Colman Noctor: Should we stop homework, especially for primary school children?

A week free from filling worksheets transformed our home into a stress-free zone 

The removal of homework for a week made a huge difference to the collective wellbeing of my family

Colman Noctor

CHILD PSYCHOTHERAPIST

The principal of my children’s school recently announced that all homework would be cancelled during its wellbeing week. The children were encouraged to use the time to engage in activities that enhanced their physical and mental health. There were no specific guidelines about what this entailed, so it was left up to each family to fill the time as they saw fit. My three children were delighted. I shared some of their excitement as homework tends to require significant parental involvement in our house to ensure that everyone stays on task, minimise distraction levels and coordinate the use of the one rubber between all three.