# Homework in the early grades

**Should young children have homework?**

How you treat homework for young children, from opting out to doing it lightly to treating it as a firm habit.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: Opt out or advocate for none; Do it lightly; Non-negotiable habit; Add extra work. Evidence: evidence leans one way. Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational. Best settled: school age.

- Area: School and academics
- Evidence: Evidence leans one way
- Best settled: School age
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/school-and-academics--homework-in-the-early-grades

## Homework in the early grades: what are the options?

1. **Opt out or advocate for none**: The child does not do it, or you ask the school to drop it.
2. **Do it lightly**: The child does it without much pressure.
3. **Non-negotiable habit**: Homework is done every day, no exceptions.
4. **Add extra work**: You give the child more work than the school sets.

## Homework in the early grades: what does the evidence say?

**Evidence leans one way.** Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational.

Almost no relationship with achievement in grades 1-5

Sources:

- [literature review](https://go.boarddocs.com/wy/ncsd1/Board.nsf/files/AHASC2719FE6/$file/Literature%20Review%2012-5-16.pdf)

## What else is worth knowing?

Research finds little academic benefit from homework in the early elementary years, apart from reading. Some families see it as building habits; others would rather protect play and family time. Schools vary in how much they set.

## Questions to ask each other

- How do we feel about homework for young children?
- Would we talk to the teacher if it were too much?
- What matters more, the routine or the content?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=school-and-academics&topic=school-and-academics--homework-in-the-early-grades