A new study published in the The American Journal of Family Therapy has revealed that early elementary school students are sometimes receiving three times more homework than is recommended by education leaders, CNN reported.

The study based its standard of recommended homework on "the 10 minute rule" endorsed by National Education Association and the National Parent-Teacher Association, which suggests 10 minutes of homework per grade level a night with kindergartners not being recommended any.

"That translates into 10 minutes of homework in the first grade, 20 minutes in the second grade, all the way up to 120 minutes for senior year of high school. The NEA and the National PTA do not endorse homework for kindergarten," CNN said.

The study surveyed 1,100 parents and found that in the case of first-graders, most parents reported their children spending an average of 28 minutes on homework per night versus the recommended 10.

And in a separate study, "kindergartners, their parents said, spent 25 minutes a night on after-school assignments, according to the study carried out by researchers from Brown University, Brandeis University, Rhode Island College, Dean College, the Children's National Medial Center and the New England Center for Pediatric Psychology."

Opponents of too much homework in early grade levels believe the stress of completing time-consuming assignments after school affects young learners' attitudes towards schools, self-confidence, social skills and overall quality of life.

"In fact, a study last year showed that the impact of excessive homework on high schoolers included high stress levels, a lack of balance in children's lives and physical health problems such as ulcers, migraines, sleep deprivation and weight loss."

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Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

08/12/2015