20 Pros And Cons Of Homework

Homework is one of the dreaded words between students, teachers, and parents, stirring different emotions and reactions from them.

Whether schools should retain homework or scrap it from the educational system has sparked endless arguments over the years.

On one hand, proponents of the homework culture insist that it helps to reinforce learning and discipline within students, others believe that homework interferes with students’ creativity and interrupts their free time.

In this post today, we have decided to analyze both the pros and cons of homework and its effectiveness. So whether you’re a student, parent, or teacher, these insights will help you decide whether assignments are worth it.

Now, let’s get started!

Also Read: Best Apps For Homework Answers

Pros of Homework

1. Homework reinforces disciple and habit in students

This is an essential benefit of assigning homework to students. It helps them to create a routine and instills a sense of responsibility toward completing their assignments before a specified deadline.

Take for example, a student who is given homework in school, and upon returning home, he understands that he has to have a bath, take a short nap, and then jump on the assignment in the evening.

Now you see, the more the student keeps doing it, the stronger his routine becomes and ultimately they get to discipline themselves by avoiding things they once enjoyed doing.

Also Read: Best Alternatives To Homeworkify

Image by Jena Backus via Pexels

2. Parents will know what is being taught in class

When students bring back homework from school, their parents will have an idea of the topics and concepts the teachers cover in class. This is truly important as it provides a means for parents to be involved in their kids’ academic progress and learning.

This involvement helps to strengthen the communication and bond between a child and the parents. Additionally, parents will also identify areas where their children are struggling in school and provide additional help and support, enhancing the child’s learning experience.

Aside from that, parents can easily revolt and complain when they see that the teachers are dealing with topics they are not comfortable with. For example, topics rated 18+.

Overall, homework helps parents to stay more informed and support their child’s educational journey.

Explore: Best Chegg Alternatives

3. Homework helps students to learn time management

Another advantage of homework is that it teaches kids how to manage their time. How is that possible?

Students are usually assigned a specific amount of time to complete their homework. This deadline pushes them to develop a sense of responsibility and find ways to complete their assignments within that timeframe no matter how demanding their chores are at home.

They will learn how to allocate time for different tasks and know which to prioritize above the other. Of course, this requires enough planning and organization which will in turn help them in other aspects of life even as an adult.

This time management skill will prove invaluable when the child starts navigating his career, and his responsibilities later on in life. They will know how to balance their time and stay productive.

Explore: Best Course Hero Alternatives

Image by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexel

4. Homework helps students to learn at their own pace

As you know, in schools, teachers have sets of topics that they have to cover within a specific timeframe. Since students’ learning capacity is not the same, some may grasp lessons faster than others.

For those that assimilate slower, the homework allows them to keep up and learn concepts at their own pace. Aside from the limited time frame, some students may be too nervous to ask questions in class and will usually learn more when attending to assignments.

I noticed this from one of my siblings. He’s naturally a slow learner and so whenever he brings back an assignment from school, I usually take my time to explain the topics.

I’m usually fascinated by the excitement in his voice when he says, “Oh, I get it now. I didn’t understand it in class and there was no time to ask questions.”

Explore: How To See Chegg Answers For Free?

5. Homework helps kids to reduce their screen time

Studies show that kids spend approximately five to seven hours on screen. And you know what plenty of screen time can cause? Your kids will have a problem sleeping at night which may also increase your child’s anxieties and attention problems.

Additionally, lots of screen time might cause your kids to gain too much weight and have neck problems from too much sitting. As much as screen time has its own benefits, it’s important to curtail it.

Homework is a good way to achieve this. Your kids can stay away from cartoons and video games and pay more attention to their academics.

Also Read: Best TextSheet Alternatives

Image by olia danilevich via Pexels

6. Homework reinforces students’ learning

There are some complex topics that require a lot of repetition before students can assimilate the lesson. Additionally, some topics are better learned through practicals.

By completing homework, students can apply what they have learned in class to real-life situations, solidifying their understanding of concepts.

Also, for complex topics that are difficult to understand, students can spend more time learning and understanding them better.

Also Read: Ways To Unblur Chegg Answers Without Homeworkify

7. Homework builds resilience and independence in students

This is another beautiful benefit of homework. Because students are left to solve the assignment themselves, it helps to strengthen their independence and self-reliance.

They will learn to solve problems and think critically on their own. This resilient spirit will be much needed later on in their lives.

Explore: Best Math Apps For College Students

Image by olia danilevich via Pexels

8. Students are better prepared for tests and exams

Regularly giving students assignments helps to reinforce their knowledge and prepares them for future tests and examinations in school. Additionally, homework helps students to be aware of their areas of weakness, work on them, and be prepared for future assessments.

Teachers will also get to know areas where a child is struggling and provide the necessary assistance that will help the students improve.

Explore: Best Math Apps For KinderGarten

9. Homework helps serious students stay ahead

Some A-list students derive joy from learning ahead of their peers. They are super active in class and desire to excel in their academics too.

