How Often Do You Work with Your Young Child on Academics? Just Curious...

academic work does not have to be scheduled nor does it have to look like worksheets. there's a big misconception that life has to prepare littles for their years in academia.
schooling is supposed to ready children for life.
if worksheets are fun, then use 'em. but when 'academics' starts to become worksheets for their own sakes, it's time to rethink it all.
the best way to 'teach' is to make real life, in all its complexity, excitement, frustration and opportunity, the teaching tool. driving past the macdonald's big M (don't eat there!!!), refrigerator magnets, dr suess books and signs at the discovery museum are all way better methods of teaching a tiny his ABCs than worksheets and flashcards. it's not a matter of 'learning moments', it's 'life.'
i would never require a pre-K child to do daily worksheets.
and yes, it works. my kids are both in college and generally make the dean's list most semesters.
khairete
S.

As an educator, my thoughts are that children learn best by being creative and doing rather than rigid instruction. He gets plenty of instruction and worksheets at school...at home let him be a kid. Teach him the application of his academic skills into real life situations...many schools do not have the resources to do that, but you do....EX- Instead of a worksheet reviewing numbers, take him to the microwave and let him use it by telling him which numbers to press and letting him find the numbers...This will teach him a life skill that schools do not generally teach...which is just as if not more important in the end. Just my two cents. :) Enjoy your son and let him enjoy his childhood because the days go by too quickly to waste time on worksheets. :)

My opinion, there is plenty of time in his future for worksheets as homework. I did not add any "schoolwork" time to my daugher's day. Every year, school increased the amount and frequency of worksheet-type homework. Now that she's in 3rd grade she has homework worksheets plus reading every night.

I would do things with your son that are learning opportunities and fun! Many studies have shown that kids learn best by doing. I read an article recently about a preschool that has kids help with food, fold clothes, pick up the room, and do all kinds of everyday chores. The kids love it and they are learning by doing. Another preschool locally is on a farm and the kids feed the animals and do farm chores. Again, learning by doing.

My just-turned-5 grandson LOVES playing school and doing academic work, but only for 10-15 minutes at a time. And his need for physical activity must be met first. We don't set aside time, but allow this play to arise at his leading.

That doesn't mean that scheduling it is harmful. As long as your little guy is enjoying it, go for it. If you have to push him, he could become resistant to "school" work.

My son is in 2nd grade. He gets homework Mon-Thurs and generally buzzes right through that. He also gets 10 spelling words--if he knows them the 1st time we review them, I don't re-ask that week again.
He gets vocab words and same thing. His math has never been a stumbling block--he just 'gets it" so I let him go b/c he's doing really well & not putting a lot of effort into it--now. I know this may change, but for now, it works to let his strengths/weaknesses dictate how much "extra" time above & beyond homework is needed. And I like Suz T's advice about ALL the other stuff out there to teach him about & for him to learn. Teach him to be critical thinker, not merely a memorizing sheep! lol

He's only in Jr.K, that's fine.
15 minutes, if you do work with him, is fine. That is per his age. So that's fine.
But no worries. They have MANY years of school, yet.

If your child is on par, then don't feel pressured.
As you said, any moment can be a learning moment.

i personally think 15 min is ok, if not too much, if you're doing it on top of the worksheets he gets from school.
As example, i kept my kids home for pre-k and we did our learning at home. We covered the kindergarten curriculum that year so by the time kindergarten started they were ahead. Now in 1st grade, they get homework each day which takes about 5-10 min to complete. In addition, we practice writing every day (that's something they want to work on) but we keep it on the fun side, like writing letters to santa, grandma, dad, me etc. They don't count it as 'learning' but more like having fun. I don't do this every day, only because well they're in school all day, have homework every day, and 3 tests a week that we always have to prep for (science, reading, math, religion, social studies), so it all adds up. They have to have fun too.

I think it's a good idea to schedule some academic time each day, or a least a few times a week. It will help to prepare him for the future, when he does have homework that needs to be completed. I would think 10 minutes would be good.

Just one more thing to add... Set aside some time for reading each day.

I never set aside time, nor did worksheets with my son when he was a toddler... but we were ALWAYS doing academics, always learning. He entered kindergarten testing into 3rd grade.

I don't think there is any "should". I think "should" changes with every child and every family.

I work with my 4 yr old and 2.5 yr old daily, since they were 1. Both knew abc's and 1-10 by 2 yrs old. They had one hour of playful instruction daily. Yes daily but sometimes i did skip a month or a few days out of busy schedule. If you kid is already in preK keep his time learning at home the same, he is learning at school too.

my daughter (8) has ALWAYS had the schedule, of relax/play for an hour after getting home, do homework, relax/play then when i get home i go over her homework and check her answer's and just erase and have her redo them, if she doesn't "get it" then we'll work it together....i don't force her to learn more...i'll encourage her to read a book above her level on her free time (awesome reader) and for fun and extra practice, since i'm in college, she'll read my material to me-makes it fun

i wouldn't do it every day...he needs a break, if he's just in prek the whole school thing is new, and prek is more for getting kids ready for school...maybe get him an educational gaming station that he can do on his own time....relax a bit mom let him be a kid