Haha.. never expected this so young! LO came home with a big piece of paper shaped like a turkey tail feather that we are supposed to decorate as a family for a classroom decoration. We are supposed to return it on Monday decorated. I think it is such a good idea (incorporating art at home at a young age) but "homework" was the last thing I expected to see today! 
Any other DCPs give out similar "homework" to toddlers?
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
Nope... I would be severely ticked off if my daycare sent homework home. Especially for my 1 year old.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
Once every two weeks we are asked to bring something in from home. To me that feels like homework and although they say don't go out buy whatever they are asking for I feel like that is the only way I can participate some time. 
I brought in a teddy bear one time and have not seen it sense. 
persimmon / 1458 posts
We got our turkey feathers today too. I have 3 kids! And I was like darn it this stinks! I am so not creative. I know it's for the kids to decorate however they want but I still feel pressure to return an awesomely decorated turkey feather!
coconut / 8472 posts
Oh yeah I don't do that kind of stuff. Babies will never know the difference. I'm a full time WOHM (now with two kids) I do not have time or energy for daycare homework. Luckily our current daycare hasn't done anything like this, but our last one did a few times.
persimmon / 1445 posts
I like doing stuff like that, but I would still be annoyed that the parents were given homework since obviously 1 year old babies aren't going to take the lead on getting it completed.
pear / 1622 posts
I love arts and crafts. I could see myself trying to do that with LO1 and him losing interest in 5 minutes - at least when he was 14 months old. The only craft we've done at home for daycare was decorate a box for his Valentines last year. I let him put on stickers and I cut out hearts and taped them on.
pear / 1930 posts
@Canoli: Did you get one feather for each kid? There is no creativity in my house at all. I have no idea what we are going to do.
pear / 1930 posts
@caterw: Exactly! She can't even say the word homework.
@autumnleaves: I feel like it is probably going to be more of a bonding experience for OH and me instead of our entire family.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
Once a year, both my kids get "homework" in decorating a little paper gingerman, but that's it!
persimmon / 1458 posts
@Ms. RV: yes 1 feather for each kid! They do this every year so I expected it but I forget until we get it. My youngest is 6 months old! I usually get out some crayons and stickers and trace their hands so it looks like a turkey. Pitiful! My middle son had to decorate and paper pumpkin this year and I did the same, crayons and pumpkin feathers. The struggle is real!
grapefruit / 4321 posts
My preschooler gets legit homework. But she likes it, and just asks me to read her the instructions and then takes it from there. And no one is keeping track of if we turn it in, so if it's a busy week and it doesn't happen, no big deal.
We get asked to send things in to the baby's class (mostly family pictures), and I really don't have a problem with it. I think it would be fun to decorate feathers and have his class display them from all the families.
I don't really understand being up in arms over things like this. The day care is simply trying to get the families involved in something fun for the class room. And it's not like they are asking for a project that takes six hours of your time.
squash / 13764 posts
@Truth Bombs: for me, it's more the idea that at 14 months, very few children really have any desire to sit and decorate a turkey feather--maybe they will scribble for a minute or put a few stickers. But other than that, it would probably be the parents. in which case, what's the point?
But i agree, no harm in sending it home and saying, "here's a fun project for you to do if you want!"
ETA also what kind of HW does your preschooler get? Just curious!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Haha, that would go right into the recycling. Even now, with the kindergarten homework that is supposed to take 10 minutes, it's not easy to make the time.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
No but I do! Mostly just to bring in stuff to aid in topic of the month or whatever unit they're doing, party, etc.
apricot / 317 posts
I think it depends on the daycare and the situation. My 17 month old is asked to bring things sometimes. For example, they might say "bring in something green"...so we send in a green leaf or green piece of paper, or we might wear a green shirt...they are just trying to teach colors. To me, it's a cute way of starting to discuss things like this. Coloring develops fine motor skills, and should be encouraged as soon as a child is ready. We had to decorate a paper pumpkin for Halloween...M took his crayon, stabbed the paper a few times, and I sent it in. It was his work, and it took about 15 seconds...he doesn't really understand it now, but I feel like things like that are more fun than harmful. It also is good for his older brother to see that I respect the work that BOTH of them do by not changing it, and I think he will enjoy watching M make progress. Of course, in our house, with all the therapy "homework" (exercises) the boys have (DS1 has OT, DS2 has OT, PT, ST, FT, a child-life sp, and will likely need VT), this simply feels like a chance/encouragement to have a positive interaction with my kids without strings attached.