Solving homework keeps them engaged outside school, making them smarter and also drawing them close to achieving their academic goals.

Image by Yan Krukau via Pexels

10. Teachers can cover their crowded curriculum

If you’re a teacher, you’ll understand how difficult and overwhelming it is to cover lots of topics within a specific timeframe. It wasn’t this way years back because teachers had enough time to teach their students.

Unfortunately, it isn’t like that anymore. Modern teachers are now under a lot of pressure to cover their curriculum as quickly as possible. Because of the limited time, they can scratch the surface of every topic and then mandate the students to read up on the rest on their own.

11. Parents and children can spend more time together

For most families, homework provides an opportunity for parents to spend time with their kids. At least, after a day’s work, they come back and help their kids with their assignments.

You’ll not only help your child with their assignment, but you’ll also get to learn about what happened in their class, and their relationships with their friends in school. That way, you’re not offsetting academic bills but also being actively involved in the well-being of your child.

Image by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

12. Homework provides a chance to practice

Without homework, students will be limited to just theories taught in class. And if teachings are just theoretical, students can’t solve problems in the real world.

They can explain concepts but can’t apply that knowledge when they are faced with real-life problems.

When they are given assignments, they get the chance to apply what they have learned in class. And in doing so, they understand concepts better and even master skills.

Also Read: Best Mind Map Examples For Students

13. Homework prepares students for higher education

Education in higher institutions requires enough research and study skills. If those skills are not honed in the early phases of a child’s education, they will flop greatly when they get to college.

So, they must cultivate these skills early enough to meet the expectations and demands of a university education.

Image by RODNAE Productions via Pexels

Cons of Homework

1. It increases the stress level

Imagine after a hectic day at school and rather than come home to rest, students are faced with completing their homework. It’s even worse when there are multiple assignments to complete while also attending to other chores at home.

In cases like this, students have little or no time to rest which can increase their stress levels, leave them burnt out, and mess with their mental well-being.

Also Read: Best Credible Sources Examples For Students

2. Homework interferes with a child’s playtime

Remember the popular statement, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” As much as academic excellence is important, kids also need to get involved in other spheres of life. They need to socialize with their peers, build on their hobbies, and get involved in other extracurricular activities.

All these build their social skills and ensure they are well-rounded individuals. It also helps in self-discovery and exploration.

So when saddled with lots of homework, kids will hardly have time for these activities which will impair their social development.

Image by Katerina Holmes via Pexels

3. Homework creates an educational imbalance

Some kids do not have a conducive home for learning. School is usually a good escape from what they are facing at home. On the other hand, there are kids with healthy family backgrounds who enjoy the full support and care of their parents.

In cases like that, kids from these disadvantaged backgrounds will hardly perform well in their homework because their parents are either too busy to help them out or are not available to do so.

Since homework attracts scores that will be used in final grading, these kids are already at a disadvantage. Their low scores might even decrease their self-esteem.

Also Read: Best Student Blog Examples

4. Homework can lead to an overload

As mentioned earlier, homework encroaches on a child’s playtime. When there is a lot of it, students become very overwhelmed with the amount of information they are to digest.

They will struggle to process and retain what has been taught in class.

Image by Gustavo Fring via Pexels

5. Homework diminishes creativity

In schools, teachers already have a laid-down rule for students to solve their assignments. Also because of how much time is required to complete these tasks, kids will have little or no time to come up with creative solutions.

They will be solely focused on completing the assignment assigned to them. In cases like this, you’ll notice that students will hardly even apply their knowledge to solving real-life problems because of the limited time.

Check Out: Best Funny Classroom Games

6. Homework discourages diverse learning

The truth is that children learn differently. There are visual learners, auditory learners, kinesthetic learners, and those who learn by reading and writing.

Because schools already have a standard format for all assignments, it does not accommodate the different learning styles of students. This will greatly affect students’ academic development.

Image by Sunvani Hoàng via Pexels

7. Homework can sometimes cause conflict at home

As much as homework helps to strengthen the relationship between parents and children, there are also situations where it can cause conflicts.

Take for example, a father who comes back home after a stressful day at work, and because the wife has been busy taking care of chores at home, she asks him to help their son with his assignment.

This might frustrate the man because he’s thinking, “Didn’t you see I had a stressful day?” The woman on the other hand is equally tired and wants to rest. In situations like that, if the couple lacks communication skills, this could lead to conflicts and tension at home.

And the worst thing a child can see is his parents fighting.

Also Read: Berkeleytime Alternatives, History & Reviews

Conclusion

Just like everything in life, homework has its good and bad sides.

While it helps students build their time management skills, solidify their knowledge, and prepare them for the challenges required for higher education, it can also hamper their social development and creativity.

There’s truly no right or wrong way to go about this but teachers should find a balance. Students mustn’t be bombarded with multiple assignments so they can have time for their extracurricular activities.

Additionally, homework could be personalized so it aligns with the needs and interests of different students. Overall, homework is essential for the educational growth of every child.

Enjoyed the post?

Share on Pinterest