How much homework is too much for your child?

Homework helps your child reinforce what they learned in school but at a certain point, too much homework can be detrimental. A general rule of thumb is “The 10-minute rule,” which suggests that your child should have 10 minutes of homework for each grade they are in. Under this National PTA and National Education Association supported guideline, a first-grader would have 10 minutes of homework whereas a fifth-grader would have 50 minutes of homework. 

Research shows that doing additional homework beyond the 10-minute rule didn’t result in better grades in the classroom. A study of middle schoolers showed that kids who did more than 2 hours of homework per night weren’t doing any better in school than ones who were doing 1-2 hours of homework per night, which is more in line with the 10-minute rule.  

Assigning too much homework can lead to various risks such as increased stress, sleep deprivation, and overall burnout in your child. It’s important to be mindful of the amount of work your child does outside of school and avoid pressuring your child to do too much homework.

Instead of focusing on the amount of homework your child has, you should work to make the most of their homework time. 

Here are five ways to make the most of your child’s homework time: 

1. Establish a dedicated homework space. When your child has a dedicated homework space, they will be able to focus without distractions. Keep this area free from distractions like phones, TV, and loud music.

2. Set a time to do homework. Making homework part of your child’s routine will help them get into the habit of working on assignments daily. Work with your child to find out which time works best for them.

3. Make sure they do their own work. You can make suggestions and help out when your child gets stuck but ultimately, your child needs to learn to work independently. 

4. Help them break up their work. Ask your child about their assignments and help them break up bigger assignments into smaller pieces. 

5. Check-in with your child’s teacher. Maintaining good communication with teachers will help you understand your child’s progress and help you identify areas where your child may need more help. 

You may be wondering how do I optimize my child’s learning if I can’t just have them practice more? The most important thing is to optimize the time they have. You should also make sure they clearly understand the materials. Use videos, tools, or supplementary lessons to support what they are working on.

Another way to help maximize your child's homework time is through Math Genie online classes. We cover all the standards and have a tried and true course that has helped hundreds of students. Click the button below to sign up for a free online class. 

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-The Math Genie Team

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