Question for those that have SAs

[sahm1225]

Do you do homework with them? I only have 2 SAs and they are kids who have grown up with the daycare. They are in kindergarten and 1st grade. I provide them with snacks and they play until parents pick up. Their homework is the type that requires one on one (reading to them, helping them with math or spelling).

My SA that is in 1st grade is not doing well in school. The dcm Went in for a teacher meeting and basically was told the dcb is failing and refusing to do his school work. They suggested her get a tutor or put him somewhere that they will force him to do his homework right away (parents used excuse that he's in daycare and can't do his homework until late). My DD is also in 1st grade and I do her homework, my DS homework and my other DD homework after daycare closes so that excuse doesn't fly in my book!

The Dcm didn't ask me to do his homework with him and I know she won't ask me to. Today there was no school and i had a few minutes to work with him and it made me sad because I realized that he really is behind in his work.

I guess this is more of a vent than anything else. They've let him do homework only when he wants to and now it's affecting Dcb. Hes not being defiant at school When he doesn't do his work, he just doesn't know how to focus.

[childcaremom]

Do you do homework with them? I only have 2 SAs and they are kids who have grown up with the daycare. They are in kindergarten and 1st grade. I provide them with snacks and they play until parents pick up. Their homework is the type that requires one on one (reading to them, helping them with math or spelling).

My SA that is in 1st grade is not doing well in school. The dcm Went in for a teacher meeting and basically was told the dcb is failing and refusing to do his school work. They suggested her get a tutor or put him somewhere that they will force him to do his homework right away (parents used excuse that he's in daycare and can't do his homework until late). My DD is also in 1st grade and I do her homework, my DS homework and my other DD homework after daycare closes so that excuse doesn't fly in my book!

The Dcm didn't ask me to do his homework with him and I know she won't ask me to. Today there was no school and i had a few minutes to work with him and it made me sad because I realized that he really is behind in his work.

I guess this is more of a vent than anything else. They've let him do homework only when he wants to and now it's affecting Dcb. Hes not being defiant at school When he doesn't do his work, he just doesn't know how to focus.

I wouldn't do it. In my opinion, that falls into the parent category of responsiblities. Let them figure it out. They will.

[Indoorvoice]

I don't have SA's, but I wouldn't do homework with them. I'm usually so busy at that time getting ready for pick ups that I couldn't give one on one time.

[Second Home]

I did in the past and did not really mind .
The 2 siblings were told by their dad to come in and be sure to have all their hw done before he picked up 45 min later . But then the DCD dad was upset with me when I did not have the chance to help on a certain day because I was too busy with the other kids.

That was the end to my homework help.

[daycarediva]

I provide the time, but I tell parents I am NOT a tutor and cannot give 1:1. Homework is for HOME. My own SA and my DCB do their required 20 minutes of reading after snack because I have a TON of leveled reading books.

If they brought it up, I would just say "I help my own kids with homework ______. It works very well for us. Maybe that, and some work on reading out loud to you at bedtime would benefit."

[Play Care]

The only thing I offer is a quiet spot to do homework, I can not offer more help because I have other, younger children in care who need close, eyes on supervision.

I make this clear to parents.

I don't take SA kids as a rule, I only have them if they have younger FT sibs in day care. I know you said the parents would not ask, but it may be time to push them to a SA day care that can offer homework/tutoring.

[Blackcat31]

Homework..... Home being the key word.

Like others, I offered the space and that was it.

[MsLisa]

As soon as everyone comes in from the bus, hangs up coats/bags/takes off shoes/gets drink/use bathroom, they all sit at the big table together with my assistant and start their homework. I can not FORCE a child to do their homework, I can only suggest or influence them to. Kindergarten I do not bother, as its usually none or something silly like color a page or cut out something. I only push my 1st graders and up. Unless its reading, which i leave for home. Anyone who chooses NOT to do homework for whatever reason is asked to play quietly until homework hour is up (3:30 - 4:30). If their homework is not done in this time frame then its up to them to either finish it and miss activities or finish at home.

I've been told i'm one of the few aftercare programs who help and influence homework completion. I also give out dumdum lipops for test grades 90+.

[Unregistered]

My kids are older now (kindergarten and 2nd grade), and one of my regular kids is now here after school, and she is in 1st grade. After snack, they have to do their homework. Her parents didn't ask...I just said that's how we do it. I need to have my own kids' homework finished so we can focus on dinner and family time after daycare closes. The kids don't fuss about it, and they usually only need a bit of instruction. They have to do 20 minutes of reading a night, but that is something they do before bed. It never takes long - maybe 10 minutes - and that frees up our evening! Plus, I know the parents really appreciate it.

[sahm1225]

Thanks everyone. I just feel bad for the dcb but this is something the parents caused by not teaching dcb that homework time is daily and important. They would blow off the homework in kindergarten and not turn it in. Poor dcb is now struggling because it was never a priority before.

I'm not going to offer to help and if they ask I will recommend the school
After school program which offers a space for kids to do their homework (they also don't offer one on one during homework). I'm Able to manage my daycare, 3 kids with homework & dinner, it ****s but I do it. They just have one child to do homework with.

[spud912]

This was my first year with a school aged child. I told dcm that I would do the homework with dcb so she can enjoy her nights with him . . . I'm doing homework with my dd anyway so no big deal, right?

Well as his homework got more intense, I realized that dcm was barely checking his homework at home. She had no idea what he was working on and how he was struggling. There was additional homework that only dcm had at home (flashcards). She wasn't doing those at home either. Not even reading to dcb. I found out that she wasn't even using that evening time to spend time with him at all and would just leave the kiddos with grandma and they spent the evenings watching tv.

At that point I stopped helping him. It was a lot of work and stress; something I'm not willing to do if the parents are not involved. I also realized that the point of homework was so that the PARENTS can know what is going on at school and they can address issues as they arise. Dcb is given space and time to work on homework independently. I don't help him and I don't check it. Anything that is not completed is up to him to do at home. I had to let go of the fact that he may not get his homework done at all or it may be completely incorrect . . . it is not MY responsibility.

[Thriftylady]

I have one in Kindy and one in first grade right now. I do homework with the school aged kids. Now if I had a day where I just couldn't, I would expect DCM to understand. But I have them until 8 PM on the days mom works as she works 12 hour days, so if I didn't do it with them they wouldn't get hardly any time with mom on the days she works. She does it with them on the days they are not with me. If she was a PITA about it I would likely tell her no more.

[sharlan]

I have always "assisted" with homework until this year.

I have my 3 grandkids so I sit with them and get them moving. I "assist" them and motivate them, but will not force or fight with them. I will not help with their Mandarin homework because I don't understand it. That is up to the mommies.

I have a K this year and I don't even look in her backpack. She's picked up by 5:30 every night so parents have more than enough time to do it with her.