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
@Truth Bombs: I agree. My preschooler gets "homework" as well (around one worksheet per week) and loves doing it. And I enjoy helping her with it/seeing what she's working on at school. We also get asked to send in things (most recently it was an "all about me" day and we were supposed to send in pictures/fun stuff about our family and I loved doing it with her).
@hilsy85: M gets "homework" around once a week. This week it was a scissor practice exercise. We aren't required to turn it in, but they get a small prize (like from a treasure chest) for turning it in, so she always wants to do it ASAP.
grapefruit / 4321 posts
@hilsy85: even if it's the parents doing it, it gets you involved in the classroom community. Maybe you talk to another parent about the project, or just enjoy seeing how l everyone else decorated, etc. I just think it's a silly thing to get annoyed by.
My preschooler's homework is one packet of worksheets (3-4) given Monday of each week. It's things like practicing tracing numbers or letters, or 'circle all the things that start with R' or, 'circle all the things you see that are shaped like a trapezoid'. She thinks it's a fun game,and hey, it keeps her occupied while I make dinner. I can't remember a time that it was anything she couldn't 100% do herself, once I read the instructions. So it's just reinforcing things, not teaching new concepts.
eggplant / 11824 posts
My pre-k 4-year old gets weekly homework and Iâm firmly in the camp of âno big dealâ and that I think itâs a good idea. The point of all her homework is to get families actively involved in activities and to reinforce learning taking place at school that week; itâs not rote drills or workbook stuff and it doesnât take much time to do.
I think itâs also a nice activity for a LO to have some ownership on/of â I read the instructions and then LO does the âworkâ (or we do it together, depending on the exercise) and then LO gets to share it with her class, if she wants to. This weeksâ homework was: what is a sphere? Can you count how many spheres you see in your house (and then have the LO write the number down on the paper). What was your favorite sphere and can you draw a picture of it or bring it in to share with the class? Finally, sign your name to the paper so we know who saw what!
It sparks conversation at school between kids, gives them a chance to be in the spotlight and share, takes about 10 minutes of my time and reinforces ideas and practical skills for LO. I donât see any downside.
grapefruit / 4321 posts
@yoursilverlining: I thinks that's really cool they get to share with the class! My LO's school has recently made some changes to their curriculum and the kids are getting to take turns helping to "lead" different learning segments and my daughter LOVES getting to be in front of the class. There are noticeable changes in how engaged she is with learning.
squash / 13764 posts
@Truth Bombs: I mean, I think it's totally fine if your kid is into it. I just know my LO and at 14 months there's no way he would have had any interest in any sort of arts and crafts project--just seems like one of those things that a class would do to put up on the wall for parents to see, not because the kids actually get anything out of them. But since it's daycare and I imagine it's a mixed age class, so there prob are older kids who would enjoy it. Either way, not a big deal--I just think if it were me, I would kind of roll my eyes if my 14 month old brought that home 
As for the worksheets, it's great if your kid enjoys them! As long as it's fun for her--that's the important thing.
eggplant / 11824 posts
@Truth Bombs: It's been really helpful to bring out my shy LO! She loves getting to be in the spotlight and "teach" her friends!
pear / 1961 posts
@mrs. rv: that's weird! why aren't they just decorating it themselves as an activity at daycare?!
grapefruit / 4418 posts
El Oh El. That wouldn't be getting done in my house most likely. Unless I really wanted to do it. Kids are usually in daycare because their parents work. Ain't nobody got time for homework for daycare! Our daycare did lots of little art projects when DD attended as an infant, all of which were done by the staff as it should be.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Doesn't the research show that homework doesn't actually make a difference until middle school anyway?
It's intersesting to me, because it seems that parents are split down the middle in terms of supporting and being against homework.
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