From the moment children begin regular schooling, parents often worry about their academic careers. One major way parents gauge a child’s academic resilience is through the homework they complete. However, homework has become increasingly redundant and burdensome for many students, taking up significant time after school—time that could otherwise be spent with family, pursuing hobbies, or simply relaxing to recharge for the next day. Though that is the case, homework can still be beneficial for students if it is student-led and encourages collaboration with their family members. Overall, the quality of the homework and how long it takes to complete the homework greatly affect the academic ability of students in the classroom.
Too Much Time Spent on Homework?
On average, high school students in the United States spend 2.7 hours weekly on homework. Moreover, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that after around four hours of homework per week, the additional time invested in homework has a negligible impact on performance.1 This workload can vary depending on the community and school district, but it is a significant commitment for most teens. The overtime commitment to homework can be detrimental to students’ overall well-being if they have to drop extracurricular activities, miss valuable time spent with family and friends, and forgo engaging in hobbies. The growth of an all-rounded child is therefore compromised when completing homework takes up much of their time.
Research suggests that there are discrepancies in the number of hours children spend doing homework by race and ethnicity. For example, across Hispanic, White, and Black communities of various socioeconomic backgrounds, the number of hours spent doing homework does not differ much. According to a study in Sage Journal, Black and Hispanic students spent 20 and 6 fewer minutes respectively on homework per day compared with White students (although the difference between Hispanic and White students was only statistically significant at the 0.1 level). In contrast, Asian students spent 78 more minutes per day on homework than White students. It is important to remember that there could be a number of factors that influence these research outcomes. The research also suggests that the time spent on homework has increased over the last decades.2
Research from Denise Pope, a senior lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Education, challenges the traditional notion that homework is inherently beneficial.3 According to her team’s findings, students who spend over 3 hours per night on homework experience increased academic stress, physical health issues (e.g., exhaustion, sleep deprivation, stomach problems), and reduced engagement in school. While intensive homework may provide a competitive edge over other students, it often impedes the student’s learning, class participation, and overall well-being.
Good and Bad Homework
Students often complain that homework seems “pointless or mindless.” According to Pope, this kind of busy work only discourages learning and only promotes “getting points” due to just completing the homework.4 Therefore, assigning large amounts of homework should not be standard practice, rather it should be purposeful in a way that it cultivates learning more about the subject. Further developing skills started in the classroom – such as practicing a new concept in math or writing about a topic from a different angle after researching a new perspective or even interviewing a family or community member about their views on a social issue – may also be beneficial.
A Johns Hopkins study has shown that “good” assignments that include interacting with a family member have more kids finishing their homework.5 Involving a family member makes the homework more interesting for more children because they enjoy the social aspect of it. Parents also benefit from homework like this as they become aware of what their child is learning in school.
Teachers should tailor their homework assignments to be more student-led, include practice of a new concept, engage in more critical thinking, and/or encourage collaboration. If you, as a parent, would like to see these changes in your child’s learning, find out how the homework aligns with learning objectives and share your concerns with his/herteacher. Also, reach out to your school’s PTA (parent-teacher association) and advocate for balanced homework policies that prioritize quality over quantity.
Benefits of Homework
If the time spent doing homework decreases and the quality increases, then homework can be very beneficial for students all around. It cannot be denied that it helps students progress academically on their standardized tests. Research by the High School Journal shows that students who were assigned any homework outperformed 69% of students who did not complete homework on both standardized tests and grades.6 Whatever is taught in class, students revise the new material at home, helping them retain the information better. The completed homework also helps demonstrate if students are understanding the concepts.
Moreover, the act of completing homework develops life skills in students such as uninterrupted focus, goal-setting, and time management, as proven in a study by City University of New York.7 This is because students who are taught strategies to organize and prioritize homework activities, collect study materials, take notes, and follow directions led to increased grades and positive reflection about them in their report cards. Students also develop autonomy, independent problem-solving, critical thinking, and self-direction if they can complete the homework by themselves regularly.8
All in all, these benefits will only be displayed if the homework is of good quality and students are taught these life skills in school and at home when it comes to completing it.
