Too much homework and television are stopping children from being children, a poll of parents suggests today. They believe that children’s lives are too structured and pressurised with little time to play.
Homework, extra lessons, after-school clubs and television are all preventing youngsters from enjoying playtime, according to the poll of 2,000 parents, The Guardian Reported.
Children have long suspected it, and now research confirms it: homework is a waste of time. Anxiety, boredom, fatigue and emotional exhaustion are all side-effects of bringing schoolwork home, according to a review of 75 years of study into the issue. Even those who believe homework improves their performance in the classroom resent the encroachment on their spare time. And the best place for extra study may not, in fact, be at home.
The report by the Institute of Education makes a case for out-of-hours study to be done in after-school learning clubs, away from the potentially disruptive influence of parents. Tensions are the most pronounced in middle-class families where the pressure to succeed can create a volatile atmosphere. Parents who are overbearing can undermine any pleasure children derive from study. More than half (51 per cent) of those questioned said children are under more pressure today than ever before, while one in 10 (11per cent) believe their own youngsters’ lives are too structured.
And one in five (20 per cent) say they do not believe their children have enough free time just to be children. Two thirds (66 per cent) of parents said homework, extra lessons and after-school activities are preventing children from having time to play each day, while almost three in 10 (37 per cent) blamed television. Almost one in four (23 per cent) cited longer travel to and from school, and clubs and activities as the reason for short playtimes. The poll, commissioned by The British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) and Play England found that parents say their child spends, on average, 69.77 minutes a day playing. But they would like their children to spend an extra 72.67 minutes at play .Nearly half (43 per cent) wished they could spend more time playing with their children.
Dr. Amanda Gummer, a psychologist who advises the BTHA, said: ‘Play helps a child to develop a whole range of skills from learning how to take turns and share to increasing fitness, creativity and even self-esteem. Through fun and play a child learns about the world around them’.
AIOU to set up information desk to help students in research work: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will set up an information desk at central library at University’s main campus to help students in their research and reference work.
The centre will provide easy access to required data in different disciplines. This was stated by Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi, vice chancellor AIOU, while addressing the concluding ceremony of three-day workshop ‘Analysis of Research and Statistic Data.’ The training workshop was arranged by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Faculty members, officers and AIOU’s students participated in the training workshop.
Dr. Sangi hoped that training courses on research-relating matters will improve the comprehension and know-how of the students to show excellence in their exams and practical life. The AIOU is giving top priority for training of its academic staff that will give a big boost to their competency and caliber for educating their students. Dr Sangi said that AIOU has witnessed immense growth and development at various levels during the past three years. “Today, our students are enjoying state-of-the-art facilities. Many new projects meant to further improve the environment and to introduce modern facilities are also in the pipeline,” he said.
He stated the AIOU offers education from basic to doctorate level in various disciplines, with the main objective of providing skill-based and vocational knowledge, with job-oriented approach. Special emphasis will be given on teachers training during the next two years. The University will pay its frontline role helping the government to fight illiteracy. He called for coordinated efforts ad team work among various departments to achieve better results.
