In a study conducted by the National Parents Council (NPC), 58% of parents of young children in Junior and Senior infants reported that their children were stressed some or all of the time while doing their homework assignments.

This percentage increases to 65% concerning older primary children.

In over 5,750 responses to the online survey, one third of parents stated that homework caused distress for the whole household.

When asked who was more stressed about homework, 82% of parents said their children while 74% of parents said themselves.

Áine Lynch, CEO with NPC commented:

“In Ireland we rightly spend enormous financial and human resources developing a curriculum for learning at school. NPC now call on the Government to pay equal attention to supporting parents with the home curriculum for their child’s learning.”

Sean Cottrell, CEO of IPPN stated:

“It is very disappointing to discover that large numbers of children experience stress and worry around homework. In the last 12 months, IPPN has organised a National Symposium on Emotional Wellbeing. Clearly there is a lot of work to be done if, in cooperation with parents, we are to give any meaning to the saying school days are the happiest days in children’s lives”.

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