How can I make my 5-year-old niece study??

Question

My 5-year-old niece is never willing to study. Nowdays, she has summer holidays. The holidays are nearly over but she still hasnt completed her homework. She is in KG and she is never willing to do homework (nowadays patterns). How can I make her more willing to learn and do homework? It takes about an hour to first make her mood, then half hour to make her write things correctly (she dosent write correctly although she knows how to bcoz she is not willing to), and then she does homework for 15 minutes and then she needs a break bcoz she gets tired. Pls. help me with this....

Answer 1

I agree with the others. Make it fun. Set a timer and say," we are only "studying" for 10 minutes then we are done. No 5 year old should have to do more than that. Homework for five year olds? That's ridiculous!

Answer 2

Five year olds who have homework shouldn't do it for more than 15 minutes per day.  I wonder about teachers who assign more than that.  Her attention span probably isn't longer than that.  Her writing is probably very normal for 5 year olds.  If you stress her out about doing it, she is going to become a very resentful student.  Please back off.

Answer 3

She is 5, what do you expect?

Play games, make a snack cuddle up on the couch, and read a good book to her.

Two books I would recommend after reading most of the answers are; The Homework Myth, why our kids get too much of a bad thing, and Punished By Rewards, both by Alfie Kohn.

Answer 4

She's 5. Just how much work are you expecting from her? And what kind of school gives kids that young summer homework? Ultimately, it is between her and the school. Set a timer for 10 minutes a day. Let the school deal with whatever she doesn't finish and let them know that they are putting undue pressure on her.

Answer 5

give her stuff once she studys. My mom did that for every report card she will buy me what i want when i was litttle and now I'm an AP student with advanced classes. So start of young and try your hardest to get her to establish good study habits.

hope this helps!

Answer 6

Wow, homework for a 5 year old?  That is NOT developmentally appropriate!  She should not have written homework at that age.   Do some research on DAP (developmentally appropriate practices).  Your niece will probably learn nothing from being forced to do written work.  She would learn more doing hands on activities that she enjoyed.

Answer 7

find out wat she likes the most.... like subject...... so, if she likes math, do a question with chocolate bars....

tell her, if u answer this question, i will give u a treat...

i hope this helps!

bye!

Answer 8

5 year olds don't study, they play.  If you want her to learn, make it fun.

Answer 9

As a teacher, I just have to say that 5 year olds don't study, and they shouldn't have homework.  It is not developmentally appropriate.  My advice is: play educational games, make it fun, and keep it short (5-10 minutes). Hope this helps!

Answer 10

I wish that I could lay my hands on the research I read recently that casts doubt on the benefits/effectiveness of homework--especially in the primary grades!  The result of the studies was that it wasn't all that effective.

Best way to help her learn patterning is to make a game of it...kids this age learn best while "playing".  As others have said, anything longer than 15 minutes a day is too long.  I don't know what kind of homework she has....worksheets?  YUCK!  Let her pattern as she helps setting the table with forks knives and spoons or with laundry....shirt/sock/shirt, etc. Turn the learning into a game; also read to/with her every day...that's the best homework!!  

My standard homework in my K class is to read a book with a family member and then draw or write about your favorite part of the book. I rarely send home worksheets

If homework becomes a chore that she dislikes, you will have problems getting her to like school or do homework and she will have problems in the upper grades.

Is this summer homework that has to be turned in when she goes back to school in Aug/Sept?  What a turn off!!

Answer 11

You're kidding right?  A 5 year old has more than 15 minutes worth of homework to begin with is horrid.  Let a kid be a kid for pete's sake.  Tell her to go play.  Not using  computers or video games.

Answer 12

she is very young,  most kids at 5 years old don't usually have homework or need to study yet cuz they are usually not ready for it.  wait until she is in 1st grade.  that when they start to learn how to study and do homework.  also remember, little kids have very short attention span.  so if u want her to study, make it short than do something else with her.

Answer 13

ask her to study nicely and use easy words to tell her how important studying is. then come up with ways to make studying fun such as games, flash cards, and stories. give her small treat every time she does a good time and she has stuck to the schedule. and make sure you sit side by side with her helping as she studies since she is still young.

Answer 14

i can understand that you want her to learn and be ready for school, but children that young lean best by doing something fun.  a good example is taking her to the zoo, have her help you read the information about the animals, if you buy a drink have her help you with the change, etc.  you will be surprised on how much more they learn without you trying to get her to do worksheets.

Answer 15

Wow, look at all the time you spend on her and all the attention she is getting!

Time for a new tactic.  Stop fussing with this.  Set up clear boundries.  For example, before dinner (or some time, you two may decide this and it's better if she is in on the decision).  State - at this time, she does her homework.  If she doesn't do it, she doesn't do it.  But if she does her homework, then give her some kind of reward.  Perhaps find out from her what that might be.  Some time in the park, swimming, a favorite tv/show or video, dessert before dinner, etc.

I gotta tell you though, 5 seems young for me to expect homework.  But I guess its the school she's in.  I believe young children need to play alot.

Answer 16

my sister used to get a bag of crunchy m&m's and help me study, and everytime i would get something right, she would give me an m&m.. maybe you should try this method-- now i am in honors classes.

Answer 17

make it fun for her.  kids love games and there are even ways of making study time, game time.  Sit down with her and show her you are interested in her work.  check with your local toy store about fun time books and learning paraphernalia for kindergarten age kids.  good luck and in time she will come around.

Answer 18

Hello there,

I home schooled my children for 7 years, and found that structure... having a schedule is important. If you wake in the morning, make bed, get dressed, eat (this means both of you) and then sit down together to work on homework, tell her she may play, watch TV, or what ever else she wants to do... at a specific time, but ONLY if she has finished her work. No yelling needed, no bribing. But... you can give her a reward of her favorite fruit, or both of you going outside to look for pretty flowers, or taking a walk together, let her run in the sprinkler for 10 minutes, read her a book... use any of these as 'rewards' for her doing her homework willingly.

Explain before you begin, that there is a schedule now, and it is 'time' for homework. You have to stick to the schedule, and don't expect her to conform to it right away. You have to give her time to see you are serious about keeping to it. Meaning... write down a daily schedule... morning to night. And Stick To It!!!

When she sees you are serious... not mean ... about it, she will mold to it.

have fun.

Answer 19

she is a little kid,what does she need to learn?Her a b c d's