: Homework Gets Parents Involved with Children's Learning

Homework helps parents track what their children are learning in school.

Also allows parents to see what their children's academic strengths and weaknesses are. Homework can alert parents to any learning difficulties that their children might have, enabling them to provide assistance and modify their child's learning approach as necessary.

Parents who help their children with homework will lead to higher academic performance, better social skills and behaviour, and greater self-confidence in their children.

Con 3: Homework Is Not Always Effective

Numerous researchers have attempted to evaluate the importance of homework and how it enhances academic performance. According to a study, homework in primary schools has a minimal effect since students pursue unrelated assignments instead of solidifying what they have already learned.

Mental health experts agree heavy homework loads have the capacity to do more harm than good for students. But they also say the answer may not be to eliminate homework altogether. So, unfortunately for students, homework is here to stay.
You can learn more about the pro and cons of homework here.
Need Help with Completing Homework Effectively?

There are many pros and cons of homework, so let our tutors at Oxford Learning can help your family create great homework habits to ensure students are successful at homework.

Contact a location near you to get started today!

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The Pros and Cons of Homework - Oxford Learning

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There are many pros and cons of homework for students. Here are just a few examples. Check them out and see the pros and cons.

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We knew this question would spark lively debate among readers. School is a big part of life, not just for kids but for their families and for educators, too. Everyone has an opinion about what's best for students. And they don't always agree.

Do kids need homework? The answer is . . . (drumroll): It depends. Some of our readers insist that the extra work reinforces what they learn in class. And it helps teachers identify where students need more help. Others say homework adds to students' stress and takes time away from exercise or learning something new. Readers also wondered what kind of homework kids should do. And how much kids need. Here's what they said.

COURTESY SENTHILKUMAR MURUGESAN
Pradyun Senthilkumar, 9 Los Angeles, California
Kids need homework. When they learn something new in school, reviewing it at home helps them remember it. At my school, teachers give math and language arts homework. That's because there's a lot we need to learn. In math, we're learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In language arts, we're learning spelling, reading, and writing. And we're also learning how to speak. Our homework gives our teachers valuable information. It tells them how much students are paying attention in class and who needs extra help. Homework is important at every stage of learning.

COURTESY HAIYAN WANG
Olivia Lin, 9 Minnetonka, Minnesota
In my opinion, giving students homework is a bad idea. Kids need time after school for experiences that build a healthy mind and body. Homework is not supposed to stress kids out. It's meant to help them grow. But when homework heaps up, students get stressed. And the quality of homework that a stressed-out mind produces is low. Doing homework poorly is worse than doing no homework. As long as students are working hard in class, it's best not to give them extra work. That's for the sake of their mental and physical health. And their happiness.

COURTESY EMILY GRIZZELL
Isla Dhaliwal-Grizzell, 8 Spokane, Washington
Kids need homework. But the amount should vary by age. Middle and high school students are ready for added responsibility. So they can do much more homework. At my school, elementary students get homework, but not too much. My teacher might assign us spelling words to learn at home, and each week we'll be given a test. But other assignments can require families to work with kids at home, if they need extra help. That's why we do most of our learning in class. Sometimes, elementary students at my school will have an optional homework assignment to do for a special prize.

COURTESY MICHELLE MCKEE
Isaac McKee, 11 Durham, North Carolina
Kids don't need homework. They're learning for six hours a day at school, focusing on subjects from math and science to history and reading. Adding another hour of work for kids to do at home is just having them repeat what they've been doing all day. Plus, homework takes time away from activities like team sports, hobbies, exercise, and playing. These are just as important as schoolwork, because they keep kids active. Kids don't need more time staring at a piece of paper or a computer screen. Homework just covers what they already learned in class. It's pointless.

COURTESY JOLYNN XIAO
Jolynn Xiao, 9 Corpus Christi, Texas
Here's why I think kids should have homework. If you can't solve a math problem, or if you answer a question incorrectly on a homework assignment, your teacher knows exactly what to help you with. Parents also have a chance to help. They can work you through a math problem or clarify a question. I'm not arguing for homework because I want kids to feel a lot of pressure at school. I just think it's a way to let teachers, parents, and even you know where you might need some improvement or extra help. It's that simple. Considering the benefits, why wouldn't we want kids to have homework?

COURTESY NATHANIEL KIM
Nathaniel Kim, 11 South Pasadena, California
Many people believe that homework is essential. They say it can teach kids how to complete tasks on a deadline. I don't deny that homework teaches students positive work habits. But it takes time away from learning material that wasn't covered in class. And there's no guarantee that time spent on homework will be more effective than time spent in the classroom, if students are paying attention and taking notes. Homework should not be done away with completely. But it should be reduced so students have more time for creative activities.

The Next Debate! Should all cars be electric? Email your opinion to tfkeditors@time.com by March 3. Your response might be featured in an upcoming issue.

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We knew this question would spark lively debate among readers. School is a big part of life, not just for kids but for their families and for educators, too. Everyone has an opinion about what's best for students. And they...

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As Educationists and as Parents, we want the best for our Children.

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#6: Should kids have limits on screentime?

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#6: Should kids have limits on screentime?

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PSA: Slimming Screen Time Is a Good Thing Thanks to These Proven Benefits

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Should parents limit screen time? Learn how cutting down kids’ screen time can have measurable benefits, including improved sleep and better grades.