Too Much Homework Interrupts Sleep
One key takeaway from sleep research is that teens do not get much sleep due to completing too much homework. According to the Better Sleep Council, more than half (57%) of all teenagers surveyed do not feel they get enough sleep. The survey reports that:
- 79% get 7 hours of sleep or less on a typical school night
- more than two-thirds (67%) say they only get 5 to 7 hours of sleep on a school night
- only about one in five teens is getting 8 hours of sleep or more
They concluded that the more stressed teens feel – 75% are stressed about grades and test scores, and 74% for homework – the less likely they are to get enough sleep or go to bed later as they have trouble falling asleep. They spend extra time on homework, yet the lack of sleep does not result in getting better grades.9
Here are some suggested tips on how to get your children and teens to sleep more and better from the Better Sleep Council:
- Establish a consistent bedtime routine that encourages at least 8 hours of sleep. It will be hard at first but keep it up as it will help in the long run.
- Keep it quiet in the bedroom as it helps them sleep easier when there is no extra noise; earplugs could help.
- Create a relaxing environment for sleep where the bedroom is clutter-free, dark, and cool (between 65-67 degrees Fahrenheit or 18-20 degrees Celsius).
- Cut out screen time at least an hour before bed as the blue light emitted from screens disturbs the circadian rhythm in our bodies – it will think it is still daytime and keep the brain awake.
- Check their mattress to see if it is comfortable for their back and neck. Mattress suitability highly encourages good sleep.
How to Encourage Good Homework Habits
Here are some tips on how you can make completing homework easier for your children and teens:
- Designate a homework space. Set up a quiet, well-lit, and clutter-free area specifically for studying. Reduce noise from TVs or siblings during homework hours.*
- Establish a routine. Encourage your child to complete homework at the same time every day to build consistency.
- Set clear goals. Help your child divide larger assignments into smaller, achievable tasks.
- Use a timer. Work in focused intervals (e.g., 25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break) to maintain concentration such as the Pomodoro technique.
- Foster independence by being a guide, not a solver. Offer support by answering questions, but let your child solve problems on their own to build confidence and critical thinking skills. For example, for a comprehensive reading exercise, ask them to read the questions first, before reading the passage.
- Praise effort, not just results. Focus on the process rather than perfection to reinforce a growth mindset.
- Limit screen time. Keep phones and other electronics away during homework unless needed for assignments.
- Prioritize tasks. Encourage your child to tackle the most challenging assignments first when their energy is highest.
- Plan ahead. Use a planner or calendar to track deadlines and upcoming assignments.
- Incorporate breaks. Short breaks between tasks help reduce fatigue and improve focus. Encourage activities like stretching, a quick walk, or a healthy snack during breaks.
- Connect it to real life. Show how assignments relate to real-world applications to increase engagement and curiosity.
- Encourage reflection. Discuss what your child learned or found challenging after completing homework.
- Promote a healthy work-life balance by scheduling downtime. Ensure your child has time for hobbies, family, and relaxation after completing homework.
- Be a role model. Demonstrate a positive attitude toward learning and share your own strategies for staying organized and focused.
- Show interest in your child’s assignments. This will reinforce the value of education.
*If the homework environment is not conducive to completing it peacefully, then make arrangements from time to time to do it at a library that is very quiet or a coffee shop that has ambient noise. Moreover, encourage life skills through practice such as:
Parents play a role in determining if there are benefits or disadvantages to homework. By setting up an environment that encourages good quality homework that is meaningful and being an advocate in their schools, our children can thrive academically. Promoting a work-life balance early in their lives will go a long way when they enter adulthood, insha Allah, God willing.
End Notes
1 Are Students in the United States Getting Too Much Homework? | PlaygroundEquipment.com
3 Stanford research shows pitfalls of homework
4 Ibid
5 Does homework still have value? A Johns Hopkins education expert weighs in
7 Types of Homework and Their Effect on Student Achievement
8 Homework | Pros, Cons, Arguments, Debate, School, Education, & Students | Britannica
Sumayya Khan is a homeschooling mother of three and a teacher. She has worked with several Islamic schools and organizations in the last 10 years. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, play sports, enjoy nature, and read books. She currently resides with her family in Toronto, Canada.
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