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Physical Activity, Fitness, and Physical Education: Effects on Academic Performance

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Although academic performance stems from a complex interaction between intellect and contextual variables, health is a vital moderating factor in a child’s ability to learn. The idea that healthy children learn better is empirically supported and well accepted (Basch, 2010), and multiple studies have confirmed that health benefits are associated with physical activity, including cardiovascular and muscular fitness, bone health, psychosocial outcomes, and cognitive and brain health (Strong et al., 2005; see Chapter 3). The relationship of physical activity and physical fitness to cognitive and brain health and to academic performance is the subject of this chapter.

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Schools have a lot to cover and only so much time. So should physical education be required? Let’s break it down!

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#7: Should kids have limits on screentime?

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#7: Should kids have limits on screentime?

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No doubt it's many of you. Handing over a device is sometimes simply the easiest option - but it might make you feel a little guilty.

Screen time has been reported to impact kids emotionally, cognitively and even physically, which can feel scary. But should screen time for kids always be seen as a bad thing? And what alternatives are there? We investigate...

Screen time for kids

Most kids today are surrounded by screens wherever they go. Whether it's watching TV at home, using computers at school or picking up smartphones and tablets, there are so many ways for kids to access screens.

Many parents, schools and health professionals are concerned about the amount of time kids spend on screens. That said, we need only reflect on the huge role screens played during the pandemic, delivering education to kids remotely across the British Isles - and the world - to see how screen time can play a positive role in engaging, educating and inspiring kids.

Later in the article, you'll read about some easy alternatives to screen time. But we'd like to highlight one we think is particularly great - a subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine! Every issue is packed with fun, informative articles and awe-inspiring photos to engage even the most reluctant readers, inspiring a lifelong love for reading.

Screen time benefits

- The internet can be a fountain of knowledge for kids to responsibly explore and absorb.

- Using digital devices improves visual intelligence and hand-eye coordination.

- Digital games and activities can build teamwork skills, puzzle-solving and creativity.

- Technology can nurture social connections, especially for kids who struggle to make friends or have communication challenges.

- Kids who have access to a computer at home tend to perform better academically than those who don't.

Screen time negatives

- The blue light emitted from screens can affect sleep patterns.

- Kids tend to spend time inactive and indoors while using screens.

- Screen-based activities increase central nervous system arousal, which can heighten anxiety.

- Some studies have shown younger generations to be more forgetful than older ones, as outsourcing things to remember to digital spaces has become habitual.

- There is a risk of exposure to inappropriate content, misinformation or meeting strangers online.

Should you limit screen time?

Truthfully, the full effects of screen time for kids are still being debated - but many experts, schools and health bodies, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), recommend limiting screen time for kids.

Others take a more balanced view, stating that a certain level of screen time can be beneficial for kids, and that parents' focus is better spent on what kids are engaging with on screens rather than how often. In fact, according to research conducted by Oxford University with over 20,000 parents, screen time limits may have nothing to do with a young child's ability to thrive.

The research proposed that worried parents should follow the 'Goldilocks Theory' - which suggests there is a point between low and high technology use that is 'just right' for kids - and work on creating a healthy balance.

Screen time alternatives

Reading

A much more relaxing way to consume entertainment and storytelling is through literature! Fact books, kids' fiction and of course magazines, like Nat Geo Kids, are a great way to keep kids entertained, but also help them to relax and wind down - especially before bed.

Board games

Board games and puzzles are not only fantastic family fun, but they're also great for kids' brains, too. They stimulate areas of the brain responsible for strategy, creativity, patience and memory!

Crafts

Kids love hands-on projects that give them a creative outlet. Crafting gives them a sense of achievement and freedom to experiment (and provides you with some questionable 'artwork' for your fridge!).

Try out our eco-friendly slime recipe! This easy craft will provide heaps of family fun, and it doesn't hurt the planet.

Outdoor play

Outdoor play is important for physical fitness, and it's been proven to benefit kids' mental wellbeing, too! Getting outdoors needn't be rigorously planned - from detouring through a local green space on the school run, to conducting a bug safari in your garden, every bit of time outdoors helps kids engage with the outside world. ( And it might help your family communicate better, too!)

Collecting

Collecting is a timeless hobby that helps kids to nurture their passions, increase their knowledge and engage their curiosity. It's also great for teaching kids to care for their possessions by keeping them neat, tidy and organised.

Building

Constructive play nurtures kids' creativity as well as developing motor skills and problem-solving skills. Best of all, building toys are incredibly durable and universal in appeal - providing you with years and years of fun!

Baking

Aside from the obvious benefit of having something tasty to tuck into afterwards, baking is a relaxing and educational activity for kids, allowing them to get creative, experiment with flavours, learn about healthy eating, and even learn new words and measures from recipes. If you've never baked before, why not resolve to give it a try as a family?

Podcasts

Okay so slight cheat here, because technically, listening to a podcast does often involve a short amount of screen time while you get the podcast started (unless you listen through a smart speaker) - but once playing, podcasts are an audio-only experience that can be great for kids!

From educational to storytelling, they're a screen-free way to consume entertainment media while increasing learning and language skills. Plus, you can listen practically anywhere, making them a great tablet alternative for car journeys, especially if your kids suffer from travel sickness!

Look out for more fantastic screen-free ways to get your kids playing and learning, in the free National Geographic Kids' newsletter. Sign up now to receive emails full of fun activities, good news stories and more!

How do you manage screen time for kids?
Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

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Screen time for kids: advice & alternatives | Parents | Nat Geo Kids

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Many parents worry about the amount of time their kids spend using screens. But should you limit screen time? And what are the alternatives?